Tracing the Steps of Hercules in the Peloponnese — Self-Launched

Take an early KTEL intercity bus from Athens' Kifissos terminal to Corinth (roughly 1h15, ~£8), or a suburban Proastiakos train to Corinth. Stop at the Corinth Canal for the classic viewpoint, then local bus/taxi to Ancient Corinth to see the Temple of Apollo, the Archaeological Museum and the Heraion at Perachora (a short taxi ride). In the afternoon, take a bus toward Nafplio via Epidavros (or the KTEL Argolida service from Corinth to Nafplio and a local bus out to the site). Explore the Asklepieion and the Archaeological Museum of Epidaurus; in summer the Ancient Theatre hosts evening performances — check the Athens & Epidaurus Festival programme and book a ticket directly if you want to catch one. Overnight in Nafplio's old town.

🚌KTEL bus Athens–Corinth ~£8; local buses Corinth–Nafplio ~£7; taxi to Heraion ~£12 shared. Total day transport ~£20.

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Nafplio old town, dorm/private budget room (~£22-30/night)

• →Corinth Canal viewpoint
• →Ancient Corinth archaeological site & museum (self-guided, ~£8 combo)
• →Heraion of Perachora
• →Asklepieion & Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (self-guided, ~£9)
• →Optional Epidaurus festival performance ticket (~£20-45)

Base yourself in Nafplio and use the KTEL Argolida local buses to Fichti/Mykines for Mycenae — the Lion Gate, Treasury of Atreus and the museum are all walkable from the village stop. On the way back, stop at Ancient Tiryns (a modest detour by local bus or a short taxi) and, if time allows, the Neolithic site of Lerna. Spend the afternoon swimming at Karathona beach (local bus or 25-minute walk from town), then climb to Palamidi fortress for the sunset view over the gulf, wander Akronafplia, Syntagma Square and the old-town alleys, and see Bourtzi castle from the waterfront (boat trips run in summer). Dinner of Peloponnesian food in the old town.

🚌Local KTEL Argolida buses Nafplio–Mycenae ~£3 each way; local bus to Karathona ~£1.50; occasional shared taxi ~£5. Day total ~£12.

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Nafplio (~£22-30)

• →Mycenae archaeological site & Treasury of Atreus (~£10)
• →Ancient Tiryns citadel (~£5)
• →Lerna prehistoric settlement
• →Karathona beach swim
• →Palamidi fortress (~£8)
• →Bourtzi castle viewpoint
• →Nafplio old town walk

This leg is the trickiest on public transport, so plan it deliberately: take an early KTEL bus Nafplio–Corinth, then a local bus/taxi to Ancient Nemea to see the Temple of Zeus, the stadium and the Spring of Adrastos; the small Temple of Hercules at Kleones is on the road nearby (taxi). Spend a couple of hours wine tasting at one of the Nemea cooperative or family wineries (book a tasting directly — the Nemea wine route wineries take walk-ins at the weekend). From Nemea, head north by bus/taxi to Lake Stymphalia to see the Environmental Education Museum and the wetland, then connect via Kiato or Patras to Kalavryta by KTEL bus (long afternoon; check timetables at ktelachaias.gr). Overnight in Kalavryta village.

🚌Nafplio–Corinth bus ~£7; Corinth–Nemea local bus/taxi ~£8; Nemea–Stymphalia–Kiato taxi/shared ~£20; KTEL Kiato/Patras–Kalavryta ~£10. Day total ~£35 (this is the costliest transport day — consider a shared taxi with other travellers).

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Kalavryta (~£25-32)

• →Ancient Nemea site, Temple of Zeus & stadium (~£5)
• →Temple of Hercules at Kleones
• →Nemea winery tasting with local food (~£15-20)
• →Lake Stymphalia Environmental Museum
• →Kalavryta evening walk

Take a local bus or taxi from Kalavryta to Mega Spileon monastery, dramatically built into a cliff. Continue to Zachlorou in the Vouraikos gorge, hike the gorge path from Zachlorou toward Niamata/Kato Zachlorou on the old rack-railway footpath (well-marked, roughly 2-3 hours one way), and ride the famous Diakofto–Kalavryta Odontotos rack railway back down through the gorge (single ticket ~£9 — book the day before in high season; see odontotos.gr). From Diakofto, take the Proastiakos train to Patras or Kiato and a KTEL bus onward to Ancient Olympia. If time permits, detour to the Cave of the Lakes near Klitoria (needs a taxi — optional). Evening stroll around Olympia village and the old railway station.

🚌Local bus/taxi Kalavryta–Mega Spileon–Zachlorou ~£15; rack railway Diakofto–Kalavryta direction ~£9; Proastiakos Diakofto–Patras ~£4; KTEL Patras–Olympia ~£7. Day total ~£35.

🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in Ancient Olympia (~£25-32)

• →Mega Spileon monastery
• →Vouraikos gorge hike Zachlorou–Niamata (free)
• →Odontotos rack railway ride (~£9)
• →Optional Cave of the Lakes (~£8 + taxi)
• →Evening walk in Olympia village

Start early at the Ancient Olympia site — Temple of Zeus, the ancient stadium, and both the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the History of the Olympic Games (one combined ticket covers the site and museums, ~£12). Midday, take a KTEL bus or shared taxi southwest to Lake Kaiafa for a swim and a light tavern lunch. In the afternoon, head to the Neda gorge area near Figaleia to swim in the river pools (best reached by taxi from Zacharo or Figaleia — agree a return price, ~£25-30). If you have energy and a driver, the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (UNESCO) is a mountain detour above Andritsaina. Overnight in Andritsaina or Karytaina, both handsome stone villages.

🚌KTEL/local bus Olympia–Zacharo/Kaiafa ~£6; shared taxi to Neda gorge ~£15 pp; taxi to Andritsaina ~£12 pp. Day total ~£33.

🛏Stone guesthouse in Andritsaina or Karytaina (~£22-30)

• →Ancient Olympia site, stadium & museums (~£12)
• →Swim at Lake Kaiafa
• →Neda gorge river pools & Ancient Figaleia
• →Optional Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (~£6)
• →Andritsaina / Karytaina village walk

Book a Lousios river rafting trip directly with one of the local operators based in Dimitsana or Stemnitsa (half-day, ~£40-50 including kit and guide — GetYourGuide sometimes lists these, but booking direct is cheaper). Before or after, hike part of the Lousios gorge trail from Dimitsana down to the Monastery of Prodromos (built into the cliff face, free) and see the ruins of Ancient Gortys in the valley. Explore Dimitsana's water-power museum and the old town, then take a KTEL bus to Tripoli (~1h) for the night and walk the historic centre.

🚌Local bus/taxi Karytaina–Dimitsana ~£5; KTEL Dimitsana–Tripoli ~£6; local bus to rafting put-in ~£4. Day total ~£15.

🛏Budget hotel in Tripoli (~£24-30)

• →Lousios river rafting (~£45)
• →Lousios gorge hike to Prodromos monastery
• →Ancient Gortys
• →Dimitsana open-air water power museum (~£5)
• →Tripoli old town walk

Take an early KTEL bus from Tripoli to Sparta (~1h), then a local bus (runs several times a day, ~£2) or taxi up to Mystras. Give yourself 3-4 hours to wander the Byzantine castle, the Palace of the Palaiologos and the frescoed churches (Pantanassa, Perivleptos, Agios Dimitrios) — combined ticket ~£12. Back in Sparta, see the statue of Leonidas, the Archaeological Museum and the Evrotas river bank, then take the KTEL bus Sparta–Athens (~3h, ~£15). Optional stop in Loutraki for the thermal spa if you're extending your stay, or hop off in Corinth for the canal at sunset before the final leg into Athens.

🚌KTEL Tripoli–Sparta ~£5; local bus Mystras ~£2 each way; KTEL Sparta–Athens ~£15. Day total ~£24.

🛏Not included — arrive Athens for onward travel or book a hostel separately (~£20-28 if needed)

• →Mystras castle, palace & Byzantine churches (~£12)
• →Sparta statue of Leonidas & Archaeological Museum (~£4)
• →Evrotas river walk
• →Optional Loutraki thermal spa (~£10)