Tours in Peloponnese

CHAT Tours and Key Tours are among the many operators who organize whirlwind one-day tours from Athens to Corinth, Mycenae, Epidauros, and Nafplion; cost is about EUR 75. These no-frills tours, aimed at those who don't expect a lot of hand-holding, can be booked at travel agencies and at larger hotels. CHAT, Key, and other operators also offer a more leisurely two-day tour of Corinth, Mycenae, and Epidauros, with an overnight stay in Nafplion; cost is about EUR 140.

If you are in Nafplion or Patras, many local travel agencies can arrange day tours of the classical sites. Pegasus Cruises and other agencies in Nafplion and Tolo also arrange cruises to Hydra, Poros, and other nearby islands.

In the Southern Peloponnese, the choice of English-language tours is extremely limited. If an agency does venture into the region, it's usually a detour through Tripoli and Sparta for a cursory visit to Mystras, as part of a package to the Northern Peloponnese.

Contacts

CHAT Tours (Xenofontos 9, Athens. 210/323-0827. www.chatours.gr). Key Tours (Kallirois 4, Athens. 210/923-3166. www.keytours.com). Pegasus Cruises (Sekeri 10, Tolo. 27520/59430. www.pegasus-cruises.gr).