Katakolon

Welcome to a real agróktima, an authentic farm retreat where the Greek countryside bears the scent of sacred hospitality: here, xenia is not just a word; it is a ritual that once honored Zeus. You'll be welcome with a glass of ouzo or local wine, just to get you in the mood. Then it's off to the oil mill to discover the local olive oil, and to top it all off, an irresistible combination: a sirtaki dance lesson and a tasting of zucchini, eggplant and orange-flavored loukanika. You'll soon understand that here, you can enjoy Greece's most authentic side.

• Tour of the oil mill with tasting of typical products and welcome toast
• Sirtaki show

• You are invited on an adventure in ‘agróktima’, i.e. an authentic Greek agrotourism near Olympia, where young and old alike will discover the true activities and flavours of the countryside.
  
  
• You will be welcomed by your hosts and get to know the famous Greek hospitality. Here, hospitality is called ‘xenia’ and is sacred: it was once believed that guests were sent by Zeus.
  
  
• The welcome is warm and fragrant: for adults, a toast with ouzo, the aniseed-flavoured liqueur of great occasions, or local wine is a must.
  
  
• This is followed by a visit to the oil mill and a presentation of their production.
  
  
• Then comes a finale that couldn't be more Greek: a sirtaki lesson and the tasting of local products such as courgettes, aubergines and the typical ‘loukanika’ sausage flavoured with orange peel. Your children will become real ‘Zorba’.

• The “Adagio Tour” was born from the collaboration between Costa Crociere Foundation and AISM, with the aim of offering land experiences at a “slower” pace and itineraries with fewer architectural barriers, designed for people with accessibility needs. 
• The “Adagio Tour” version of this excursion is available on all ships.
• The places available for the "Adagio Tour" version are limited.
• If you use a wheelchair, the reservation of the "Adagio Tour" must necessarily be made through your cruise representative or through the contact channels of the Customer Center.
• Menus may vary according to season to ensure the constant high quality of the dishes served.
• Before booking the excursion or once on board, contact the excursion office to check the availability of vegetarian or gluten-free dishes and to report any food intolerances.
• This excursion does not include the services of a guide

You arrive at Kourouta: head down to the beach, which seems to look you up and down and say, “relax, I’ve got this.” In an instant, you'll find your perfect spot - settle in, and let yourself be swept up in the vibe of “this is the life”. Here, you don't need to look for relaxation: instead, it grabs you and carries you away. It all happens in the blink of an eye…three seconds flat.The water is so clear that it's tempting to jump in fully clothed, and between sips of a cool drink and a chit-chat in the shade, you can decide whether to stay and soak up the sun or stroll over to the seafront bars for a taste of authentic Greece.

• Panoramic views of the Katakolon coastline
• Kourouta beach

• Bring only your towel and sunscreen: we've arranged all the comforts you need on Kourouta beach, including a sun lounger and umbrella, a shower and refreshing beverages. And have your smartphone ready to take a million photos of the sights you'll see on the way there.
• Fancy a dip? Get ready for Blue Flag certified crystal clear water.
• Want some advice? Listen to your stomach and head to one of the many beach bars and restaurants to try a menu of fresh fish or other Greek delicacies.
• The nearby green pine forest is ideal for a walk after lunch or a nap in the shade of the trees, while the reddish sand of Kourouta is ideal for topping up your tan.
• In short, take it easy. Both nature and tourist facilities here seem to be designed to treat you like royalty. Like a Greek god in fact.

• Slight changes may be made to itineraries and the length of excursions in order to protect your health and to comply with regulations and the safety protocol.
• This is one of the most popular excursions so book early.
• We'll provide you with a beverage, a half-liter bottle of water, beach umbrellas and loungers for adults. Children will share their parents' sun lounger.
• During the tour, a local guide will provide assistance and information.

Visiting Olympia with the family is like stepping into an adventure book where everything comes to life: temples, ancient squares and ruins that tell the story of the feats of athletes from thousands of years ago. As they wander through the excavations, little ones will be able to imagine the races, the challenges and the energy of the first Olympic Games. After discovering fascinating facts and stories, it's time for the moment everyone has been waiting for: a fun race in ancient Olympic style, complete with an olive wreath for the winner. And at the end, every child receives a special certificate to commemorate their day as a real young Greek athlete.

• Ancient Olympia: archaeological excavations
• Young partecipants at the tour re-enacting the ancient Olympic Games

• An expert guide awaits us at Olympia to take us on a discovery tour of the ancient city, where the remains of temples, statues, public buildings and the homes of priests and athletes bear witness to the pomp and ceremony of the past. Lying in a valley along the River Alfios in north-western Peloponnese, Olympia held the famous Olympic Games in honour of Zeus every four years. Here in 776 BC, a list of winners was drawn up for the first time, presumably the results of the very first Olympics in history.
• As we stroll around ancient Olympia amongst the archaeological excavations, it feels as though we can still hear the spectators shouting to encourage the athletes and breathe the festive atmosphere which accompanied those 5, very long days, during which the best athletes challenged each other in the various sports: wrestling matches, charriot and horse races, the pentathlon and pankration (a primitive form of boxing). Let's delve into the past and discover the little secrets of the competition which was first accessible only for male athletes of Greek origin and was later opened up to young Romans. Perhaps not everyone knows that women and slaves were banned from the town, the sanctuaries and the terraces, at the risk of a terrible death by being thrown from a nearby cliff.
• We will stop in the ancient squares, where traders and citizens once met to carry out their business.
• After our exciting tour of the excavations, the kids can feel like athletes from Ancient Greece and challenge one another in an event similar to the ancient Olympic Games, to relive the fun of the past. The winner will be crowned according to ancient tradition with an olive branch, the kotinos, in honour of Zeus, the father of the Gods.
• Before we end our excursion, all the children will be given a certificate of participation to remind them of this unforgettable day when they competed "not for the prize, but for the honour".

• We recommend that you book early because only a limited number of places are available.
• The excursion involves walking for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, it is therefore recommended to wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
• Large backpacks are not allowed inside the museum or the archaeological site.
• This excursion is not recommended for guests with mobility problems.

Ready to play in the home of the gods? Olympia welcomes you to the place where it all began: the first race was held in this stadium in 776 BC. No fans, just glory. Then, visit the magnificent Temple of Zeus, patron of the 292 ancient Olympic Games and guardian of the legendary statue by the sculptor Phidias, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The journey continues to the Temple of Hera, guardian of the laurel wreaths, and through the Gymnasium, the Palestra, the stadium and the arena, where athletes trained until they fainted from exhaustion. And after all that history… you'll be hit by an Olympic appetite! A traditional farmhouse lunch awaits you, amidst olive groves and vineyards: feta, Kalamata olives, local wine, and ingredients from close by. Get ready to feel like a champion.

 Archaeological site of Olympia * Gymnasium, Palaestra and sports arena  Temple of Zeus  Temple of Hera  Typical lunch in a farmhouse surrounded by olive groves and vineyards

• Get ready to discover Olympia, the cradle of the Olympics since 776 BC. Everything started in the stadion, but don't imagine any chanting and cheering: this was all about racing.
• The first stop is the Temple of Zeus, the patron of all 292 editions of the first Olympic Games: an event so highly esteemed that even wars were suspended.
• You're facing the most famous shrine of the ancient world where one of the seven wonders of the world once stood; the enormous statue of Zeus Olympus was created by Phidias, who was a superstar in his time.
• The Temple of Hera, or Heràion, was dedicated to the queen of Olympus and it once housed the laurel wreaths reserved for the winners of the games.
• In the Gymnasium and Palaestra, athletes trained for at least a month before the games. The stadium was dedicated to the races, while the arena was the domain of the wrestlers.
• Sport makes you hungry. After a tour among the olive groves, vineyards and animals, you're invited to a typical Greek lunch in a farmhouse: Kalamata olives, feta with onion chutney, Tirokafteri with herbs, local wine and lots more. All zero miles food produced by the local farmers. The food here is also the stuff of champions.

• Slight changes may be made to itineraries and the length of excursions in order to protect your health and to comply with regulations and the safety protocol.
• Menus may vary according to season to ensure the constant high quality of the dishes served.
• Before booking the excursion or once on board, contact the excursion office to check the availability of vegetarian or gluten-free dishes and to report any food intolerances.
• In case of high temperatures, the archaelogical site may be closed without notice.

The tour begins at the foot of Mount Cronion, the home of Zeus’s father, and takes you into the ruins of ancient Olympia, which were first discovered in 1776 and have been slowly emerging from the excavations since 1875. In the Altis, the sacred heart, you’ll find the Temple of Hera and the Echo Stoa, where the echo bounced back seven times. All around you are the stadium, the hippodrome, the Palestra and the Gymnasium, witness to epic feats. The best part? It's got to be the Temple of Zeus, with its 12-meter-tall statue, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The finale takes us to the Archaeological Museum, with metopes, the Winged Nike, and the iconic Hermes with Dionysus.

• Ancient Olympia: archaeological excavations
• Archaeological Museum

• Your archaeological tour begins among the treasures of ancient Olympia at the foot of the Cronion Hill, named after Cronos, the mythical father of Zeus.
• Venture with our guide through the excavations of this historic city of the Peloponnese discovered in 1776 by Englishman Richard Chandler and unearthed by German archaeologists starting in 1875.
• The Altis is the sacred enclosure around the religious buildings, including the Temple of Hera and the Echo Stoa, where the echo would sound seven times. Around the Altis were the stadium, the hippodrome, the palaestra and the gymnasium.
• The Temple of Zeus was the most important building, housing a 12-meter-high statue of the god, in gold and ivory, which has gone down in history as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
• A short trip away is the Archaeological Museum, where you'll see the statues that decorated the temple's pediments, called metope, and other priceless treasures including the Nike in flight by Paionios and the statue of Hermes with Dionysus by Praxiteles.

• Slight changes may be made to itineraries and the length of excursions in order to protect your health and to comply with regulations and the safety protocol.
• Large backpacks are not allowed in the museum or the archaeological site.
• In case of high temperatures, the archaelogical site may be closed without notice.

Ready to step into the heart of the ancient Olympic site? Here, myth and history go up against each other: whether it was the three kings who invented the games in 776 B.C. or Heracles after his sixth labor, it makes little difference. You are in Olympia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Before you is the Temple of Zeus, once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the Temple of Hera, where the Olympic flame is still lit today. Then, step inside the 40,000-seat stadium, the place where the first Olympic race in history was held. And when the glory gives way to hunger, an epic tasting awaits: keftedakia, tyropita, ouzo and sirtaki, played and danced just for you at the modern Olympia.

• Ancient Olympia: archaeological excavations
• Sirtaki show
• Local food tasting in modern Olympia

• Your guided tour of the ancient site of the Olympics will take you to Olympia, a real archaeological treasure declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Historically the games originated in 776 BC, when three kings were looking for a way to reconcile Greece. According to mythology it was Heracles, after his sixth labor, who invited the gods to compete in honor of Zeus.
• Believe whichever version you prefer, but above all believe your own eyes: take a look at the legendary Temple of Zeus, inside which stood a huge statue of the god, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
• The Temple of Hera, dating back to 600 BC, once guarded the laurel wreaths and the names of the winners it now hosts the ceremony that lights the Olympic flame.
• The stadion, which had 40,000 seats, is where the first Olympic competition, a race, was held.
• All this epic grandeur makes you hungry, so here's an equally epic food tasting with keftedakia meatballs, tyropita stuffed with feta, ouzo liqueur and sirtaki music danced and played for you in the town of Olympia.

• Slight changes may be made to itineraries and the length of excursions in order to protect your health and to comply with regulations and the safety protocol.
• This is one of the most popular excursions so book early.
• Menus may vary according to season to ensure the constant high quality of the dishes served.
• Before booking the excursion or once on board, contact the excursion office to check the availability of vegetarian or gluten-free dishes and to report any food intolerances.
• In case of high temperatures, the archaelogical site may be closed without notice.

Ancient Olympia is best explored on foot, following a guide who brings UNESCO-heritage myths and rituals to life in stories that will leave you speechless. Wander between the Temple of Zeus, the Heraion - where the Olympic flame is still lit today - and the sports facilities that date back 2,800 years: the stadium, arena, Gymnasium, Palestra, and even the apodyterion. Then the journey takes a different turn: from the ancient squares teeming with merchants, you’ll move on to modern Archaea Olympia, brimming with stores and souvenirs. Two sides of Olympia, one single experience: epic tales and real life.

• Archaeological site of Olympia
• Modern Olympia

• Hope you're feeling energetic: the ancient site of Oiympia has to be visited on foot, following an expert guide who will recount the legends and rituals of this priceless archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Wander around places that witnessed the inauguration of the first Olympic Games in 776 BC: starting from the Temple of Zeus, known for its sculptural pediments inspired by the chariot race and the Centauromachy.
• Not far from here is the Heraion, the temple of Hera: the most ancient example of Doric style architecture. This place, where athletes once met to pray for victory, is still the site where, every 4 years, the Olympic torch is lit to mark the start of the Olympic Games.
• Have you ever seen 2800-year-old sports complexes? You'll find several of them here: from the gymnasium to the “stadion”, the arena to the palaestra. They were fitted with exercise equipment and included an “apodyterion”, or changing room. You can almost hear the shouts of the spectators encouraging the athletes competing in wrestling, horse-racing, pentathlon and “pancratium”, the first form of boxing.
• Round off the tour with a walk through the modern city of Archaia Olympia and indulge yourself as you visit the many souvenir shops.

• Slight changes may be made to itineraries and the length of excursions in order to protect your health and to comply with regulations and the safety protocol.
• Large backpacks are not allowed in the archaeological site.
• In case of high temperatures, the archaelogical site may be closed without notice.