Greece: The Southern Coast

The central “finger” of the southern Peloponnese is dominated by the massive bulk of Mt. Taygetus, which rises almost 8,000 feet before dropping into a series of rocky hills and finally plunging to meet the ocean. You explore the mountain’s lower reaches, packed with historical remains from all ages—Roman mosaics, Frankish fortresses, and Byzantine churches—visiting either in spring, when wild flowers carpet the fields and snowy peaks glisten behind, or in autumn, when the warm sea beckons and the air is crisp and clear.

For a series of varied and rewarding day hikes, we have selected three village centers, two on either side of the mountain and one in the Deep Mani (far southern peninsula). From Kardamili, a picturesque fishing village set amidst tranquil olive groves on the west coast, you explore the Outer Mani area with its semi-ruined castles and picturesque seascapes. You then move on to Areopolis, the largest of the famous tower villages of the Deep Mani and now the region’s capital. Here you stay at a newly built hotel situated dramatically above the Bay of Itylo and constructed in the region’s evocative “tower” style. At the end of the walk you explore a remote mountain community tucked in the folds of Taygetus’ eastern flanks and roam the neighboring hills and gorges. The tour is completetd with a visit to the frescoed churches of Mystras, a well-preserved Byzantine city perched on a conical hill above the plain of Sparta.