Cave of Lakes day tour

Description

This tour, which ends at the Cave of the Lakes can be accomplished in two ways.

Heading for Peloponnese, we drive on the Athens – Corinth National Road. We make our first stop at the Corinth Canal in order to take beautiful pictures. We then drive towards Kalavryta, where in the location of Diakofto you are given the option to either continue with your driver, or take the small train, the popular “Odontotos” (gauge rack railway), which will pass through a route more than magnificent.

You will meet your driver back in Kalavryta. (I would like note that the route of the train takes you through a virgin forest with huge plane trees, over ravines and parallel to the Vouraikos gorge. It is so beautiful that no one can describe it in words).

We will continue our Cave of lakes tour and after the village of Kalavryta, we make a short stop at the memorial of the citizens executed by the Nazis in 1943 and finally we reach the Cave of the Lakes.

This is one of the most beautiful caves in Greece, where you can admire the stalactites and stalagmites, which have formed after the passing of many thousands of years. You must enter accompanied by a guide and once you enter, the spectacle is breathtaking!

After you finish visiting the cave of the lakes, we return to the village of Kalavryta, in order to dine at a traditional tavern.

After lunch we have the option to visit the monastery of Mega Spileo, a wonderful monastery

The monastery is built into the natural opening of a cave of Mount Chelmos, at an altitude of about 1000 meters. Rich in history, the monastery was built in 362 by two brothers and monks, Symeon and Theodore. The holy icon of Virgin Mary, made of mastic gum and wax, was found there. The icon had been painted by Evangelist Lukas. The icon is preserved intact, despite the fact that the monastery has been burned by fire four times. Inside the monastery, a museum exists with interesting exhibits: manuscripts, precious golden crosses, crosses from Holy Rood, banners, portraits, engravings and many volumes of books. In a nearby chapel, holy bones, as well as the skulls of the founders of the monastery are kept.

In the Greek revolution of 1821, the monastery played an important role. In December 1943, the Nazis executed 16 monks and burned the cells. After the war, a new monastery was erected.

With a feeling of awe, we leave the monastery.

Satisfied by the amazing tour we will return to Athens

Please note that for those who wish we can visit the Ancient Corinth instead the monastery of Mega Spileo.

Duration 10 hours