ZAGORIA – the unknown Greece
Well hidden in the mountains of Epirus, the centuries-old stone villages of Zagoria have been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site due to their outstanding natural beauty.
The area includes the National Park of the Vikos Gorge, the Aoos River with its deep canyons & wild rivers of crystal clear water, natural pools, springs & waterfalls, forests of fir & pine, Byzantine stone bridges, hidden villages & the mysterious giant rock formations of Meteora.
A walking tour in Zagoria shows the magnificence of the surroundings by exploring & crossing the area of the Vikos Gorge, the world’s deepest ravine; approximately 27 km long, between 100 to 1000 metres wide & in some places up to 1.6 km deep.
The aim of the tour is to experience this spectacular natural phenomenon while enjoying the flora & fauna of the region and socializing during a variety of light walking activities. No experience or special skills are required. All walks are graded as easy & last from between 2 to 4 hours.
Peloponnese
The southern mainland of Greece holds many surprises: historical, cultural, natural & archaeological. The long coastline, with many natural bays & sheltered coves, makes each coastal town & village seem like an island. The main town of Nafplion is only 2 hours from Athens on the East side & set in the heart of the wine producing areas of Nemea & Mantinia. It enjoys a picturesque location on a long bay, with the Bourtzi fortress on a small islet in the bay in front of the town, & the Palamidi, a medieval castle on the hill behind the town. Just 30 minutes drive away is the ancient amphitheatre of Epidaurus with its perfect acoustics & the archaeological site of Mycenae with the tomb of Agamemnon. Nafplion boasts deluxe & 4 star hotels of MICE quality & excursions to historical & archaeological sites as well as wine tours.
The luxury resort of Costa Navarino is the latest development on the formerly undeveloped west coast of the Peloponnese. Set to open in May 2010, it will have 5 luxury hotels sensitively incorporated into the natural landscape on a long sandy beach. Ancient Olympia is not far & the seaside town of Pylos provides local colour.
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