Andrew Bostock started travelling in the Peloponnese twenty eight years ago as a fifteen year old backpacker and has been returning yearly ever since. After studying English at Oxford he worked as a Tour Leader in the area teaching Greek children. After many visits, Andrew and his partner Louise moved to the Mani in late 2005, and their daughter was born there the next year. During this time Andrew worked for several local tourist agencies as a guide, taking tourist around Mystras, on boat trips to the Diros caves and on walks around mountain villages. He also became Assistant Editor for Inside the Mani magazine, given to thousands of visitors to the Peloponnese each year. He has had articles about the Peloponnese published in the Observer, Conde Nast Traveller, TNT, and Olive amongst others, as well as writing an online series of guides to Greece for The Guardian.

Introduction PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography and climate, Natural history, Mythology, History, Recent politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture Chapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights and suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Travellers with a disability, Travelling with children, Gay and lesbian travellers, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Maps, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Museums and archaeological sites, Photography, Media and communications, Buying a property, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively PART TWO THE GUIDE Chapter 3 Corinth and the Argolid Corinth, Nemea, Mycenae, Argos, Nafplio, Epidavros, The southeast, The southwest Chapter 4 Laconia Sparta and Mystra, Geraki , West of Monemvasia, Monemvasia, South of Monemvasia, North of Monemvasia, Up the coast: Geraki to Astros, Over the top: Mount Parnonas, Kythira Chapter 5 The Mani History, Into the Exo Mani, Kardamyli, Stoupa, Into the mountains, South from Stoupa, Itylo Bay, Areopoli , Deep into the Mani, South to Gerolimenas, Gerolimenas, Down to Cape Tenaro, Cape Tenaro, Up the east coast, Gythio and around Chapter 6 Messinia Kalamata, Ancient Messene, South to Koroni, Koroni , Finikound, Methoni , Pylos and Gialova, Northern Messinia Chapter 7 Arcadia Tripoli, Megalopoli, Karitena, Andritsena, Th e Lousios Gorge, Vytina and around, Olympia, The west coast Chapter 8 The North Ancient Elis, The west coast, Patra, The north coast, Kalavryta, Mount Killini Chapter 9 Beyond the Peloponnese: Athens and Delphi Athens, Delphi Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Further Information Index