A sea kayaking journey on the crystal clear heat waters alongside the dramatic coast of the Mani Peninsula is a superb strategy to discover this space of the favored Peloponnese Peninsula. A paddling journey from Kardamyli with an area clothing store takes you previous rugged cliffs, secluded seashores, and beautiful sea caves.
As you glide via the aquamarine water of the Messinian Gulf, the Taygetus mountain vary that types the backbone of the Peloponnese Peninsula towers overhead. The juxtaposition of jagged mountain terrain, shiny blue water, and the extensive open sky creates surroundings hardly ever seen from land.
The centerpiece of any sea kayaking journey from Kardamyli is a go to to the Blue Cave. A swim on this magical grotto with beautiful turquoise hues is purpose alone to enterprise alongside the Mani coast by sea kayak.
Associated submit -> Finest Sea Kayak Journey on Kefalonia Island in Greece
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The place is the Mani Peninsula?
The Mani Peninsula is the center cape of the three main promontories extending southwest on the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece. This distant land holds a captivating historical past of fierce clan wars, isolation, and Greek delusion.
The Mani towers are scattered across the space. These stone fortifications protected the Maniots from pirates and warring forces intent on capturing their property. In actual fact, these blood wars have been typically between households with unresolved vendettas. It appears as if the one strategy to have energy was to defeat one other clan or to marry into the clan’s household.
The Mani Peninsula is split into sections. Outer Mani is positioned on the Messenian Gulf. Alternatively, the realm on the Laconian Gulf known as Internal Mani.
Kardamyli on the Messenian Gulf was the start line for the ocean kayaking journey on the Mani. Outdated Kardamyli on this charming seaside village is among the oldest settlements of the Peloponnese. Due to this fact, don’t miss the fortified tower homes and the attractive 18th-century church of Outdated Kardamyli.
Sea Kayaking Journey on the Mani Peninsula
I organized to kayak the magnificent coast close to Kardamyli with Discover Messinia, an outside journey firm providing journeys on the Peloponnese Peninsula. In addition to sea kayaking, their choices embody paddleboarding, river trekking, whitewater rafting, mountaineering, canyoning, and biking. The corporate has been doing kayak journeys since 2014.
The corporate makes use of wonderful, nearly brand-new tools. The doubles have easy-to-use rudders, whereas the singles have skegs. Most contributors have been put into doubles. Nonetheless, there are singles obtainable upon request.
The ocean kayaking journey from Kardamyli on the Mani Peninsula takes about 3.5-4 hours and consists of lunch. The guides trailer the boats to the waterfront in Kardamyli. It’s a brief stroll from town middle to the put-in assembly place on the waterfront.
After introductions, George, the top information, gave a wonderful paddling lesson. He was very exact and interesting. By telling a couple of jokes together with wonderful educating, he made positive contributors have been very proficient by the point they acquired within the boats. The journey was a mix of newcomers and individuals who have had some prior kayaking expertise.
In addition to George, two different guides, Rocque and Alex accompanied the 11-person group. With a purpose to safely land and discover the Blue Cave, greater than a single information is important.
Along with having nice guiding abilities, the ocean kayaking instructors on this Mani Peninsula journey had intensive information of the realm’s pure options. Additionally they shared Greek mythology tales of the coast and Mount Taygetus. The wealth of data was a helpful addition to the journey.
The First Sea Cave
After paddling a brief distance alongside the shore, the group entered the primary sea cave. George confirmed us the place to duck beneath the rocky cliff into the cave. The water inside was an electrical blue. Stalactites cascaded from the ceiling within the wide-open cavern.
The excessive level of the cave exploration was dipping my hand within the water to see it flip an eerie electrical blue. It was like one thing out of a sci-fi film.
The Blue Cave
The spotlight of the journey is undoubtedly, the Blue Cave. The go to to the cave begins by exiting the kayaks with the assistance of the guides after which strolling alongside a rocky ledge into the cave. As soon as we have been within the cave, we marveled on the lovely stalactites and move curtains within the cave.
After traversing the dry a part of the cave, every of us slipped into the cerulean water of the Blue Cave. A gap within the rocks illuminates the cave and turns the water into an unbelievable shade of blue. Swimming within the cave is a magical expertise to not be missed. As soon as our eyes acquired used to the darkish, we may see the dry tunnel main again to the primary cave we had explored.
Getting into the Blue Cave
Starfish within the Blue Cave
George took plenty of images of the group swimming within the cave that he shared after the journey. My favourite images have been the starfish images he took of us floating within the blue water. Discover Messina is dedicated to documenting the journey via images. They ship a hyperlink to the images to contributors after the journey so individuals can have lovely reminiscences of the expertise.
Lunch on a beautiful sand seashore
After the exhilarating journey within the Blue Cave, we started to paddle again towards Kardamyli for our lunch cease. After touchdown on probably the most lovely sand seashore within the space, the guides laid out a scrumptious lunch. It was an exquisite unfold of conventional Greek meals. Each two paddlers had their very own cooler containers of cheese, greens, and olives to make sandwiches. George enthusiastically demonstrated dipping the bread in native olive oil, with oregano and salt added. The open-faced sandwich I created was wholesome and yummy. Inexperienced grapes accomplished the meal.
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Sea Kayaking on Mani Peninsula Logistics
Kardamyli is a 3.5-hour drive from Athens. It’s important to have a automotive within the Mani as a way to see the distant magnificence. I take advantage of and advocate Uncover Automobiles to your Greek automotive rental. Uncover Automobiles works with dependable native automotive rental corporations to provide the greatest worth and rental expertise. I’ve used them typically and have at all times been pleased with the automotive rental.
The charming city of Kardamyli is an ideal place to remain on the Mani Peninsula. The journey launches from the waterfront harbor, a brief stroll from anyplace on the town.
We stayed at Gorgones residences and cherished it. The seafront property has a balcony with an incredible view of the bay. Maria, the host of Gorgones, is heat and pleasant with useful recommendation. Additionally, an incredible swimming seashore on the town is steps from Gorgones. Lastly, the most effective restaurant on the town is subsequent door.
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Sea Kayaking Gear for a Day Journey
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Wrap Up of Sea Kayaking on the Mani Peninsula
Definitely, one of the best ways to see the distant great thing about the Mani Peninsula is on a sea kayaking journey alongside the spectacular coast. Discover Messina offered a wonderful journey to marvel on the magnificent shoreline, in addition to be taught in regards to the native and legendary historical past of the realm. Undoubtedly, the Blue Cave was the end result of the 4-hour journey.
The full distance paddled is about 6 to six 1/2 km so in case you are on the lookout for a grind-out miles journey, this isn’t the one to decide on. Nonetheless, if you wish to glide alongside a few of the bluest water you’ve got ever seen with very competent guides and top-notch gear, then this outing is for you. Plus, the Blue Cave swim shall be tucked into your reminiscence and Instagram images for a very long time.
Associated submit -> Unbelievable Out of doors Adventures of Kefalonia
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Disclaimer: I used to be a visitor of Discover Messina on this journey. I used to be not compensated or requested to jot down a optimistic evaluate. All opinions are from my sincere expertise.
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