Start your small group tour at the arranged meeting point: the magnificent 13th century castle of Androusa, located in the heart of Messinia, just a 20 minute drive from Kalamata and 10 minutes from Ancient Messene. Begin with beautiful olive walks to provide as an overview of the amazing olive groves of Messinia. Witness the olive trees as the guide tells you about the history, the tradition, and the mythical stories of the castle olive trees. The olive grove is the next visit. Walk though the groves and marvel the perennial olive trees. Learn about the different varieties of olive trees in the area and discover the story of the Messinian land as recorded on the stems. In the center of Androusa Village, visit a unique olive oil press and mill, located there for more than 120 years. The fifth generation owner will explain the procedure of extraction, the storage, and standardization process of extra virgin olive oil. Next, join a tasting session, where a dining table is filled with the special blue olive oil tasting glasses ready for you to try. Taste the extra virgin olive oil of 'Koroneiki' variety and learn about its organoleptic characteristics. Learn to recognize the elements that define the extra virgin olive oil. Taste different varieties of Greek extra virgin olive oil, such us 'Manaki', 'Xalkidikis', 'Mavroelia', and evaluate their flavours. What about food? The extra virgin olive oil of different varieties is matched with traditional recipes including fruit, gourmet small dishes, as well as tzatziki, kalamata olives, olive paste, lalagia, pasto (smoked ham) and local cheeses. Enjoy a unique experience in the historic olive groves, and learn about the history, the soul, the tradition, and the gastronomy of Messinia.

Navarino Bay lies in front of the town of Pylos. It is a natural harbor where the island of Sphacteria stands as a wave breaker, protecting the bay from winds of the open Ionian Sea. The bay offers ideal conditions for Sea Kayaking trips, especially for beginners. The bay itself is a place of incredible natural beauty, with an impressive landscape, warm, crystal clear, waters and golden sandy beaches where sea turtles often return to lay their eggs. Sea kayaking here is a must definitely do without a doubt. Meet your guides at Divari beach just a few kilometers away from the charming village of Gialova. Your guide will brief you on paddling techniques, safety measures, and equipment. Soon we shall hop on our kayaks for a trip around the Navarino bay like never before. Heading west we paddle towards Sfaktiria, the island located at the west side of the bay. Here, we jump out of our kayaks, stretch our legs and walk to the island’s viewpoint for taking pictures of an idyllic landscape and for story-telling. A few minutes later we shall make a stop at a secluded beach for swimming and snorkeling, and why not some cliff diving for those who feel more adventurous. Here we shall also taste our homemade picnic of local delicacies and relax under the sun. After this energy pumped stop, we will paddle back to the starting point to end an amazing day in the tranquility of Navarino Bay.

Experience the beauty of southern Greece on a guided hiking trip to the Polylimnio waterfalls. Located outside of Kalamata, this stepped waterfall system consists of 15 small lakes, hidden in the surrounding forest. Hike through the lush vegetation and marvel at the spectacular waterfall cascades. After a short van ride from Kalamata, follow your guide down a narrow path into the surrounding forest. Wander over picturesque bridges, pass by flowing waterfalls and clear lakes, and marvel at the diverse and unique flora poking out from each nook and cranny. Continue your trek to the bottom of the gorge to reach the final and highest waterfall. Here you can soak your feet, swim, or climb up a rope ladder to high-dive into the turquoise waters. After an hour of exploration and enjoyment, it's time to hike back. Before boarding the bus, pause to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee or snacks from the local cafe. Listen as your guide shares fascinating facts, anecdotes, and stories about the surrounding Messinia region.

Make your trip to Greece hassle-free with your convenient eSIM. Stay connected on your travels with high-speed coverage in Greece and another 43 European regions (full list below). Purchase and install your eSIM anytime and anywhere, and choose from a variety of data packages, validity options, and coverage in additional countries. Simply scan the eSIM QR code to access all your essential apps on your trip. Avoid the trouble of managing multiple SIMs with this zero-waste solution. Get one eSIM per device and top up by simply buying and activating additional eSIM plans as you go. Once activated, your coverage will begin according to your selected duration. Most devices released after 2019 are compatible with eSIM (e.g. iPhone XR, XS of models beyond, Google Pixel 4 and beyond). If you are unsure, please check the compatibility guideline photo to confirm eligibility. If you can not connect to the internet after install this eSIM, please follow the Self Help Troubleshooting Guide in your GYG voucher. Network coverage: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, and Vatican City. Carriers to use in Greece: T-Mobile (Cosmote), Vodafone, and Wind

Be accompanied by a local Greek guide to visit several food shops. Meet and speak with local shop owners and have the opportunity to taste traditional food and learn about the Greek food culture.  Listen to Greek myths and stories about food that will deepen your knowledge about this beautiful country. Taste food ranging from bread products, olives, pies, meat products, to sweets. Enjoy your lunch at a local souvlaki restaurant.

You will visit one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the Peloponnese: Kalamata, in Messinia region. The olive oil tour and tasting experience is available all year round either in the mornings or in the afternoons. The Olive oil Experience If you want to get to know all about the unique features of olive oil or simply wonder what an olive-oil tasting seminar involves, this activity is right up your alley! Part 1: Olive grove & Visit at an Olive oil Mill Olive grove (available all year round) You’ll walk through the perennial olive trees and experience a 30' relaxing stroll through an olive grove located just 10' away from Kalamata. During your walk, you’ll get acquainted with different varieties of olive trees in all shapes and of all ages and learn the history of the olive tree and the olive oil from the Neolithic era until today! Olive oil mill (depending on season & availability - From March to October) You will learn all about the extraction process, from the olive grove to bottling and if it is the olive harvesting season, you’ll get to taste fresh and warm extra virgin olive oil, during our olive oil tasting! Part 2: Olive Oil tasting experience Along with our professional and certified olive oil expert, you’ll learn about the queen of Greek olive-oil varieties, Koroneiki, as well as other just as superb Greek olive oils. You’ll discover their key aromas, flavours and tastes, and will learn which olive-oil variety to pair with your favourite food. Part 3: Light or Full lunch (upon request & at an extra charge) If you wish to conclude your olive oil experience with a delicious light or full lunch, full of Messinian flavours, in one of the most welcoming Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo Taverns in the heart of Kalamata’s historic centre, just let us know and we can arrange it for you!

Discover the richness and inventiveness of Greek cuisine! You will visit the historic centre of one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the Peloponnese: Kalamata, in Messinia region. The place is known for its exquisite olive oil and its world-famous black Kalamata olives. However, the city has so much more to offer and this tour will help you uncover its hidden gems. Visit local family-owned food and pastry shops, learn old stories and feel the authenticity of the locals. Part 1: Visit to Traditional Workshop and tasting of Local Home-made products Many times, you can find the tastiest local products in the most unlikely places of a town you visit, where you’d never think to look. Together we’ll discover a traditional Workshop, literally hidden in the tiny alleys of the city. The local women working at the Workshop will show how to make one of the oldest delicacies of Messinia and Mani, using the simplest of ingredients, flour and olive oil. And while enjoying this staple of the Spartan warriors and satisfying your sweet tooth in the healthiest of manners, you’ll also learn about its long history and inextricable link to the local tradition. Part 2: Tasting of Spoon Sweets, Corinthian Raisins and Healthy Local Delicacies Upon entering the shop, the aroma of the exquisite herbs and spices wafting through the air will transport you to the top of Mt. Taygetos, the local mountain. You’ll get to taste homemade glyka tou koutaliou (spoon sweets), black Korinthian raisins and other products of the Messinian and Greek land, discovering their nutritional value and their importance in a well-balanced diet. Part 3: Greek Coffee Tasting at Local Coffee Grinding Shop It’s time for your morning coffee! And what’s better than a hot traditional Greek coffee prepared by Giorgos, who’ll reveal the secrets to its proper preparation. You’ll find out all about the origins of this type of coffee, how it got its name and how it has become a part of the Greek tradition and temperament. Part 4: Tasting of Local Appetizers at a Traditional Greek Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo Tavern Right in the heart of the city, under the shadow of an age-old plane tree, flavoursome Messinian appetizers - mezedes are waiting for you to discover them. Part 5: Visit to an Olive Oil Shop & short Olive oil tasting You’ll find out all about the Koroneiki variety and its unique features, and will taste different quality olive oils. Part 6: Visit to a Shop with Local Wines & Traditional Spirits Find out all the local varieties, including Fokiano, Roditis, Malaguzia and Moschofilero, as well as how they are combined with foreign varieties to produce excellent white, rose and red wines through a short wine tasting along with Mr. Giannis! Part 7: Light Lunch with Mediterranean or Messinian Dishes and Local Wines A light yet filling lunch will conclude your gastronomic experience and spoil your senses, in one of the cosiest Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo Taverns in the heart of the city.

Join us for a wonderful journey through space and time, where legends come to life and become a game, weaving the marvellous history of Kalamata in Messinia region. Where You’ll stroll around one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the Peloponnese: Kalamata. Our journey through time starts from Homer and the heroes of the Iliad. It then continues on to the Byzantine years with the Franks, the Venetians and the Turks, reaching all the way up to the 19th and 20th century, when Kalamata was reborn through the ashes and transformed into the beautiful modern city it is today. The Walking tour experience Put on your walking shoes and enjoy a beautiful stroll through the streets of Kalamata! Meeting Point Maria, our passionate food lover and local host, will be waiting for you at the beautiful central square of Kalamata, Vasileos Geogiou Square, (Πλατεία Βασιλέως Γεωργίου) in front of the Statues (Agalmata) of the Messinian war Heroes of 1821. What you’ll discover After a warm welcome, you’ll set off on your walking experience and together we’ll discover some of the more interesting sights. You’ll not just find out all about their history, but also about the people of the time, their way of life and funny stories about their day-to-day routine. Some of the Walking Tour highlights: •Cultural Centre – Nikolaos and Regina Pantazopoulou Neoclassical Building •General State Archives Building •Church of Agios Nikolaos •19th century Classical and Neoclassical Buildings •Mavromichali Square •Victoria G. Karelias Collection of Greek Traditional Costumes Museum •Frangolimna Square •Old Karelia Tobacco Factory •Upper Square / Church of Presentation of Jesus (Ypapanti tou Sotiros) •St. Constantine and Helen Convent •The area around Kalamata's Frankish Castle •Archaeological Museum •Amfeia Square or Paplomatadika (Quilt Makers) •Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles •Othonos Square •Varvoutsis and Lontos Galleries The leisurely stroll continues around the small alleys of the city and walk around the sights that interest you. Half-way through the tour, you might feel a bit peckish, so stopping at a small traditional shop for a few minutes is a must! It’s the ideal way to get to know the rich culinary tradition of this area, tasting one of its local delicacies. During our walking tour, you’ll have time to do some shopping and at the end you may wish to enjoy a mouthwatering local lunch in one of the cosiest Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo taverns in Kalamata. Why tour with a local Visiting a new place is always a unique and beautiful experience. You usually visit museums, marvel at monuments and the sights, go shopping around the main streets and maybe watch the people go by. How would you feel if you were able to discover the old, hidden stories behind everything you see? Or if you found out about true stories of love and betrayal that have become novels? If you have a local walking next to you, you’ll get to do all that and so much more!

Starting your tour from Athens you will start seeing the nice landscape of Attica as exiting the city. Your first stop will be at the Corinth canal. Your driver will explain to you the history of the canal and you can take a lot of pictures. After a 1 hour drive you will stop at the Meligalas well. There you will learn the history of the civil war that took place in Greece. Your next station will be at the Ancient site of Messini. You will have the chance to meet this great civilization and enjoy the ancient site. You will learn where and how the medical site of Asklipios was functioning. Then you will leave for the great and sea city of Kalamata. There you can have free time and explore the marvellous city and have luch until you return back to Athens.

Enjoy a 3-hour bike tour experience around Kalamata in Messinia region, one of the most beautiful cities of the Peloponnese, and explore its hidden gems. Whether this is your first or umpteenth time here, one thing that’ll surely amaze you is how quickly you can get from one end of the city to the other. Join us with your own bike or let us provide a bike for you. Where You’ll cycle around one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the Peloponnese: Kalamata. You may have been here before, or you may have already been around it on foot or by car, but how about exploring it on a bike, just for something different? A 5km bike lane starts from the historic centre of the city and ends up at the beautiful awarded beach of Kalamata, making the bike a great way to get around. When The Bike tour experience is available Monday-Saturday, all-year round, either in the mornings or in the evenings. Sundays and official holidays are excluded. The Bike tour experience Put on your helmet and get ready to explore the history of Kalamata accompanied by our experienced bike rider! Meeting Point Maria, our passionate food lover and local host, will be waiting for you at the beautiful square 23rd March Square (Πλ. 23ης Μαρτίου) in front of the Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles (Αγιοι Απόστολοι) in the historical centre of Kalamata. Why tour the city Each city has a unique identity that makes its stand out. Some are perfect for winter getaways, while others are ideal for summer holidays. Kalamata is a city where its rich history is evident wherever you go, blending in beautifully with the modern way of life and making it the ideal destination and choice whatever you may be looking for! What you’ll discover Cycling in a laid-back manner and taking in the beautiful scenery, you’ll go past some amazing sights and discover their hidden history. Some of the Bike Tour highlights: •Upper Square / Church of Presentation of Jesus (Ypapanti tou Sotiros) •St. Constantine and Helen Convent •19th century Classical and Neoclassical Buildings •Old Karelia Tobacco Factory •Historical and Folklore Museum of Kalamata •Archaeological Museum / Old Market •Down Square / Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles •Othonos Square and Vasileos Georgiou II Square •Church of Agios Ioannis o Prodromos (St John the Baptist) •Cultural Centre – Nikolaos and Regina Pantazopoulou Building •Kalamata Municipal Railway Park / Open-Air Museum •Old Flour Mill / Roller Mills •Customs / Kalamata Port •Kalamata Beach (Navarinou Street) Naturally, even the most relaxing exercise needs energy. But don’t worry, we’ve thought of everything. If you wish, we can make a quick stop at a shop with traditional, home-made delicacies, so you can get a taste of the rich culinary tradition of this area. During the bike tour, you’ll have time to do some shopping and at the end you may wish to enjoy a mouthwatering local lunch in one of the cosiest Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo taverns in Kalamata.