Ancient Corinth, Temple of Hera, Blue Lake: Uncover Rich History on a Private Athens Tour
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Isthmia
Uncover the rich history of Ancient Corinth, Temple of Hera, and Blue Lake on a private Athens tour. Explore the powerful Greek city-states and pay tribute to the gods.
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Corinth Canal - The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island. The canal was dug through the isthmus at sea level and has no locks. It is 6.4 kilometres (4 mi) in length and only 21.4 metres (70 ft) wide at its base, making it impassable for many modern ships.
    From high up, you can enjoy the best view of Corinth’s isthmus and admire the steep limestone walls while you observe the vessels below you navigate their way through the canal.
  • Ancient Corinth (Archaia Korinthos) - Corinth was a city-state on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece, roughly halfway between Athens and Sparta. The modern city of Corinth is located approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northeast of the ancient ruins.
    For Christians, Corinth is well known from the two letters of Saint Paul in the New Testament, First and Second Corinthians. Corinth is also mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as part of Paul the Apostle’s missionary travels. In addition, the second book of Pausanias’ Description of Greece is devoted to Corinth.
    Ancient Corinth was one of the largest and most important cities of Greece, with a population of 90,000 in 400 BC. The Romans demolished Corinth in 146 BC, built a new city in its place in 44 BC, and later made it the provincial capital of Greece.
  • Archaeological Museum of Corinth - The Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth was constructed between 1931-1932, with intentions to display the numerous recent archaeological excavations. The museum is located within the archaeological site of Ancient Corinth, Greece, and lies under the jurisdiction of the 37th Ephoreia of the Greek Archaeological Service.
    Key aspects of the Archaeological site of Ancient Corinth include:
    • Hadgimoustafa spring
    • Lechaion Road
    • Basilica
    • Fountain of Peirene
    • Stoa
    • Agora
    • Odien
    • Other temples
    • Theatre
  • Temple of Apollo - The Temple of Apollo at Corinth was constructed in 550 BC.
  • Akrokorinthos - Acrocorinth, “Upper Corinth”, the acropolis of ancient Corinth, is a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth, Greece.
    With its secure water supply, Acrocorinth’s fortress was repeatedly used as a last line of defense in southern Greece because it commanded the Isthmus of Corinth, repelling foes from entry by land into the Peloponnese peninsula.
  • Limni Vouliagmeni - Lake Vouliagmeni is a lagoon located 16 kilometers northwest of Loutraki, very close to the area of
    ​​the archaeological site of Heraion and the settlement of Perachora. It has a maximum length of 2 km and a maximum width of about 1 km. Its depth does not exceed 40 meters. It has a sandy beach in contrast to the beach of Loutraki. It communicates with the waters of the Corinthian Gulf through a very narrow canal whose width does not exceed 6 meters.

In ancient times it was called Eschatiotis but also Gorgopis, a name it took from Gorgi, daughter of Megareas who drowned in the lake. Traces of human settlement of the Early Helladic period have been found in the area near the narrow channel of the lake, a sign that the area has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC.

  • Heraion (Sanctuary of Hera) in Perachora - The Heraion of Perachora is a sanctuary of the goddess Hera situated in a small cove of the Corinthian gulf at the end of the Perachora peninsula. In addition to a temple of Hera of unusual construction and antiquity, the remains of a number of other structures have also been found, including an L-shaped stoa, a large cistern, dining rooms, and a second potential temple. Although there is debate between Argos, Megara and Corinth, the sanctuary was probably under the control of Corinth, as it faced the harbors of that powerful city across the Corinthian gulf. Cult activity at the site continued from perhaps the 9th century BCE to 146 BCE, when the Roman general Mummius sacked Corinth during the war with the Achaean League. In the Roman period, domestic structures were built on the site, indicating that the area was no longer a sanctuary. This site is significant for the study of the origins of Greek temple architecture and rural cults.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Knowledgeable professional drivers (no site accompaniment)
  • On-board WiFi
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Convenient pickup and drop-off services
What's Not Included
  • Licensed tour guide (upon request and depending on availability)
  • Entry or admission fees for archaeological sites
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Travel past Athens towards the south to discover the fascinating attractions of the Peloponnese. Traverse the Corinth Canal to depart from mainland Greece and delve into the historical city of Ancient Corinth, a significant hub of commerce in antique times.

Commence your journey in Ancient Corinth, the richest city in the ancient epoch, a supreme entity amidst the influential Greek city-states. It’s situated at the base of the distinctive Acrocorinth hill, evident from a distance due to its stark lookout against potential adversaries arriving by land or sea. Further, we progress to the Temple of Hera and Blue Lake to honour the deity Poseidon and the goddess Hera.

  • Our drivers are not official tour guides, but they are knowledgeable and can provide fascinating commentary in fluent English. Although they will not enter the archaeological sites with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.
  • Third party activities and especially extreme sports are not allowed during the tour. This can be a cause for immediate cancellation of the tour.
Location
Corinth Canal
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(4 Ratings)
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Isabel
May 24, 2024
Very knowledgable and friendly guide, Panajotis or Notis. We had a very pleasant day and learnt a lot about Corinth. - Knowledgable tour guide , Notis, and wonderful country trip to Corinth and surroundings. We learnt a lot about ancient Greek history and Europe in general.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
183aleeem
Dec 13, 2023
Amazing experience - George was amazing and very helpful. Brilliant tour to understand Greek history, especially when visiting Corinth.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cherylindiana
Oct 11, 2021
Lovely Day In Corinth And Beyond!! - We had Tom as our driver and had a very enjoyable day. We saw everything as described and it was amazing. Tom was good about helping my mother with walking disabilities get around and still see everything. We had as much time as we needed to see everything and still have lunch by the water. Thanks for a wonderful day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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