PeloPonneseACHAïAPeloPonneseGETTINGTHErE & ArOuNDPeloPonneseAr
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ALAVrYTA8 Getting There & Around
The rack-and-pinion train to/from Diakofto via
Zahlorou runs to a changing timetable.
There are buses to Patra (€8, two hours, five
daily on weekdays, two on weekends) and Ath-
ens (€17, three hours, two Monday to Saturday,
one Sunday). The bus station (%26920 22224)
is 200m before the entrance to town (from the
Diakofto approach road), beside the Jetoil petrol
station.
Kalavryta’s taxi rank (%26920 22127) is in
front of the train station.
Most of the attractions are out of town, so it’s
very handy to have your own transport.
Around Kalavryta
Kalavryta and its surrounding mountains
feature several varied and interesting sites.
While some are just outside the town, others
are further afield but doable in a car.
1 Sights & Activities
Cave of the Lakes CAVE
(%26920 31001; http://www.kastriacave.gr; adult/con-
cession €9/4.50; h9.30am-4.30pm, longer hours
in summer) The remarkable Cave of the Lakes
lies 16.5km south of Kalavryta near the vil-
lage of Kastria. A 500m boardwalk snakes
its way through the cave, through the vast
entrance chamber, home to five species of
bats, past spectacular cauliflower-like rock
formations, and over the deep, crystal-clear
subterranean pools – the 13 stone basins
formed by mineral deposits over the millen-
nia. The most impressive formations are in
the final chamber, where delicate, ribboning
curtains cascade down the wall.
The cave features in Greek mythology and
is mentioned in the writings of the ancient
traveller Pausanias, but its whereabouts
remained unknown in modern times until
1964 when locals investigated, having no-
ticed water pouring from the roof of a small-
er cave. They discovered a large bat-filled
cavern at the start of a 2km-long cave carved
out by a subterranean river.
Access is by guided half-hour tour (in
Greek) only. Foreign visitors are provided
with a booklet in English; the sight at each
designated stop along the boardwalk corre-
sponds to the letter in the booklet.
A taxi from Kalavryta costs around €40
return (the taxi will wait for you). There’s a
good taverna right next to the cave entrance.Moni Mega Spileo MONASTErY
(Monastery of the Great Cavern; %26920 23130;
h8am-1pm & 2pm-sunset summer) F Moni
Mega Spileo is a 3km walk up from Zahlor-
ou. The original monastery was destroyed
in 1943 when Nazis executed all the monks.
The new monastery’s most prized relic is
the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, said
to have been painted by St Luke. It was sup-
posedly discovered in the nearby cavern by
St Theodore and St Simeon in AD 362, but
most likely dates back to around AD 1000.
Popular with pilgrims; strict dress code
applies.
Call ahead outside of summer.Moni Agias Lavras MONASTErY
(%26920 22363; h10am-1pm & 4-5pm) F
The original 10th-century monastery that
stood here was burnt down by the Nazis,
and its monks killed. The chapel of the
new monastery is where Greece’s War of
Independence was allegedly launched; the
banner standard from the war is displayed
alongside monastic memorabilia. The mon-
astery is around 5km southwest of Kalavry-
ta. A taxi from Kalavryta costs around €20
return.Ski Centre SKIING
(%26920 24451; http://www.kalavrita-ski.gr; half-/full
day €18/25; h9am-4pm Dec-Apr) Head 14km
east of Kalavryta on Mt Helmos (2355m) to
the Ski Centre (elevation 1700m to 2340m),
which has 12 runs and seven lifts (two chair-
lifts). There’s no overnight accommodation
but it rents skis and snowboard equipment
(€20 for boots and skis or a snowboard). The
season lasts from December to April, snow
permitting. A taxi costs about €40 return.Tetramythos Winery WINErY
(%26910 97500; http://www.tetramythoswines.com;
h9am-4pm) Located in Ano Diakofto village
(not to be confused with Diakofto), 5km
along the road from Diakofto to Kalavry-
ta, this winery is run by two local brothers
who take a lot of pride in their agiorgitiko,
cabernet sauvignon, tetramythos, mala-
gousia and other vintages. Tours and free
wine-tasting sessions are very worthwhile.