Land of Theseus

The first night is in Athens, where we meet in the evening for a group dinner.

Transfer to Methana via Corinthos and Epidaurus. Scenic stops along the way.

This tour starts at a little chapel, passing a farming site and ascending to high plains and sites of archaeological & geological interest. The path will get you to a forest and to the highest plains of Methana. Later you descent to the central valley ("caldera") with a small lava dome in the middle, that is similar to Kelut volcano on Java/Indonesia. Descent on an old path or on the little mountain road. In spring time we will discover many rare orchids, watch reptiles and take photos of nearly unknown prehistoric and ancient remains.

Also the neighbour island of Methana, Poros, is a former volcano and its known for its picturesque lanes and houses. You will visit the local, archaeological museum with exciting items from Methana and ancient Troezen. Tobias Schorr will show you the prehistoric stone head he found 1996 on Methana. But that is not all! You will later visit the excavation site, where many ancient items were discovered. It is the ancient town of Troezen, which is also the homeland of the mythical hero Theseus, who is told that he killed the monster of Minotaur on Crete island. Tobias Schorr will explain you, how the active volcanism of the Aegean Arc is also connected by the Mythology. At the remains of the "ancient hospital" Asklepion, there will be time for strolling through the base of the sanctuaries of Asklepios and Hippolytos. If there will be enough time left, you will enjoy also the scenic Devil´s gorge.

A little path is ascending to one of the most beautiful highlights of the Saronic gulf - the centre of the historic eruption that took place in 270 B.C. Even the ancient people of Athens were able to view the glowing mass of hot rocks, that were building an hill of 412 m altitude. Famous ancient writers like Ovid or Strabon were impressed by this nature miracle and wrote about the fire that appeared from the ground. The huge mass of dacite lava was forming one of the most beautiful lava domes in Greece. The hike will bring you in the former eruption centre of this volcano, which is dominated by huge rocks from which trees grow out of small gaps and cracks. The scenic images of this volcano are unforgettable! You will have enough time to take photographs and your guide will explain to you the special kind of volcano and its eruption mechanics. Later there will be a break in the local volcano tavern or in the fishing harbour of Vathy. There will be also time to discover the ancient acropolis and the area of the ancient town of Methana, which partly sank into the sea, when the magma chamber of the volcano was empty.

On this tour you will ascend to an abandoned settlement on top of a huge lava dome. Old cisterns, ruins and a tiny small chapel remind us that in former time the people were finding a safe place, when the pirates were attacking the villages on Methana. There is a nice path with scenic views over the volcanic landscape and we will have stops for taking photos and relaxing. After the hike we will descend to one of the beautiful villages at the sea shore for a lunch in a small tavern.

Today you will hike to an Mycenaean sanctuary and discover the active signs of volcanism on Methana. May be the sanctuary had an religious connection to the volcanoes of Methana? The little clay figures we will have seen in the Poros archaeological museum, have been discovered here in 1990. There were about 150 prehistoric clay idols found near the entrance of a modern chapel. In a little cave we will see also crystals of healing, volcanic salts. Did the people of the Mycenaean settlement extract them for therapies?

After a relaxed breakfast, we will drive back towards the airport of Athens (about 2,5 hours drive), where we arrive normally by around 13.00 (depending a bit on the group's needs). If some of the group need to be at the airport significantly earlier, it can be arranged at extra cost.