Kalavryta and Cave of Lakes Full Day Tour

The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island. The canal was dug through the Isthmus at sea level and has no locks. It is 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) in length and only 21.4 meters (70 ft) wide at its base, making it impassable for most modern ships. Nowadays it has little economic importance and is mainly a tourist attraction.
The canal was initially proposed in classical times and a failed effort was made to build it in the 1st century AD. Construction started in 1881 but was hampered by geological and financial problems that bankrupted the original builders. It was completed in 1893 but, due to the canal's narrowness, navigational problems and periodic closures to repair landslides from its steep walls, it failed to attract the level of traffic expected by its operators.

Diakofto is a small seaside town with a magnificent view of the Corinthian Gulf. The town is mainly known for the train “Odontotos” which crosses the Vouraikos Gorge on a beautiful route until Kalavrita.

The Diakopto – Kalavryta Rack Railway is a tourist attraction. It’s a train that can reach high altitudes and operate on steep grades, through territories of unique interest and spectacular views.

With an unparalleled journey that lasts for about one hour and starts from Diakopto, the rack railway runs through the gorge of Vouraikos and the village of Zachlorou, ending up in Kalavryta. The train covers the 22 kilometer journey traveling at a speed of 30-40km/h when moving along the regular rack and 6-15km/h when moving along the toothed racks.

The railway network is toothed on steep gradients.

The classification of the railway as “Rack” or “Cog” comes from the cog wheels these trains use that mesh in the rack rail, helping them to operate on steep grades.

The train features special pinions inside the wheels, which are used when the steep gradient increases and latch on the rail, both during the ascent and descent.
The train covers a distance of 22 kilometers and reaches an altitude of 750 meters. The journey lasts for approximately one hour, departs from Diakopto and terminates in Kalavryta, with an intermediate stop in Megalo Spilaio.

It passes through the gorge next to Vouraikos River that creates small and bigger waterfalls and natural pools. In fact, in the location Katarraktis the river plunges impetuously and almost vertically under the railway bridge.

The next stop is the location Dikastiria. This place was named after the small semicircular cave, where the stalactites have created a wondrous scenery that resembles a courtroom.
The journey ends at the final destination which is the traditianal town of Kalavryta

Kalavryta is a mountainous town on the northern side of Peloponnese. This town has historical importance as one of the cruelest massacres took place there during World War II, when the Nazi troops killed the entire male population. As tradition says, it was also in Kalavryta, at the Monastery of Agia Lavra, where the Greek Revolution against the Ottomans was declared on March 25th, 1821. Holidays in Kalavryta are great for the winter season due to the close ski center that has opened on the slopes of Mount Helmos.
At Kalavryta the visitor has the potentiality to stroll around the town, taste its local products and enjoy his lunch or his coffee.

In the village Kastria of Achaia lies the famous “Cave of the Lakes”.
It is a rare creation of Nature. Apart from its labyrinth of corridors, its mysterious galleries and its strange stalactite formations, the “Cave of the Lakes” has something exclusively unique that does not exist in other well known caves. Inside the cave there is a string of cascading lakes forming three different levels that establish its uniqueness in the world.

The cave is an old subterranean river whose explored length is 1980 meters. In winter when the snow melts, the cave is transformed into a subterranean river with natural waterfalls. In the summer months, part of the cave dries up revealing a lace-work of stone-basins and dams of up to 4 m. in height. The rest of the cave retains water permanently throughout the year in 13 picturesque lakes.