Mycenaean and Peloponnesian archaeology: Greece
29 September 2025 - 8 days for £3,489 per person
Join this interactive tour offering you a unique opportunity to get "behind the ropes" at Mycenae, one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in Greece. Visit many hidden gems and famous Mycenaean sites of the Peloponnese. Stay in the ancient coastal town of Nafplio and venture out across this beautiful part of Greece.
Mycenae and its civilisation gave its name to an entire historical period between the 17th and 12th century BC, reaching its peak around the 13th century BC. The settlement was excavated for the first time by the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who also excavated the cities of Troy and Tiryns, thus gaining the name “the father of Mycenaean archaeology”.
During this tour, you'll have a unique archaeology experience at a dig simulator. Follow every single step of the dig process, learn many of the techniques employed and use specialist technology. The dig simulator facilitates intensive, interdisciplinary "hands-on" education and practical field training in real conditions in the controlled environment of a simulated excavation field. Learn how to survey using aerial photography, ground observation and geophysical surveying. Then on to excavation, restoration and digital applications.
Accompanied by Christofilis Maggidis, president of the Mycenaean Foundation, and his team of archaeologists.
In partnership with Kirker Holidays.
DAY 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MYCENAEAN WORLD
Welcome to Athens! There will be a group transfer to the beautiful seaport town of Nafplio, where you will check into the four-star Amalia Hotel for the next seven nights and meet your fellow travellers and the tour leader.
In the early evening, there will be a welcome reception with refreshments at the Melathron Centre of the Mycenaean Foundation, with an introductory talk, The Mycenaean Empire in the Eastern Mediterranean World, by Christofilis Maggidis, president of the Mycenaean Foundation, plus an outline of the next three days' activity. Then it is back to the hotel in Nafplio for a welcome dinner together.
DAY 2: EXPLORE MYCENAE AND NAFPLIO
Today begins with a private tour of the famous citadel of Mycenae, including the cyclopean walls, the palace, the royal workshops, the cult centre and the underground cistern, led by Christofilis and his team.
In the afternoon, there will be a walking tour of Nafplio. Discover ancient walls, medieval castles, monuments and statues, Ottoman fountains and Venetian buildings, along with the town's archaeological museum. Then visit the Castle of Palamidi, a 17th-century fortress with a rich history, overlooking Nafplio 200 metres above sea level.
After returning to the hotel to freshen up, Christofilis will give a talk over dinner: The science behind the discovery of Agamemnon's throne.
DAY 3: BEHIND THE ROPES AT MYCENAE
After a short drive to Mycenae, you will spend a full day in the archaeology labs of the Melathron Center, where you will be introduced in the history of archaeology, archaeological theory, and the latest advancements in archaeological methodology, and receive training.
Your third talk by Professor Maggidis on the future of archaeology takes place this evening, followed by dinner.
DAY 4: ONSITE ARCHAEOLOGIST TRAINING
After a short drive to Mycenae, you will begin a full-day archaeological experience in the unique 1-acre dig simulator and work in the ATREUS Field School archaeology labs, led by field archaeologists and the Mycenaean Foundation's experts. You will experience every single step of the process, learn many of the techniques and use specialist technology.
The dig simulator features reconstructed architectural ruins and archaeological features such as hearths, kilns, wells, houses, shrines, cists and pit graves, and tholos and chamber tombs. It also includes plotted finds and spatial distribution of physical remains, including artefacts (reproduced pieces of pottery, figurines, jewellery, tools and weapons) and ecofacts (casts of human skeletons, animal bones and teeth, carbonised wood, organic remains and other bioarchaeological material), and reproduced stratigraphy filled with different types of sediment (occupation layers, destruction layers, floor levels and burnt deposits).
In the morning, you will be trained in digging, digital recording, archaeological drafting, stratigraphy, dating and context interpreting with Christofilis and Adrianos; then in geodetics (GPS, digital measurement and drone photography), followed by archaeological photography and registration.
After lunch, you will move into the lab to work on the conservation of finds, archaeological drawing of various types of finds, drafting conventions and digital illustration taught by Chrysanthe Maggidis and Adrianos. You'll finish off with an interactive seminar on field methodology, stratigraphy and seriation, relative and absolute chronology, phasing and periodisation taught by Christofilis.
All participating guests will receive the Mycenaean Foundation’s ATREUS Fieldwork Certificate; after such an exciting day, the evening will be at your leisure.
DAY 5: FINAL DAY AT MYCENAE AND AFTERNOON VISIT TO EPIDAURUS
A final day at Mycenae starts with an archaeological walking survey led by Professor Maggidis and his team of archaeologists in an area that hasn't been formally surveyed yet and is off-limits to tourists.
After lunch, a 40-minute drive takes you to the UNESCO-listed Epidaurus where you will visit the ancient theatre, stadium, archaeological site and museum. It is considered to be the most perfect ancient Greek theatre for acoustics and aesthetics. In the evening, we have dinner at a local taverna.
DAY 6: CORINTH, ACROCORINTH AND NEMEA
One hour from Nafplio is the ancient site of Corinth. It was originally settled in Neolithic times and became a major city in the 8th century BC. Known for its architectural and aesthetic innovations, you will explore its Temple of Apollo, theatre and archaeological museum.
Afterwards, you'll explore the medieval citadel of Acrocorinth. Set upon a monolithic rock and with stunning views of the north-eastern Peloponnese, the modern canal (isthmus) and the ancient Diolkos, a paved trackway for transporting ships over land.
In the afternoon, you will discover Nemea, home to the ancient Nemean Games. Here, you'll tour the ancient sanctuary and stadium, where the ideals of classical sport in Europe were formed.
In the evening, you'll venture out again for traditional Greek fare at a local taverna.
DAY 7: SPARTA AND MYSTRAS
Your first visit today is the Archaeological Museum of Sparta, which houses thousands of artefacts from the nearby ancient acropolis. It is one of Greece’s oldest archaeological museums and houses finds from Neolithic to Roman times. Then it's on to the acropolis itself, which is an active dig site. It was from here that Spartans controlled huge swathes of the Peloponnese.
In the afternoon, you will visit the fortified town and medieval ruins of Mystras. A deserted UNESCO World Heritage Site that was the last centre of Byzantine learning and culture.
Returning to Nafplio, you'll enjoy a final night with a farewell dinner.
DAY 8: ATHENS DEPARTURE
After a farewell breakfast, depart to Athens for your journey home.
