Marathon & Eastern Attica in a Day Tour

5.0 (6 reviews) 9 h 10 min Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

6 reviews

5.0

Marathon Dam — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

See the legendary Marathon – the inspiration for the Olympic marathon long-distance foot race - and the surrounding areas in an extensive full day tour.

Why Hellenic Private Tours?

Flexible tours and services tailored to your needs.

Professional, certified drivers fluent in English.

Well maintained, latest model Mercedes vehicles (sedans, minivans & minibuses), licensed andcertified for tourist use by the state authorities.

Exceptional client feedback from around the world.

Dedicated customer service team available for prompt assistance.

Extensive network of licensed, experienced tour guides available upon request.

Day Trips Full-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Historical Tours Ports of Call Tours Archaeology Tours

At a glance

Duration: 9 h 10 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: H.P.Tours - Hellenic Private Tours

What is included

Included

Included: Bottled water
Included: On-board WiFi: WiFi on board
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: Professional Drivers (Not licensed to accompany you into the sites)
Included: Private transportation: Athens Hotel/Piraeus Port pickup and drop-off included

Not included

Not included: Lunch
Not included: English-speaking licensed tour guide (Optional / 400 Euros payable in cash).Subject to availability.
Not included: Airport pickup/drop-off on request (additional fee varies by vehicle type)
Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Entrance fees for the Marathon battle site and the Museum, the Temple of Artemis & the Temple of Poseidon (40.00 Euros per adult)

Itinerary

Kifissia

Passing by

The full day Marathon tour starts with a 22-mile drive through the northern suburbs of Athens such as Kifisia, one of the prettiest neighborhoods of the Athens.
Ekali

Passing by

Ekali is a village located on the slopes of Penteli mountain, constructed on 1922 according to the standards of the English garden cities. Nowadays, Ekali is the residence for many of the country's most powerful business and shipping families, politicians and artists.
Marathon Lake

20 min

Lake Marathon or the Marathon Reservoir is a water supply reservoir formed from the construction of Marathon Dam at the junction of Charadros and Varnavas Torrents near the town of Marathon. It was the primary water supply for Athens from 1931 until 1959. The dam is unique worldwide because its external cladding of white pentelikon marble is the same marble used in construction of the Parthenon and the other buildings in the Acropolis.

We will make our first stop at the Lake where you will have the chance to have an early Greek coffee in a nice coffee shop right above the Marathon Lake, enjoy the scenery and take beautiful photos.
Marathon Tomb

30 min Admission not included

Arriving at the town of Marathon, we will visit the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the Athenian army (9.000 soldiers) defeated the Persians (500.000 soldiers).

The Tomb of the 192 Athenians was erected near the battlefield reminding all of us of the sacrifice of those patriots for a free country. The outcome of the battle was important not only for Greece but for the rest of Europe. The name of the athletic long distance race, the ‘MARATHON’ comes from the legend of Pheidippides who was a Greek runner and was sent from the city of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians were defeated by the Athenians but after announcing his message “NENIKIKAMEN” (meaning We have won) he collapsed and died of exhaustion.
Archaeological Museum of Marathon

45 min Admission not included

We will continue our tour by visiting the Marathon museum.

Located in an idyllic rural location within close distance to the renown tumulus (grave mound) of Marathon, exhibits findings which cover a time span from the Prehistoric to the Late Roman era and derive from the excavated sites - mainly cemeteries - of the region.
Temple of Artemis

45 min Admission not included

Driving southern through vineyards and olive trees, we arrive at the Temple of Artemis at Vravrona. Artemis the goddess of protector of hunters, animals and the safe birth of humans was enraged by the murder of two small female bears. In order to revenge Athenians for this murder caused an epidemic. Athenians finally appeased the goddess by by sending her all their maids from 5 to 10 years old at the temple in order to serve her and participate in the events which took place there.
Temple of Poseidon

one hour Admission not included

The Temple of Poseidon is built on top of the hill, exactly at the meeting point of the Saronic Sea with the Aegean Sea. The temple was dedicated to God Poseidon, the lord of the Sea and it was there where all the sailors offered a last sacrifice to appease God Poseidon before leaving the safety of the Saronic Golf.

According to Greek mythology, the Cape Sounion was the point from which Greek King Aegeus flung himself off the cliff to his death, upon the mistaken belief that his son had died. This ancient tragic tale involves a theme that is still used in modern story-telling today.
Lagonisi

45 min

On the way back to Athens, the visitor will enjoy the Greek traditional cuisine at a local tavern with a view to the sea.
Lake Vouliagmeni

20 min

A short stop for pictures will be made at Vouliagmeni Lake.

The lagoon formed about 2,000 years ago. It was once a large cavern that collapsed following an earthquake. The outline of the collapsed cavern roof can be clearly discerned from a distance.

The lake has quite unique environmental conditions: it is supplied with warm seawater (28-35ºCelsius) via an underground channel spreading through a network of flooded caves, so its temperature never drops below 18 °C (usually ranges around 21-24 °C), whereas a freshwater spring reduces its salinity to brackish levels (14.5-18 psu).

Because of its constant warm water temperature and its rich content in hydrogen sulphide, the lake functions as a spa since the end of the 19th century.
Avenue of Poseidon (Poseidornos)

Passing by

On your way back to your accommodation, you will have the potentiality to absorb the southern suburbs of Athens, such as Glyfada, Alimos & Old Faliron . It is an undeniable fact that these areas are considered to be the most up-scaled ones of Attica. Moreover, the traveler is given the opportunity to observe coastline of Attica full of private and public marines, shops and cafes.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Foivos Hotel Athens
Alter Athens Hotel
Zenith Hotel
Athens City Plaza
ZEUS Essence Wyndham Athens Residence
Apollo Hotel
Titania Hotel
Athens Zafolia Hotel
Philippos Hotel
The Editor Athens Hotel
Anixis
Crowne Plaza Athens - City Centre By IHG

and 358 more pickup points

Airport Pickup:Your driver will meet you upon your arrival at the Athens International Airport - “Eleftherios Venizelos”, at the customs exit, holding an H.P. Tours sign with your name on.

Port pickup: Your driver will meet you at the Piraeus Port cruise ship terminal, holding an H.P. Tours sign with your name on.

Notice that Piraeus port has three terminals, Terminal A, B and C. Depending on the terminal that your ship will dock at, your driver will be waiting for you at the corresponding exit. (e.g. If your ship docks at Terminal A, your driver will meet you at the Terminal A exit etc.)

In case your ship docks at Terminal B or Terminal C and the corresponding exit gate is closed, you will need to take the shuttle bus to come to Terminal A (3 MIN RIDE), where your driver will be waiting for you.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infant car seats are available upon request
Your tour is totally private. No unknown passengers will participate in your group.
Your English- speaking driver will explain about the ancient monuments that you are about to visit, the ancient history of Greece and interesting facts about historical and modern-day Greece but is not allowed by law to accompany you in the sites. If you wish to have a licensed tour guide to accompany you into the sites, we will help you arrange a licensed tour guide to be with you at an extra cost

Options

Private Tour: 4-7 Guests

Explore the highlights of Marathon-Vravrona & Sounion in a private tour by a Mercedes minivan in style

Private -Luxury -Stressfree

Duration: 9 hours

Bottled Water

Mercedes minivan,Vito or Viano: 6-passenger seater- fully air conditioned - smoke free - free WiFi

Pickup included
Private Tour: 12-15 Groups

Private - Lyxury - Stressfree

Duration: 9 hours

Bottled Water

Mercedes Minibus: Limo VIP Edition

16 Passengers seater

Fully air conditioned

Smoke Free

Free WiFi

Private Tour: 12-15 travelers: Explore the highlights of Marathon-Vravrona & Sounion in a private tour by a Mercedes minibus in style

Pickup included
Private Tour: 8-11 Guests

Explore the highlights of Marathon-Vravrona & Sounion in a private tour by a Mercedes minibus in style

Private - Luxury - Stressfree

Duration: 9 hours

Bottled water

Mercedes minibus: Mercedes Benz Limo VIP -11 passengers seater

Fully air-conditioned

Smoke Free

WiFi

Pickup included
Private Tour: 1-3 Guests

Explore the highlights of Marathon-Vravrona & Sounion in a private tour in a luxurious Mercedes sedan or similar in style.

Private - Luxury - Stressfree

Duration: 9 hours

Bottled Water

Mercedes sedan or similar: 3-passenger seater , Fully air-conditioned, Smoke Free

Pickup included