Art & History Abroad Tours
The Land Of Patrick Leigh Fermor
Travel with ancient historian Jeremy Paterson to the rugged lands of the Mani in southern Greece with its distinctive tower houses, the land made famous in Mani, one of the travel books by Paddy Leigh Fermor, the famous traveller, soldier, and lover of Greece.
Our tour encompasses aspects of the whole rich history of Greece from the Mycenaean palace of the legendary king Nestor at Pylos, to the remains of the Classical cities of Nemea and Messene, the deserted Byzantine city of Mystras, to the fortresses of Monemvasia and Methone, and key sites in the Greek war of independence at Nafplio and Navarino Bay.
Paddy Leigh Fermor (1915-2011), traveller, soldier, and writer, in 1933 at the age of eighteen set out to walk from the Hook of Holland to Istanbul. He then continued to travel through Greece. In the war he was sent to provide support for the resistance fighters in German-occupied Crete. Among his exploits was the kidnap of the German general Heinrich Kreipe. After the war he became a writer of fine and idiosyncratic travel books.
One of the best is Mani, about the rugged and remote region around Mt Taygetus in southern Greece, which is at the heart of this tour. Here Paddy and his wife, Joan, had a beautiful house built, which we will visit.
what’s included
At A Glance
MEET YOUR EXPERT GUIDE
Jeremy Paterson
Jeremy taught Greek and Roman history for over forty years at Newcastle University. He has travelled widely in Greece and the Mediterranean. His enthusiasm for the ancient world was first inspired by reading Homer and then by his fascination with the archaeological discoveries at Mycenae and Knossos. He is much in demand as a speaker at home and in many of the classical countries of the Mediterranean, where he has accompanied many groups to sites and museums.
itinerary & excursions
Your Itinerary
Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.
Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.
Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Athens, then Nafplio
Transfer to the hotel. Welcome dinner at the hotel. Please note that the September 2026 tour will depart from London Gatwick, and will be based in Tolo.
Day 2: Nemea & Nafplio
We visit the beautiful Classical site of Nemea, with the remains of the fine 4th century BC Temple of Zeus. We will also go to the nearby ancient stadium, where the Nemean Games, one of the principal games of Greece, were held. We will enter the stadium exactly as the athletes did, through a long tunnel. We then head to the lovely town of Nafplio with it many reminders of the Greek War of Independence, when for a brief time it became the capital of free Greece. We will have a short tour of the town before free time for lunch and personal exploring. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Tiryns & Mystras
Our day starts with a visit one of the great Mycenaean fortresses, Tiryns, with its immense and impressive cyclopean walls. We then transfer across the Nafplio hills and down to Sparta to visit Mystras, the extraordinary, ruined Byzantine city that lies on the side of Mount Taygetos.
Day 4: Monemvasia & Gythio
Today we travel down the valley of ‘Hollow Lacedaemon’ to visit the breathtaking fortified town of Monemvasia, set on its rocky island off the south-east coast of the Peloponnese. Founded by the Byzantines in the 6th century AD, it was occupied at various times by Crusaders, Venetians, and Ottomans, all of whom left some influence on this attractive walled town. Later in the day we will visit the charming seafront of Gythio, once the seaport of Ancient Sparta, and today the port for the region.
Day 5: Day Trip Into The Southern Mani
We travel south again heading this time to the rugged land of the Mani, the subject of one of Patrick Leigh Fermor’s famous travel books. This is the land of distinctive stone-built tower houses, a reminder of a turbulent past. We will visit the capital of the region, Areopolis, and villages to the south such as the deserted Vathia. Along the way, if conditions allow, we will visit the startling rock formations of the Diros Caves. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 6: Messene
We cross Mt Taygetos via the dramatic Langada Pass and enter the land of Messenia. The ancient Messenians were subjects of Sparta for centuries until in 371 BC when the Theban general Epaminondas defeated Sparta and freed them. In 369 BC he had the city of Messene built for them and we will visit the substantial remnants found here at the archaeological site of Messene.
Day 7: Pylos, Palace of Nestor & Methone
We travel to the southwest coast to visit Homer’s ‘Sandy Pylos’, the home of the legendary wise king, Nestor. We visit ‘the Palace of Nestor’, the best preserved Mycenean palace on the Greek mainland. Just to the South is the Bay of Navarino, the site of two significant military engagements: the Battle of Sphacteria between Athens and Sparta in 425 BC, and the defeat, by the fleet of the Great Powers, of the Ottoman fleet, in 1827, a decisive moment in the Greek War of Independence.
We will visit the charming town of Pylos, and its archaeological museum housed in the castle. Later we travel on and visit the seaside Castle of Methone, one of the most important and most beautiful of the castles built by the Venetians after 1209. It sits on a rock penetrating the sea, separated from the land by an artificial moat.
Day 8: Kardamyli
Our final day takes us into the Mani once again, travelling down to the village of Kardamyli to visit the beautiful house which Leigh Fermor and his wife Joan had built for them and where they lived for nearly 50 years. After our visit we will enjoy lunch altogether in a seaside taverna, just as the Leigh Fermor’s would have enjoyed on many an occasion in this beautiful and simplistic location.
Day 9: Return to London
Transfer to Kalamata Airport for flight to London Gatwick.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.
Availability
Choose Your Departure
HOTELS
Tour Accommodation
King Minos Hotel, Tolo
Situated on a hill overlooking the sea in the seaside resort of Tolo, this hotel is well-located at 150 metres from the beach and 400 metres from the town centre. Facilities include an outdoor pool, restaurant, lounge bar, pool bar and fitness room. All rooms have air conditioning, flat screen TV with satellite channels, telephone, safe box, hairdryer and a small fridge.
Hotel Website
Mystras Palace, Mystras
Stay in your own stone-built village at the 5-star Mystras Palace Hotel, nestled on a hillside and surrounded by beautiful lush gardens and scenery near to to ruins of Mystras. The hotel offers a relaxing stay including a spa, seasonal outdoor pool, fitness centre, tennis courts, and gourmet dining venues. The bedrooms are spacious, with modern amenities.
Hotel Website
Pharae Hotel, Kalamata
The four-star Pharae Hotel is centrally located and has a convenient seafront position, which provides easy access for stepping out right on to the beach front as well as finding a good choice of local tavernas nearby. Facilities at the hotel include a terrace bar and a fifth floor restaurant, the Loft Lounge, which enjoys both good food and lovely views that encompass the broad reach of the Messinian Gulf. The comfortable recently renovated rooms include satellite TV, air-conditioning, tea/coffee facilities, room safe, hair dryer, and balcony.
Hotel Website
Our regular tours
Mobility Information
Most of our tours involve a considerable amount of walking, standing and stair climbing due to the nature of the tours and the places visited. You also need to be able to get on and off the coach several times a day by yourself, or a train with your luggage. On this tour, there is a lot of walking on streets, which may be steep, poorly paved or cobbled.
Our tours are group tours, and we want everyone to enjoy them to their fullest. It is therefore important that those who have restricted mobility choose a manageable tour which fits their fitness level. It is important that our clients meet minimum fitness criteria to ensure your enjoyment and that of the rest of the group is not compromised. You should be prepared to walk 500m or 30 minutes unaided at a reasonable pace.
If you do have any health or mobility concerns, then let us know at the time of booking and we can advise whether a tour be suitable. Having all the details helps us make sure you and the rest of the group have an enjoyable holiday. We have a handy rating for each tour to let you know how strenuous it may be.
Your questions answered
Tour FAQ
If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.
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