My wife and I will be driving from Nafplio to Olympia on June 17. We need to see Olympia that afternoon, but are considering taking the most interesting and scenic drive between Nafplio and Olympia so long as we can get to Olympia by 2:00. We're wondering if the drive from Kanteria to Dimitsana, although winding and slow, is worth taking. Any suggestions?

The scenic, mountainous roads in Arkadia are _definitely_ worth driving.

There are 2 possible routes - I have taken them both.

Also refer to this Via Michelin map:
http://tinyurl.com/2qbvbe

1) A southerly route is:
Tripoli - Dimitsana - Stemnitsa - Karitaina - Andritsaina - on to Olympia.

2) A northerly route is :
Tripoli - Vytina (detour to Dimitsana highly recommended) - Lagkadia - on to Olympia.

If I could do only one of the routes, my preference is the southerly route 1. The 3 villages of Dimitsana, Stemnitsa, Karitaina, and their environs are especially appealing.

I would allow up to 6 hrs total travel, as you will surely want to stop and walk around.

If you started very early from Nafplio, say 6am, then you would also have time to explore a bit of the Lousios Gorge near Dimitsena. Some of the monasteries are accessible via narrow paved roads.

The outdoor "Water Power Museum", near Dimitsena, is also worth a detour if time permits.

Tom thank you for your post. We are planning this same drive next year and although I have not started my, in depth research yet I have bookmarked your response and will use it as a starting point to focus my research.

The Water Power Museum at Dimitsana sells a booklet+map titled "Cultural Map of Lousios Valley", or something similar. It is well worth the modest few euro cost, as the map is very detailed, including many hiking paths and the 1-lane roads in the region.

In 2001, NY TImes had a nice travel article "Down Lousios Gorge To Old Arcadia" by Sherry Marker, still online here: http://tinyurl.com/3xo3yx

Tom,
Thank you very much. Your information is most helpful.