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Special Information for the Kalachakra Stupa Inauguration and Mahamudra Course 2010

Unfortunately we are not able to provide a full transport service and we need your help and cooperation! If you come to KBL for the time of the course only (one or two days before the course starts and ends) the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to get from the Athens airport to KBL is to create lift shares with rented cars. Rent a car and offer your free seats or look for an offer at our internet lift-share platform: http://www.diamondway-service.org/liftsharing. It makes sense to offer two different lifts for each way.

Meet your travel companions at the Mc Donalds-cafe at the departure hall on the first floor of the Athens airport and drive together to KBL. You can rent a middling-quality car of for approximately 250€ per week. You will find good offers at: http://www.autoeurope.com and http://www.economycarrentals.com.

If you have no chance to come to KBL by car, you have to come to Xylokastro by yourself (see below), go to the church place and wait in the cafe “Cozy”. Give us a call when you can estimate your arrival time in Xylokastro, be patient and think positive! Shuttle number: 0030 – 694 6080 969

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Your three ways to get to KBL:

We apologise for not being able to pick you up from the airport, but public transport is easy and good. However, don’t put too much trust in traffic signs, since they are often outdated and misleading. Always ask.

From Athens Airport with bus or train to Xylokastro (we will pick you up there)

  • There is a Suburban Railway going from the airport in Athens to Kiato. Times: 6:00, 6:55,7:55,8:55 and so on, every hour – the last train departs at 22:55. A one-way trip takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and costs €10. A round-trip ticket costs €18. If you are under 18 or over 65 you get a 50% discount. Groups (more than 2 people) get a one-way ticket for €9 per person. From Kiato you can take the train to Patras and leave after one station at Xylocastro. It runs from 7:30 to 19:30 every two hours and costs €3.30.
  • You can also take an express bus (E93 Athens Airport – Kifisos Intercity Bus Station Express) from the airport to Athens central bus station almost every 30 minutes during the day (€3.20 per person, about a one-hour ride). When you arrive, go to the ticket office for Korinthos, and buy a ticket to Xylokastro (~€8 per person). Buses start from 7:30 every hour until 21:30, and the trip takes about 2.5 hours. Get off at bus stop “Cinema” in Xylokastro.
  • We will pick you up at Xylocastro. In order to cover our expenses, there is a fee of €15 per person for the shuttle. Whenever you know your arrival date and time in Xylocastro (you can add approx. 4 to 6 hours to your arrival time at the airport in Athens) please call us at +30 694 6080 969.

From Athens Airport by (rental) car to KBL

Please use the two following maps:

Map: From Athens Airport to Xylokastro

View Airport – Xylokastro in a larger map

Map: Xylokastreo to KBL

View Xylokastro – KBL in a larger map

From Patras (ferry boat) to KBL

If you plan to come by car, there are ferries going from Ancona and Venice in Italy to Patras. When you arrive at Patras Port, follow the national road to Athens. At km 142, take the Derveni exit (see map below), and turn towards Evrostina/Rozena up into the mountains. When you reach the village Evrostina, you can stop for a coffee at Yorgos’ restaurant; he’s a good friend of ours. Continue up the curvy street into the mountains. After around 5 km you’ll see the large water tanks of a fish farm on the right-hand side. Turn left there into a bumpy, unpaved country road. After about 9 km, winding its way through the rocky environment you’ll reach Karma Berchen Ling. Whenever there is a turn, keep right and proceed uphill until you can see the centre and the entrance gate. We will put up KBL signs to make it easy to find. If you’ll be using public transportation, go to Patras bus station (Zaimi Str. 2) and buy a ticket to Xylokastro (€5.50). Usually there is a bus that departs every 30 minutes, beginning at 5:00 in the morning until around midnight. Please be aware of the extra time (45 minutes) it takes to drive up to the mountain when planning your journey.

Map: From Derveni to KBL

View Derveni – KBL in a larger map

In case of emergency, you can contact Jan at +30 695 720 9904 or by e-mail at: Athens@diamondway-center.org or Athens-acropolis@diamondway-center.org.

You are also very welcome to visit our two Buddhist centres in Athens:

Athens-Dafni
Eratous 4 str., Dafni 17235, Athens – Greece
Tel: +30 210 3301 120, E-mail: athens@diamondway-center.org

Athens-Acropolis
Lagoumitzi 42 str. Athens, 11745
mail: Athens-Acropolis@diamondway-center.org
+30 (210) 9238247, +30 6932790777, +30 6936800955