THE BEAUTY OF SITHONIA
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- THE BEAUTY OF SITHONIA
DEPARTURE
- Chalkidiki, Thessaloniki
EXCURSION THEME
- Entertainment
EXCURTION TYPE
- 1-2 (persons) Car, 1-6 (persons) Mini Van, Individual
GUIDE SERVICE
- Without Guide
DURATION
- Full Day
SHORT DESCRIPTION
GALLERY
ROUTE
Time | Description |
08:00:00 | Departure from Thessaloniki |
Halkidiki - Sithonia | |
Parthenon | |
Neos Marmaras | |
Toroni | |
Porto Koufo | |
Ampelos | |
Vourvourou | |
16:30:00 | departure for Thessaloniki |
18:00:00 | Return to Thessaloniki |
EXCURTION DESCRIPTION
Chalkidiki
The peninsula of Halkidiki is located in the northern part of Greece and is washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. It consists of four parts – the so – called “palm” – the continental part and three “legs” 60 km long. each room.
This unusual shape creates a long and indented coastline stretching more than 500 km. (with a total area of the peninsula slightly less than 3000 square kilometers), forming four bays: Thermaikos, Toroneos (or Kassandra), Siggitiko and Strymonikos.
Also, the unusual shape inspired the first settlers to associate it with the trident of the ruler of the seas – Poseidon, although the first name of the peninsula – Phlegra – reminds of the struggle of the Olympic gods and Giants. The name of Halkidiki appeared with the arrival on the peninsula in the 9th century BC.Allah. the first settlers from the island of Euboea from the cities of Chalkis and Eretria.
Sithonia
Sithonia is the Middle Peninsula of Halkidiki, located between Kassandra and Mount Athos, between Toroneos and Siggitikos. The peninsula was named after Sithon, son of the sea god Poseidon. This is a sparsely populated area preferred by travelers who love nature and tranquility. Its road infrastructure is not as developed as in Cassandra, but a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of densely populated areas and relax.
During your visit to the area of Sithonia, you will have the opportunity to admire endless enchanting landscapes, Golden secluded beaches, green meadows and forests, picturesque fishing villages, as well as stunning architecture of traditional houses and churches. Only in Sithonia can you enjoy unique sandy beaches with a perfect combination of green and blue as the pine trees reach the sand and the waves. As you travel to Sithonia, you will find that each area you visit is unique and very different from the previous one.
Parthenon
It is a small mountain village located a little east of Neos Marmaras, in which you feel as if you were transported 150-200 years ago. Fog for this place is not just a natural phenomenon. In reference, there is a historical fog covering the village.
Herodotus mentions Parthenopolis, which was probably built near the current Parthenon. However, no ruins have been found, with the exception of a sanctuary, probably of Zeus, which was built on the top of Itamos above the Parthenon. The next mention of the Parthenon is found in Byzantine sources. There was a village on the site, although archaeologists doubt that it was located in the same place as it is today. In any case, the modern Parthenon seems to have been founded sometime during the Ottoman period. There is not much information about the village at that time.
Neos Marmaras
The village of Neos Marmaras is located on the picturesque coast of Sithonia, 130 km from the city. from Thessaloniki, it was founded by refugees from Propontis, people who knew the sea very well.
This new settlement quickly “merged” with the Parthenon, located just north of Marmara.
Neos Marmaras quickly developed into a remarkable tourist resort, resulting in a large influx of population. An important role in the tourist development of the village was played by the creation of the appropriate infrastructure, which turned Marmara into a Cosmopolitan resort, ready to satisfy the needs of every visitor.
A visitor of Neos Marmaras can take a leisurely walk around the city and get to know the beauty of the mountains and the sea.
Today Neos Marmaras offers vacationers all the amenities and services that they can only dream of. It uniquely combines crazy fun and total relaxation. During the summer season, visitors can take part in countless activities and a variety of sports. Ideal place for connoisseurs of traditional Greek cuisine, because in Marmaras, as in every corner of Greece, there are many traditional and Atmospheric taverns.
Toroni
Toroni is a village located at the southwestern tip of the sithonia Peninsula, 20 km from the town of Toroni. from Neos Marmaras and 130 km from Thessaloniki. It is a beautiful tourist destination suitable for calm and relaxing holidays. Its charming sandy beach with clear blue waters stretches for 3 km and offers panoramic views of the Toroneos Gulf and the Aegean Sea. Located along the beach and next to a parallel road, it provides you with all the modern comforts for holidays at sea.
Toroni Beach is distinguished by golden sand, the grains of which shine in the sun, if you collect it in a handful. It is not only marked with a blue flag by the International Ecological Commission of UNESCO, but the sand from this beach is in the Chamber of standards for various substances and minerals in Brussels.
Its history begins very early, as it is referred to as a colony of Chalcis at the end of the 8th century BC.Allah. It was one of the richest cities in Halkidiki, its name is often found during the campaign of Xerxes in southern Greece in 480 BC.Allah., as well as during the Peloponnesian War.
Today in Toroni you can see the ruins of the wall of Likythos (one of the two citadels of the ancient city), a small peninsula on the south side of the beach and a round windmill in the same place. It is also worth visiting the site of the early Christian three-aisled Basilica of Agios Athanasios, a 5th century building destroyed by fire in the 6th century.
Porto Koufo
Porto Koufo is a small and quiet fishing village, 25 km from Porto Koufo. from Neos Marmaras, where to reach it you must pass through an idyllic pine forest which will surely be unforgettable. Porto Koufo is the safest and largest (in depth) natural port in Greece and the place where almost all fishing boats in the area unload their fish.Porto Koufo is the safest and largest (in depth) natural port in Greece and the place where almost all fishing boats in the area unload their fish. Porto Koufo is the safest and largest (in depth) natural port in Greece and the place where almost all fishing boats in the area unload their fish.
Porto Koufo has a long and beautiful beach just beyond the picturesque harbor with fish taverns. This beach is 1.5 km long. it is dominated by turquoise waters and fine sand. Remember that here the entrance to the water is not gentle and literally after a few meters you have to swim.
Ampelos
Ampelos is a narrow bay in the south of Sithonia, resembling a fjord, the landscape really resembles Northern Europe. The coastline is distinguished by steep cliffs, low vegetation and waves crashing into the rocky shore. This rugged and secluded landscape is interrupted by a beautiful little beach at the Ampelos.
A narrow dirt road about 2 km leads to the beach. You need to be careful when driving on it, as the road is narrow and dangerous, especially if you do not have a 4WD vehicle, it is recommended to get off on foot.
The water is relatively cold, especially if you are used to the warm beaches of Sithonia. However, the sea here is crystal clear and refreshing.
The Ampelos is a well-hidden place. The beach is small, clean and deserted. This is a place for seclusion, not for a family holiday.
Vourvourou
Vourvourou is a famous tourist resort located in Sithonia, about 15 km away. from Nikiti and 110 km. from Thessaloniki. It is a complex of open coasts and small islands located very close to the beach, which create a landscape of extraordinary natural beauty. There are nine islands off the coast. Diaporos stands out, the largest of them, a green island with a characteristic natural lagoon, which for centuries served as a haven for sailors.
Before the great tourist development of the last decades, Vourvourou was a small settlement of fishermen who used the natural harbors of the area and the sea rich in fish and other gifts.
In the 60s, a country settlement of the teaching staff of the Aristotle University (Thessaloniki) began to develop. It is even today an exemplary village and a rarity for the peninsula, but for the whole country. All its infrastructure is harmoniously combined with nature and every corner of it breathes harmony. The Church of Agios Theonas, the work of Nikolaos Moutsopoulos, is alone in the area.
The 70s and 80s brought intensive Tourist Development to Halkidiki.
All the beaches of Vourvourou have their own characteristics, and one of the beaches called Pearl is Karydi. Turquoise waters, white sand and pine trees next to the beach. Karidi Beach is protected from the winds and the sea is calm, shallow and warm. Of course, because it is a popular destination, you are likely to meet a lot of people, especially during the high tourist season.
MAP
- 70% of Halkidiki is a protected natural area.
- Archaeological research was carried out on only 20% of the peninsula.
- The length of the coastline of the peninsula is 540 km, of which 360 are beaches.
- Every year, about 100 beaches in Halkidiki receive the Blue Flag.
- The first name of the Halkidiki peninsula is reminiscent of the fight between the Olympic Gods and the Giants – Flegra.
- Toroni is a favorite destination for divers: here you can see the harbor embankment, which consists of giant granite stones, as well as the ruins of stone walls that continue to the shores and were probably part of the city’s warehouses.
- Ampelos Bay looks like a Scandinavian fjord.
- At the location of the modern village of Toroni, the first settlement with the same name appeared already in the 8th century BC.
- Sithonia is famous for its honey production.
- Total kilometer distance of the excursion (with departure from Thessaloniki) – about 330 km.
- Wear comfortable shoes for your safety.
- The program of the excursion can be changed for reasons beyond the control of the company (force majeure); weather conditions and at the discretion of the tour guide, if necessary.
250 €
Φόρμα Ενδιαφέροντος
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THE PRICE INCLUDES
- All transfers made with comfortable transport (depending on the selected category).
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Lunch.
SUGGESTED EXCURSIONS
TOUR IN ATHENS AND THE MUSEUM OF THE ACROPOLIS
CORFU – ISLAND OF THE ARISTOCRATS (TWO-DAY EXCURSION)
Cruise to Albania: Saints Saranda and Vouthroto
PILGRIMAGE TO THE MONASTERIES OF CORFU
Cruise and BBQ
DISCOVERING NORTH CORFU
FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH GREECE (PREMIUM, THESSALONIKI)
METEORAS – DELPHI (TWO DAYS)
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Entertainment
METEORA – ATHENS (TWO-DAY EXCURSION)
1,350 €A two-day trip to Meteora – Athens gives you the opportunity to get to know the Orthodox, cultural and natural sights of mainland Greece and the capital of the country, a city that is the trademark of the achievements of classical Greece. From on the one hand, Meteora is the place where God’s providence meets unique natural landscape. Where is the strength of the human spirit and the desire for knowledge led to the triumph of creation and harmony. And on the other – the uniqueness and originality of Athens, which combines a history of five thousand years with the life of a large city of the 21st century.
Day one: Kalambaka and Meteora monasteries
Medieval Orthodox monasteries of Meteora, located on steep cliffs of the Thessalian plain, are considered to be one of the most significant historical, Orthodox and cultural sites in Greece. This is the second most important monastic complex in Greece (after the monastic Republic of Saint Athos) annually attracts a large number of travelers from all over the world. And this is not surprising – Meteora monasteries are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Moving to Delphi and check-in at the hotel.
Day Two – Athens / Acropolis Museum / Thermopylae
During a sightseeing tour of Athens, you will get acquainted with the main sights of the center of the capital of Greece. Your path will run along the Kifissos River, which, according to one version, is the legendary Eridanus, where the son of the solar god Helios Phaethon fell into, strucked by lightning of Zeus for the inability to cope with the chariot of his father. You will see Cape Piraeus, where the main port once appeared, Athens, which retains such significance today. And marvel at the size columns of the temple of Olympian Zeus, which can surprise even now. Follow the steps of the Evzones – soldiers of the national guard, carrying guard at the parliament building in the very center of the city. take a selfie in the background of Olympic Stadium Kallimarmaro, where the first Olympic modern games were held. You will follow the paths of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle along the agora of ancient Athens and the path “Peripatos” around the hill of the Acropolis, in the honour of which the Peripatetic school of philosophers was named. Dive into the hustle and bustle of the Plaka – one of the old districts of Athens, conveying the mood of the second half of the 19th century. On the way back, a stop in the Thermopylae Gorge is provided, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans accomplished a feat that even today is not forgotten not only by the Greeks, but by the whole world.
After your visit to the Acropolis, the excursion continues to the new Acropolis Museum, which in 2009 moved from the premises next to the Parthenon to a new building.
On the way back, a stop is waiting for you in Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans gained eternal glory.
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Entertainment
TOUR IN ATHENS AND THE MUSEUM OF THE ACROPOLIS
610 €The trip to Athens is one of those trips that will not leave any traveler indifferent. And it’s not just about the the spirit of a modern European metropolis, the atmosphere of the capital or the sequence of objects you visit. The bottom line is that you touch the pages of school textbooks and books about ancient Greek history and mythology on and on again, and, at the same time, discover a lot of new things&facts for yourself.
Not only history and gods with heroes will fill with special content your acquaintance with the city of democracy, but also a number of pleasant surprises and surprises will open Athens for you . And first of all it will be an acquaintance with the uniqueness and originality of the city, which combines a history of five thousand years with the life of a 21st century metropolis. This amazing symbiosis in Athens does not just mean the neighborhood of the majestic ruins of the 5th century BC. e. with modern trading centers and buildings of the 19th century, built in neoclassical style, but also a special atmosphere in which antiquity meets the era of technological progress.
During a sightseeing tour of Athens, you will get acquainted with the main sights of the center of the capital of Greece. Your path will run along the Kifissos River, which, according to one version, is the legendary Eridanus, where the son of the solar god Helios Phaethon fell into, strucked by lightning of Zeus for the inability to cope with the chariot of his father. You will see Cape Piraeus, where the main port once appeared, Athens, which retains such significance today. And marvel at the size columns of the temple of Olympian Zeus, which can surprise even now. Follow the steps of the Evzones – soldiers of the national guard, carrying guard at the parliament building in the very center of the city. take a selfie in the background of Olympic Stadium Kallimarmaro, where the first Olympic modern games were held. You will follow the paths of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle along the agora of ancient Athens and the path “Peripatos” around the hill of the Acropolis, in the honour of which the Peripatetic school of philosophers was named. Dive into the hustle and bustle of the Plaka – one of the old districts of Athens, conveying the mood of the second half of the 19th century. On the way back, a stop in the Thermopylae Gorge is provided, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans accomplished a feat that even today is not forgotten not only by the Greeks, but by the whole world.
After your visit to the Acropolis, the tour continues to the new Acropolis Museum, which in 2009 moved from the premises next to the Parthenon to a new building.The layout of the museum building provides transparent floors, so the basement of the exhibition is the excavation of the districts of ancient Athens. On the ground floor there are finds of Athenian pottery, in the first – finds, found mainly during the excavation of the “Persian ravine” – a pit in which were buried details of buildings and sculptural decorations of the Acropolis of the Archaic period of the 6th century BC. after the destruction of the buildings by the Persians in 480 and 479 BC. Also, in the same area, a large number of so-called kouros and koras are presented (statues of young men and women of the archaic period).
The top floor houses the original sculptures of the Parthenon, which are on display in the museum to protect them from the harmful effects of smog, rain and pollution: metopes, fragments of surviving pediments and details of the Parthenon frieze. The Acropolis Museum contains 40 plaques, the British Museum – 56, stolen in 1801-1805 by Elgin.
On the way back, a stop is waiting for you in Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans gained eternal glory.
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Entertainment
CORFU – ISLAND OF THE ARISTOCRATS (TWO-DAY EXCURSION)
1,150 €The two-day trip to Corfu gives you the opportunity to get to know one of the most amazing islands of Greece. An aristocratic Island, unique architecture and huge historical and cultural heritage. The classic Greek beauty of Corfu has fascinated sailors, travelers, aristocrats and artists for centuries. The Venetians, the French and the British left behind a legacy in the architecture, culture, daily life and gastronomy of the island. Today Corfu is a mix of eras and cultures, blending traditional Orthodox Greece with the Cosmopolitan influences of Western Europe.
Day one – the city of Corfu.
Once you step into the atmospheric old town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will find yourself in a fairytale world. You will hear the footsteps of kings, nobles and Knights who once walked on the cobbled sidewalks and quacks. And the labyrinth of narrow streets will lead you to the Church of St. Spyridon, protector of the city and one of the most revered saints. The port of Corfu, one of the most well-fortified ports in the Mediterranean, is characterized by two fortresses – Old and New. An ideal place to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the magnificent Ionian Sea.
Pontikonisi and the Monastery of Vlacherna off the coast of Kanoni are some of the most famous and photographed sights of Corfu. Here you will not only enjoy the picturesque landscapes, but you will have the opportunity to take truly unique photos (with planes flying just a few meters above the Monastery of Vlacherna).
The evening awaits you a walk in the north of the island, where, on the edge of a cliff in Peroulades, the most romantic sunset awaits you.
Day two – the island of Corfu.
The day will start with an acquaintance with the traditional production of liqueurs and sweets from kumquat, which have long been the trademark of the island and are widely exported to European countries. Then to Paleokastritsa, which is a favorite destination for all visitors and locals of Corfu.Picturesque bays and sandy beaches, olive groves, green hills, steep cliffs and caves that are hidden inside, create a unique atmosphere that attracts visitors to the island and residents of the area. Here, on a cliff, dominates the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, whose history will be interesting not only for pilgrims.
At the end of the route – visit to Achillion, the summer house of the Austrian Empress Elizabeth (Sissi). This is undoubtedly one of the most famous royal mansions in Europe. It was built in 1890 and designed by the Italian architects Rafaele Carrito and Antonio Landi.
It is named after Achilles, Elizabeth’s favorite hero. The palace is surrounded by lush gardens dominated by vigorous bougainvillea and tall palm trees. The gardens contain a large number of sculptures, the most remarkable of which are dedicated to Achilles himself.
A two-day trip to Corfu will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with the most European, cosmopolitan and aristocratic island of the Ionian Sea and the whole of Greece.
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Cruise
Cruise to Albania: Saints Saranda and Vouthroto
50 €Albania is located just 2 nautical miles from the island of Corfu and the history of its southern coastline is the history of Greek settlements.
A one-day cruise in Albania will acquaint you with the monuments of ancient times, the natural beauty and the customs of this country.
As part of this route, you will visit the town of Agioi Saranda, called the Southern Gate of Albania due to its key position throughout its centuries of history. The main purpose of the trip is the Butrhoto Archaeological Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
And at the end of the program, you will have a short tour of the medieval castle Le Cures, located on a hill above the port.