A tranquil small lake (8,3 acres) high up on the slopes of Mount Helmos, at 700 meters from sea level and about 2,5 hours drive from Athens, for swimming during the summer and lovely walks around its shore for all the other seasons, with fantastic local food at one of the restaurants in the near by villages of Peristera, Agia Varvara and Zarouhla, and home-made pasta, cheese, cured ham, wine and walnuts to buy from local shops.

On your way back instead of turning right towards Athens, when you reach the highway, you can go under the highway and turn right when you reach the beach road (old Patras-Athens highway) drive through the picturesque villages, maybe having coffee at one of the coffee places right on the sea shore and when you reach Corinth you can again join the new highway towards Athens.

Back in March 1913, a landslide blocked river Krathi’s water-flow coming from the mountains and that’s how the lake was formed surrounded by pine and walnut trees, making the scenery a bit of an Alpine one, as all along the way to get there you drive through thick forrests and picturesque villages.

How to get there: You take the Athens-Corinth-Patras highway and at Akrata junction you will have to make a right turn come under the highway and star driving on a wonderful route towards the mountains following the signs to “Zarouhla” and “Lake Tsivlou”. A winding road through thick forrest with frequent views of the Gulf of Corinth and after about 27 kilometers you will have to make a right turn following the signs to “Lake Tsivlou” (Λίμνη Τσιβλού).

To visit lake Tsivlou you may Rent-A-Car or Book a Transfer and if one of the little villages along the way on the Corinthian Gulf looks perfect  for an overnight, you can book a Room or an Apartment and make it a wonderful and relaxing 2day tour.