Self-Launched Ancient Greece Loop: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia & Delphi
3 days · Mainland Greece (Peloponnese & Delphi)
Let's Book Travel charges £520
No-markup version: ~£222 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of the classic 3-day coach tour from Athens covering Greece's greatest ancient sites — the Corinth Canal, the theatre of Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia and Delphi. Instead of a 50-person bus with hotel pickups and set dinner restaurants, you'll use Greece's reliable KTEL intercity buses and the suburban rail, sleep in central guesthouses and budget hotels in Nafplio, Olympia and Delphi, and self-guide the archaeological sites with cheap audio guides or a single small-group day tour for the tricky Argolid day. You get the same ruins, more freedom over timing, and a much smaller bill.
Day-by-day
Athens → Corinth Canal, Epidaurus, Mycenae → Nafplio/Olympia
Athens, Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplio
Start early at Athens' Kifissos KTEL bus terminal (reachable by metro to Kifisia/Eleftherios or a cheap taxi). Take the intercity bus toward Nafplio via Corinth (~2 hrs, €9-11 / ~£8-10). Jump off (or book a stop) at the Corinth Canal for a 20-minute photo stop on the footbridge — free. Continue to Nafplio, drop your bag at your guesthouse, then take a local KTEL bus or the seasonal 'Argolis' hop bus to Epidaurus (~35-45 min, ~€3-4). The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and sanctuary entry is ~€12 (or covered by the multi-site ticket, see day 3). In the afternoon, bus back and head to Mycenae via Fichti junction (local bus ~€2-3), where you can walk the 10 minutes to the Lion Gate, Cyclopean Walls, Royal Tombs and Treasury of Atreus; entry ~€12. Note: without a car the Epidaurus + Mycenae combo in one day is tight — the alternative is to book a single small-group day tour from Athens covering Corinth, Epidaurus and Mycenae (GetYourGuide/Viator, ~£45-65) for this leg only, then continue independently. Overnight in Nafplio, which is far nicer than the tour's Olympia hotel stop and gives you the evening in a lovely old town. If you prefer to mirror the coach route exactly, take the evening KTEL bus Nafplio → Tripoli → Olympia (~3 hrs, ~€15-18) and sleep in Ancient Olympia village instead.
🚌KTEL intercity bus Athens–Corinth–Nafplio (~£10), local KTEL/Argolis hop bus to Epidaurus and Mycenae (~£6 total), optional evening bus to Olympia (~£16)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Nafplio old town (e.g. dorm or simple double, £20-28) or budget hotel in Ancient Olympia (£22-30)
- →Corinth Canal photo stop (free)
- →Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus & sanctuary (self-guided, ~£10 entry)
- →Mycenae: Lion Gate, Cyclopean Walls, Royal Tombs, Treasury of Atreus (~£10 entry)
- →Evening wander in Nafplio old town and harbour
Olympia archaeological site & museum → cross to Delphi
Ancient Olympia, Rio-Antirrio, Nafpaktos, Delphi
Morning at Ancient Olympia: enter the site and museum (combined ticket ~€12, museum is essential for the pediments). Self-guide the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, Temple of Hera (where the Olympic flame is lit), the Ancient Stadium tunnel and the Altis. Download a free audio guide or use the on-site signage; a licensed guide at the gate costs ~€60 for a small group if you want one — split it with hostel friends. Optional: the Archaeological Museum of Olympia is included in the ticket. After lunch, travel north by KTEL bus Olympia → Patras (~2 hrs, ~€10), then Patras → Rio/Antirrio, cross the spectacular Rion-Antirion Bridge by bus, stop for a coffee and photos at the Venetian harbour of Nafpaktos (~1 hr, ~€5), then continue to Delphi (~2.5 hrs from Patras, ~€14). Total travel day ~5 hrs but the scenery through the Gulf of Corinth is the best of the trip. Arrive Delphi village in the evening; check into a guesthouse with valley views (many have balconies over the Pleistos gorge).
🚌KTEL Olympia–Patras (~£9), Patras–Nafpaktos–Delphi connections (~£16)
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in modern Delphi village, valley-view room (£25-35)
- →Ancient Olympia site: Sanctuary of Zeus, Temple of Hera, Olympic flame altar, Ancient Stadium (~£10 entry)
- →Archaeological Museum of Olympia (included in site ticket)
- →Rion-Antirion Bridge crossing and Nafpaktos harbour stop
- →Sunset over the Pleistos gorge from Delphi
Delphi site & museum → Arachova → back to Athens
Delphi, Arachova, Athens
Be at the Delphi gate for opening (~08:00-08:30) to beat the coach crowds — this is the single best advantage of going independently. One combined ticket (~€12) covers the Archaeological Site of Delphi and the Museum of Delphi. Walk the Sacred Way past the Monument of the Argive Kings, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the Monument of Plataea and up to the Temple of Apollo; then the Castalia Spring and the Marmaria sanctuary with the Temple of Pronaia (Athena Pronaia) just down the road. In the museum, don't miss the Charioteer of Delphi and the Siphnian Treasury frieze. Optional: the 15-minute walk up to the stadium above the temple. Late morning, take the local KTEL bus (or 10-min ride) to Arachova (~€2) for lunch and rug/carpet shopping — Arachova is the tour's only 'optional' stop and it's easy to do on your own. Then catch the direct KTEL bus Arachova/Delphi → Athens (Liosion terminal, ~3 hrs, ~€16-18). Arrive Athens late afternoon — the Liosion terminal connects to Attiki metro station, or take a trolleybus downtown.
🚌Local bus to Arachova (~£2), KTEL Arachova/Delphi–Athens (~£16), Athens metro/trolleybus (~£1.5)
🛏Not included — book your own Athens hostel/hotel (dorms from £18-25)
- →Archaeological Site of Delphi: Sacred Way, Treasury of the Athenians, Polygonal Wall, Temple of Apollo, Castalia Spring (~£10 combined ticket)
- →Delphi Archaeological Museum incl. the Charioteer (included in ticket)
- →Temple of Pronaia at Marmaria (free/on ticket)
- →Arachova village lunch and rug shopping
- →Optional: small-group guided Delphi tour via GetYourGuide (~£35-45) if you want expert commentary
Self-launched vs. Let's Book Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Let's Book Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£222 | £520 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £298 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Let's Book Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£222
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Ancient Greece Loop: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia & Delphi cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £222 per person for 3 days in Mainland Greece (Peloponnese & Delphi). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Let's Book Travel?+
Yes — Let's Book Travel charges around £520 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £222 — a saving of roughly £298 (57%) per person.
How long is the Mainland Greece (Peloponnese & Delphi) trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Mainland Greece (Peloponnese & Delphi).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Mainland Greece (Peloponnese & Delphi), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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