1. Nafplio:
Commercial port and city. Capital of the Argolis Region. 3 castles (Palamidi,
Akronafplia and the Bourtzi). The Old Town (capital of Greece from 1821 to 1838).
Campsites at nearby Drepano.
2. Epidavros: Sanctuary of Asklepios, Theatre,
Stadium, Museum.
3. Leonidio: Traditional town. Fishing
harbour and all-year campsite at Plaka. 30 km gorge drive to Kosmas.
4. Elonis Monastery: High in the gorge
at 1,750 ft (530 m).
5. Kosmas: Traditional mountain village
at 3,960 ft (1200 m). Memorial to 1943 ambush of Italian occupiers.
6. Monemvasia: Harbour. Causeway to Byzantine/Venetian
walled town, below a fortress at 300 m/990 ft.
7. Mystras: Extensive remains of 15th
C Byzantine fortified city with fortress. Walking the Apothetes Gorge. Camera Museum.
All-year campsite.
8. Sparta: Capital of Laconia Region, below Mount Taigetos. Scant
remains of ancient Sparta. Archaeological Museum. Museum of the Olive.
9. Gythion: Fishing harbour and port
for ancient Sparta. Small Roman theatre. All-year campsite. 32-km coast road to
Kotronas.
10. Kotronas: Fishing harbour.
11. Areopolis: Traditional stone-built
town and capital of the Mani. Early frescoes in 2 small churches. Cathedral.
12. Diros Caves: Exploration
underground by boat and on foot.
13. Gerolimenas: Fishing harbour. Kalderimi (old mule track) to cliff top.
14. Vathia: Best collection of Mani tower houses.
15. Cape Tenaro: Sanctuary of Poseidon,
walk to the lighthouse (southernmost point of mainland of Greece and the Balkans).
16. Lagia: Church with modern frescoes.
17. Chimera: Mountain village on the Pass
to Areopolis.
18. Neo Itilo: Fishing harbour.
19. Kardamyli: Seaside town on the
Messinian Gulf Road. Castle. Vyros Gorge.
20. Kalamata: Commercial port and city.
Capital of Messinia. Castle and beach. 1300 m/4,290 ft high Langada Pass from
Sparta (short cut, omitting the Mani, or side trip from Kalamata to top of
pass).
21. Messini: Side trip to extensive walled
city of Ancient Messini (aka Ithomi) to the north.
22. Petalidi: Fishing harbour/market
town. Mountain road via Iamia to Methoni.
23. Methoni: Fishing harbour and town. Extensive
Venetian castle. Seasonal campsite.
24. Finikounda: Fishing harbour and
summer resort with 5 campsites (some all-year) along its beaches.
25. Mystraki: Small traditional
mountain village, almost uninhabited!
26. Koroni: Fishing harbour and town. Monastery
inside Venetian castle (the twin of Methoni castle). All-year campsite.
27. Pylos: Port and town. New (Ottoman)
Castle and aqueduct, harbour, site of Battle of Navarino Bay (1827).
28. Gialova: Ruins of Old Castle.
Voidokilia Lagoon with bird hides. King Nestor's cave. Seasonal campsite.
29. Nestor's Palace: Minoan site
(currently closed, apart from Tholos burial tomb). Museum in Hora village, 3 km
away, remains open. (Road past Palace to Filiatra, via Hora and Gargaliani, is alternative
to the easier coast road via Marathopoli.)
30. Marathopoli: Fishing harbour. Offshore
Proti Island with monastery.
31. Filiatra: Home town of Harry
Fournier (aka Aris Fournakis), with his model of Eifel Tower and Globe.
32. Agrili: Seaside village. Harry
Fournier's mock castle.
33. Tholo: Beach and seasonal campsite.
Start of inland road climbing 29 miles to remote Temple of Epicurean Apollo.
34. Temple of Epicurean Apollo at
Vassae: Built around 420
BC. Now stands inside a marquee, at almost 1200 m/4,000 ft.
35. Andritsena: Traditional mountain
village.
36. Karitena: Traditional mountain
village with castle above.
37. Stemnitsa: Traditional mountain
village.
38. Dimitsana: Traditional mountain
village with Outdoor Museum of Water Power. Access to walking Lousios Gorge
with ancient Gortis and early monasteries.
39. Olympia: Sanctuary of Ancient
Olympia and Museum. All-year campsite.
40. Gastouni: Working agricultural and market
town.
41. Ionion Beach: Splendid all-year campsite
near tiny village and harbour of Glyfa.
42. Arkoudi: Seaside village.
43. Loutra Killinis: Remains of Roman baths
at sulphur springs.
44. Kastro: Chlemoutsi Castle.
45. Killinis: Ferry port for islands of
Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Ithica.
46. Patras: Capital of Achaia and
Greece's third city. Major commercial port at mouth of Gulf of Corinth. Ferries
to Italy and some Greek islands.
47. Diakofto: Town on Gulf of Corinth.
Rack railway up to Kalavrita.
48. Kalavrita: Mountain village at 2,500 ft (750 m) with memorial and museum to German Atrocities of December 1943.
49. Mega Spileo: Monastery on a cliff at 3,300 ft (1000 m) on road between Kalavrita
and Diakofto.
50. Corinth: Major city and port,
capital of Corinthia. Ancient Corinth, Acrocorinth on the hilltop. Corinth
Canal. Seasonal campsites.
51. Isthmia: Town at east end of
Corinth canal, with lowering bridge. Ancient Isthmia and Museum.
52. Mycenae: Major archaeological site of Minoan palace and fortified city, royal tombs. Seasonal campsites.
53. Nemea: Ancient site, stadium,
museum.
54. Ancient Tiryns: Mycenaean citadel with massive walls.
55. Argos: Ancient Greco/Roman city,
Roman theatre, hilltop castle.
56. Nafplio: Return to starting point.