Luxury Villas In Peloponnese

Things to do in Peloponnese

Beaches in Peloponnese

The stars of the coast within walking distance of our villas are the beaches of Stoupa and Kalogria. Stoupa beach offers sunbeds, umbrellas and pedalos against a backdrop of soft, pale sand, while Kalogria - a 10 minute walk away is an away winning blue flag beach with golden sand backed by vibrant tamarisk and swaying palms. There’s a PADI approved scuba centre for water based adventure, plus three informal tavernas for leisurely lunches. Fans of the novel Zorba the Greek might recognise the bronze statue of author Nikos Kazantzakis on your way down - it was here that he met the miner Giorgis Zorbas, the character who inspired the namesake in the book. For something a little quieter, hike 10 minutes north of Stoupa to Delfinia, a beautiful crescent of small grey pebbles backed by lush olive groves. The crystal clear waters are ideal but snorkelling, just be mindful with children as the sea bed drops suddenly so it gets very deep.

Exploration in The Peloponnese

Inland from our villas on the coast you’ll find well-marked hiking paths leading through rocky herb-scented landscapes and rural villages to lonesome Byzantine churches and beyond. Excursions further afield from Stoupa include the Diros Cave (29mi) near Areopolis, which you can enter by boat to see a huge cavern filled with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, and Mystra (59mi), a fortified Byzantine town built into a steep hillside with half a dozen churches, now proclaimed a UNESCO world heritage site. Four miles up the coast, with the peaks of the Taygwtos mountains behind a spectacular stretch of coastline Kardamyl - a sleepy fishing village was for many years home to the British travel writer and adventurer Patrick Leigh Fermor; take a boat trip to his house via the Benaki  Museum. This upmarket little place oozes unspoilt Greece, and unsurprisingly is of great appeal to writers, artists, walkers and nature-lovers, with many good restaurants, bars and cafes too.

Active types on holiday in early July may like to partake in the Maniacs 10k run - a fun run for all abilities including a 1k route for parents and toddlers! 

Eating and drinking in Peloponnese

Fish and grilled meat dominate the cuisine of the Peloponnese and grilled octopus is a popular dish to enjoy in any taverna; make sure to try Kalamata olives before your main meal. Local shops will have cured meats, fresh fruit and vegetables and dairy products in abundance, so pack a picnic and dine with the locals at the beach. Foodies might enjoy trying their hand preparing supper in their villa’s kitchen to be enjoyed out on the terrace - be sure to use local olive oil, that is the essence of Peloponesian cuisine. When it comes to wine, the Peloponnese is in fact the largest grape-growing area in Greece, accounting for approximately 30 percent of the country’s vine-planted land.