Kayak to the sunken city at Epidavros

Your guide will pick you up in the morning from your hotel in Nafplio. From here, it’s a 40-minute drive to the kayak launch point. After a short safety briefing and being fitted with a life jacket, you’ll set off across the crystalline waters of the Saronic Gulf in your kayak.

This trip can be taken with a private guide or as part of a small group. Whichever you choose, your guide accompanies you as you kayak along the coast of the Peloponnese. The route is lined with towering cliffs, rocky inlets and hidden coves. Along the way, there’ll be opportunities to stop at tiny, quiet beaches for a rest and a chance to snorkel.

One of these stops, and the real highlight of the day, is the beach near Epidavros. Here the remains of a Roman villa, once part of the ancient city of Epidavros, lie submerged a short distance below the surface of the sea. The outlines of several rooms can clearly be seen along with a series of amphorae probably once used for the storage of oil and wine. You’ll kayak around the site before stopping on the beach. There’s the opportunity to then swim back out to the ruins to snorkel over them, and explore in more detail.

Once you’ve had time to investigate the ruins, you’ll continue onto a quieter beach where your guide will set up a shade tent and an array of simple, traditional Greek dishes for lunch. After lunch and some time to rest and drink in the scenery, you’ll paddle back across the water to your starting point where your driver will be waiting to drop you off at your hotel in Nafplio.

The majority of your day will be spent out on the water, so it’s advisable to wear sunglasses and a sun hat, and plenty of sunscreen. You may like to bring water shoes for walking over the rocky beaches, as sea urchins are common in this area. You may also want to consider a rash guard or other long-sleeved shirt to protect you from the sun. Life jackets are mandatory and snorkels are provided, but you can take your own if you wish.

On this trip you’ll observe a set of ancient Greek ruins from a more unusual angle and explore the Peloponnese coastline by kayak. The remains of part of an ancient city lie just below the surface of the sea near Epidavros, and this guided full-day trip includes the chance to kayak or snorkel over this sunken city. To get there, you’ll kayak along the cove-riddled coastline of the Peloponnese, stopping at beaches, while your guide regales you with the region’s history and the story behind the ruins themselves. Afterwards, you can enjoy an alfresco lunch of traditional Greek dishes.