Athens to Kalavryta & Cog Railway train Tour
Duration
Availability
Group Type
PRICE
SUV Car: Ask for price (up to 4 pax)
In Brief
Follow us on a private tour closely linked to Greek Mythology. We will visit Vouraikos River, one of Europe's most impressive gorges. Let off the four wheels for a moment and embark on the funicular railway, one of the rarest types of trains in the world, for an enchanting journey through a beautiful mountainous landscape-invisible-by any other means.
Pass through curved dark tunnels, iron and stone arched bridges and enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes of Greek nature. Don’t omit to photograph a particular point of the route that Greek mythology attributes to one of Hercules twelve labors, who had to tear apart the giant rock with his sword, so as to cross with the captive Erymantus wild boar and deliver it to the King of Argos, Evristheas.
• The lush nature of Vouraikos gorge
• The traditional stone build village of Kalavryta
• The small Folklore museum
• Palaiologina Mansion
• Lehouritis Tower
This trip will set off from Athens in the comfort of your private vehicle on your way to the traditional stone build village of Kalavryta. A short stop will take place when we reach the Isthmus of Corinth, to admire the Canal, which are- with the Panama and the Suez canals- the only three artificial canals worldwide. Then we’ll continue our trip following the coast of Northern Peloponnese towards Diakopto.
Odontotos train starts from the railway station of Diakopto. It is one of the most original attractions in Greece and in Achaea prefecture in particular. During this full day tour, you can ride the old-fashioned train, which runs alongside one of Greece’s best kept secrets. The Vouraikos Gorge! It is an impressive 20-kilometer-long gorge, formed after millions of years by Vouraikos River and the elements of Nature. After a distance of 22,350 meters and within 60 minutes it ends in the town of Kalavrita, 750 meters above sea level. Passing through curved dark tunnels, iron and stone arched bridges, swift crystal-clear streams, waterfalls and impressive rocky cliffs, will make this route an unforgettable experience!
Book the Athens to Kalavryta & Rack Railway train Tour to take an amazing journey through the gorgeous scenery of Peloponnese.
Prices include
- Transport by A/C, smoke-free luxury vehicle to/from the sites.
- An English-speaking driver
- Hotel /apartment pickup and drop-off (only for downtown Athens).
- Car fuel
- Tolls
- Car parking
- All legal taxes.
Not included
- Gratuities (optional)
- Meals and drinks
- Hotel/apartment pick-up / drop off, around Athens area city center (can be arranged)
- Rack rail tickets
- Anything not mentioned above
Duration
10-11 hours
Activity Level
Easy
Group type
Private or Small related member Groups
Notes
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Infant seats available on request
- Most travelers can participate
Post Covid 19 Policy:
Vehicles will be sanitized before every pick up. Hand sanitizing done before departure and after every major stop. There can be maximum 6 clients in an 8 seater minivan to secure social distance among participants (for shared small group tours only). Face masks available for clients. Guides will wear facemasks. Fresh trash bag will be place in every vehicle and waste will be destroyed at the end of the tours.
The above Covid-19 Protocols are subject to change according to the Greek State guidelines and the course of the pandemic.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the start date of the experience
Departure details
Traveler pickup is offered
Pick up and drop off is included from all centrally located Athens hotels and apartments. Just inform us during the booking of the hotel you are staying at, or apartment address. If the hotel /apartment is not accessible (e.g narrowness, pedestrian area) we will appoint a nearby meeting point for picking you up. You will receive an email or text msg from us with the exact pick up time the day before the start of the tour.
Return details
Returns to original departure point
Language
English
WHAT IS THE SPOKEN LANGUAGE?
The spoken language is English. More language is available upon request subjected to availability.
WHEN IS THIS TOUR AVAILABLE?
Throughout the year, when the weather conditions permits
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?
- Comfortable clothes (preferably quick-drying material: cotton or polycotton not denim)
- Obligatory light hiking shoes or comfortable, rubber sole shoes.
- During the summer months, bring along hat or beanie, sunglasses, sunblock and wear light-colored clothing
- Waterproof jacket/membrane (for the rainy days)
- Your own personal water bottle. As part of our environmental policy and actions, we are committed to eliminating the use of plastic water bottles.
- Also don’t forget to bring along your camera so you can capture some unique photos of Vouraikos gorge and some best moments of this day trip.
CAN YOU PICK US UP FROM OUR HOTEL?
We offer a pick-up, free of charge, for hotels or apartments that are located in downtown Athens.
For hotels or apartments outside Athens city center we offer pick-up at additional cost. Please send us an inquiry!
IS IT CHILD FRIENDLY?
This is a tour that involves a ride with one of the rarest types of trains in the world, stories from the Greek Mythology, passing through curved dark tunnels, iron and stone arched bridges and beautiful landscapes, so yes we believe that it will be an educational and fun day trip experience for your little ones!
WHAT ARE THE ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT METHODS?
Via Athens Quality Tours and Transfers accepts the following payment methods:
- Bank to Bank Wire / Transfer to a bank account
- Payment via PayPal
for all services booked through the website of viaathenstours.gr. Please read in our Terms of Service, under the Modes of Payment section for detail information.
WHAT HAPPENS IN CASE OF RAIN?
Fortunately the weather in Greece is mild and warm for most of the year. In case of rain or bad weather conditions though, you will be timely notified about any changes to your schedule.
Kalavryta is one of the most popular winter destinations in Greece.
The biggest telescope in the Balkans, Aristarchus, and property of the National Observatory of Athens is located on the ridge of Neraidorahi.
The funicular railway of Kalavrita is the narrowest railway in Europe!
The first trains of the Funicular railway were made in France: the first three trains (delivered in 1957) were “BILLARD” and the other three (delivered in 1967) were “DECAUVILLE”.
The "Odontotos" Rack Railway was using until recently six rail cars, like the one on the picture, designed and constructed especially for the Greek rack railway and adjusted to the environment of the network (this involves the curves of the line, the height of the tunnels, the resistance of the bridges and the rails). Moreover, the procurement of four new trains was made (from the Swiss company STADLER). These trains replaced the existing ones which were in use for more than forty years.
It is almost unknown to everyone how the rail cars are electric powered. The necessary electric power is produced at the moment in generating sets located in the middle vehicle, but if the line was electrically powered this vehicle wouldn't be necessary.
It is worth mentioning that the French technicians had from the outset suggested the electro motion of the line by producing electric power in dams that could have been constructed between the 3rd and 15th km, exploiting in this way the repeated waterfalls in the river. Apart from the study and the planning of the network which is due to the French technicians, Italian workers also worked in this project because of their experience of the mountainous railways in the Alps.
The renewal of the existing infrastructure involved the construction of new superstructure (new train new tracks, new sleepers and macadam). At the same time there was an extensive maintenance of metallic bridges.
Facts & Figures for the Funicular railway
- There are only few straight parts of the line unlike the many curved ones.
- Between the 3.1km and 16.9km lies the most interesting part of the route.
- Total length of the supporting walls next to the racks is 400m
- Total length of the stone embankment investments is 500m.
- Six tunnels in the network 200m long in total. There are also tunnel constructions open on one side and carved on the rock on the other.
- There are totally 49 bridges in the network.
- Among the metallic ones 25 have a span from 10 to 60.9m and 15 from 3 to 10m.
- There are also 9 stone arched bridges; the arch has a span from 2 to 6m.
- There is also an efficient porter.
- The speed in a conventional line reaches 40km/h and in the toothed lining 12km/h.
- The maximum inclination in some parts reaches 17.5%.
- Six years was the time needed for the renovation of the line which started on May 19 2003
- The cost of the project amounts 37million Euro.
