A L O N I H O T E L & S P A V O L A K A S D R A M A * * *

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1 CLIMBING FIELDS VERTICAL CLIMBING FIELD CHIONOTRYPA ACCESS The same as Kartalka II & III or, alternatively, from Pyrgoi after crossing the canyon (this will take several hours) 1. «SOUTHWEST EDGE» 800m. (ΙΙΙ+) 2. «S. CHATZIGEORGIOU» 800m. (VI) 2a. «CHATZIGEORGIOU VARIATION» 200m. (VI) 3. «SOUTHWEST VERTICAL SLOPE» 800m. (ΙΙΙ+) 3a. «VARIANT OF SW VERTICAL SLOPE» 800m. (V) 3b. «VARIANT OF SW VERTICAL SLOPE» 800m. (IV) 4. «V. GEORGIADIS E. ELEFTHERIADIS» 850m. (ΙV+)

2 ROCK CLIMBING ROUTES For some people climbing is an integral part of their personal philosophy and way of life. For others it is a way to come closer to Nature, via an explosive cocktail of love for adventure, risk taking and a passion for extreme experiences. Drama is an ideal place for all those who want to come closer to nature in this way. The vertical slopes of Falakro form a gigantic petal, roughly 3km long, an offer a chance to these daring adventure hunters to try their skills in various climbing routes and precipitate troughs. VERTICAL SLOPE KARTALKA I ACCESS: From the entrance to the parking lot at the ski center of Falakro and the small building owned by PPC we take a right, towards a series of rocks in the middle of the slope. We get past from its upper side and after traversing the slope for roughly 30 minutes we come to the base of the vertical slope. SE VERTICAL SLOPE 1. «TOTEM» 40m. (V) 2. «TROJAN HORSE» 50m. (V) 3. «MEMORIES SCAN» 80m. (V) 4. «K. LITSAS - KALPATZIDIS» 160m. (V) 5. «TOTAL CATHARSIS» 160m. (VI) 6. «OF SERRES» 160m. (V-) 7. «SUNBEAM» 160m. (VI+) 8. «PENELOPE» 160m. (V+) 9. «PNEUMONIA» 160m. (V+) 10. «KARTALKA EDGE» 160m. (VI) 10a. «VARIATION» 45m. (VI) SW VERTICAL SLOPE 1. «CRYSTAL WALL» 160m. [VΙ+ (VII)] VERTICAL SLOPE KARTALKA ΙΙ & ΙΙΙ ACCESS: From the entrance to the parking lot at the ski center of Falakro one can climb to the saddle between the peaks Kartalka and the Peak of the Canyon in 40 minutes. Here we find the descent route, to the Treasure Cave where, by successive rappels we reach the base of the vertical slope. 1. «ΒΙΑNCA DI BEACO Mich. Kottaris» 350m. (ΙV) 1α. «VARIANT OF 1» 350μ. (ΙΙΙ) 2. «Th. CHATZIZYRLIS Th. SKOYTERIS» 300m.(V) 3. «S.DALLA PORTA - Ι. ΠΑΠΑΛΕΞΙΟΥ - FABIO - FIORETINA 350m. (IV-) 4. «IOS» 400m. (ΙΙΙ/ΑD/M2+) 4a. «IOS DIRECT» 100m. (ΑD/M4) 5. «ΑΑ SELECTION» 400m. (V+) 6. «VAL VENI» 450m. (V+ Ao) EUROPEAN TRAIL Ε6

3 The European Trail E6 commences in Finland and enters the prefecture of Drama from the mountains of Vrontous, covering a distance of roughly 115 kilometers. The trails descents to Kato Vrountou and then heads to the north. It passes outside of Perithori and then turns to the west, crosses the Forest of Kykla, reaching the homonymous worksite and, continuing, turns to the northeast and to Dasoto. From Dasoto is continues to Kato Nevrokopi and then Volakas. From the exit of the village Volakas there is trail that ascends to Forest Kouri and then continues to the mountain meadows in the area of Falakro. From the plateau of Agio Pnevma, on Mt. Falakro, it descends to the beech and oak forests. The difference in altitude is roughly 1,150m. and after the trail crosses the forests of deciduous trees on the northern side of Falakro, it comes across the settlement of Livadero. From Livadero the trail heads to the east and to the worksite of Drepano, following the flow of River Nestos. After it passes the settlement of Perivlepto, the trail descends towards Nestos and finally reaches in Paranesti. From Paranesti is then heads to the east, to Leivaditis on an uphill and demanding route. TRAIL CONNECTING AGIO PNEVMA ON MT. FALAKRO WITH THE CANYON OF PYRGOI From the entrance to the parking space on the Ski Center of Falakro, at the Agio Pnevma plateau, there begins a trail that leads to the Canyon of Pyrgoi. This is one of the most beautiful trails on Falakro and is considered a must for climbers, although it has only recently been signaled. Initially the route is directed towards the southwest and transverses the western slope of Kartalka. The trail continues and passes through a black pine forest, to reach a spot from where one can admire the view of the imposing peaks of the mountain. The trail then descents to reach the bottom of the wooded gorge. Now we shall follow the course of the Canyon to reach the mountaineering lodge at Pyrgoi. From here we can take the road leading to the village Pyrgoi. MOUNTAIN TRAIL IN GRANITIS

4 At a distance of 10 km from the village of Volakas, southeast from the picturesque mountain village Granitis, we find the starting point of the homonymous forest trail. We descent to the old settlement of Granitis, located at the end of a ravine, just a few meters away from the central road connecting Drama and Nevrokopi. After we pass the small bridge, we reach a crossroad and take a left. The trail begins just after the crossroad. Its total distance is 1700m. And it crosses a dense forest of deciduous trees. We walk beneath the shadows cast by chestnuts, walnuts, cherries, basswoods and beeches. The Forest Inspectorate has installed informational posters interspersed in the forest, providing visitors with useful information on the flora and fauna of the area. At the end of the trail we find a forest road which will take us, via a roundabout route of about 3.5km., back to the village Granitis. CLIMBING TRAIL NORTH FALAKRO On the northern slopes of Mt. Falakro there is a trail of unmatched beauty. The trail begins from the mesa of Agio Pnevma, where we find the Ski Center, on an altitude of 1720m.. Its initial direction is to the north, until it reaches the first ridge, crossing part of the pseudo-alpine meadows on the mountain, and their very rich underbrush. The highest point on this ridge offers a bewitching panoramic view of the River Nestos and most of the mountain range of West Rhodope. The trail then turns to the west and begins to descent the meadows and reach the mixed forests of beeches and other broadleaf trees, which, in the autumn, are very impressive, due to the color alternations. The trail crosses the forest road on northern Falakro and continues to descent (its direction always to the north) crossing the old settlement of Mesovouni to end up in the settlement of Perasma, just a few meters above the River Nestos. HAND GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING FIELDS The gliders which appear on Drama s sky with their impressive hand gliding and paragliding gear, principally on sunny days, appear to be the true descendants of Icarus. Although this sport offers unique and fresh experiences by itself, Drama includes of

5 excellent take-off fields and ideal conditions. The sense of freedom offered by flight and the visual feast of the landscape of Drama in eagle eye s view is for the flyers, competing or not, the biggest prize. For the rest of us, the phantasmagoric view of a sky filled with colorful paraglider wings is a sight to treasure and certainly a motive to be there. TAKE OFF FIELDS IN THE PREFECTURE OF DRAMA 1. Korylovos (South) 2. Korylovos (East) 3. Pyrgoi (Kedros) 5. Prosotsani (Piges) 8. Falakro (Pyrgoi) FALAKRO SKI CENTER If you are a skier or snowboarder that you have surely tasted the freedom of going downhill, the satisfaction at the end of a rough crossing, the pleasure of falling on the soft snow But to go downhill, on the majestic slopes of Mt. Falakro, covered with a layer of virgin, unbeaten snow is an experience one can never forget. Mount Falakro is the tallest mountain in Eastern Macedonia and home to a very modern Ski Center with high specifications infrastructure, natural ski courses running for roughly 24km and of varying difficulty. The begin at an altitude of 1730m. and reach up to 2232m.Even if you don t like skiing the Ski Center at Falakro is still worth a visit, as it is a very different experience from any other ski centrer. TOURIST TOUR

6 Build on a cavity formed on the slopes of Mt. Falakro and at an altitude of 830m., Volakas is 35.5km. away from Drama and 24km. from Nevrokopi. The village preserves the valuable consignments of a peculiar cultural inheritance, such as, for example, the customs of the Twelve days feast, with the well known festival of Arapides *Negroes+, the satirical reenactment of a local wedding, the Arkoudes *Bears+ and others or the happenings relating to the summer festival on the Day of the Holy Spirit on Mt. Falakro. In the village there survives a three-aisled, wooden roof, post byzantine basilica, dedicated to Prophet Elijah (Profitis Ilias), which dates from Volakas is a lively village and, unlike the other villages in the area, it is always reverberating with the voices of children playing in the streets. It is also a place that welcomes many visitors (especially during the skiing season), as witnessed by its six modern hostels, while its beautiful taverns serve, among other delicacies, the renowned sausages of Volakas! From Volakas begins an interesting downhill drive, 12km. long and heading to the north, which, after crossing landscapes of alternating views and vegetation, reaches Microkleisoura. On its verges grow uncultivated walnut tress, while in the surrounding slopes we find dense tufts of tress that are interrupted by small forest meadows filled with flowers. Slowly descending towards the River Nestos wild vegetation thickens until the scenery changes and our vehicle now moves across the cultivated fields of Microkleisoura. From Microkleisoura the road, via the newly-build imposing bridge, leads to the other side of Nestos, to Potamoi, a village which the construction of the hydroelectric dam at Thisavros has converted, in recent years, to a picturesque riparian settlement. The area of Potamoi has been characterized as an important crossroads of cultures since the prehistoric era. From Potamoi the drive continues to Micromilia, and 6 km. down the road the turnpike crosses a dirt road that runs to the north, parallel to the flow of Kaminorema. This road initially meanders through beech and oak forests, the first spruces appear after nine kilometres. They are distinguishable from their slender white trunks and their hanging branches. After a further three kilometres there is a junction to the left that leads to the forest worksite of Karyotis at location Magoula, where the dominion of spruce begins. Here there is an impenetrable Norway spruce forest, which is not just the only of its kind in Greece, but also the southernmost point for the proliferation of this species in Europe. The aesthetic value of the forest is especially evident in the autumn, where the leafs of the spruce turn golden, rendering the landscape with a, totally unexpected for Greece, color. From the spruce forest the main forest road then turns towards the forest village of Elatia. The main forest road, although vastly improved over the years, should be

7 negotiated with caution, while, on certain periods of the year, the use of a 4x4 vehicle is advisable. The forest landscape changes as we move along and Scots Pine gives way to large pine forests. After the worksite of Megali Panagia (known also as 1500 ) the road turns downhill, always eastbound, and reaches Vathyrema, to then continue to the Forest Village of Elatia. We may take a detour to the north (following the relevant information sign) and approach the tallest peak of Tsakalos (1814m.). The peak lies on the border line and offers a bird s eye view of the whole area.roughly 12.5 kilometers to the east we find the Forest Village at location Koutra (72km. from the city of Drama), surrounded by imposing, colossal Norway Spruces which stand at more than sixty meters tall. Besides their height, the trees are also impressive in the regularity of their (conical) shape and their hanging, like curtains, branches. These monumental trees are not to be found elsewhere in Greece. They grow exclusively in the Forest of Elatia. The valley of Stravorema, an ideal recreation space, lies seven kilometers away. It owes its name to the twists and turns of the homonymous current, which shapes a gentle pasture amidst the dense spruce and pine forests. From Forest Village we take the main forest road to Drama and we exit the vicinity of the forest. We continue on the turnpike road.the landmarks on our journey to River Nestos include border village Skaloti (57km. from Drama), with a very special kind of flora, and picturesque Sidironero (48km. from Drama). At the end of a downhill trip (10 further kilometers) we cross the new bridge on River Nestos. This bridge replaced the old historic bridge of Papader, which now rests deep in the waters of the artificial lake of Nestors. We ascend towards the north slopes of Mt. Falakro where, after 10km., we reach Touloubari. From Touloubari we may gaze at the area of Elatia, we have now left behind, and continue our journey back to Drama. Intermediate stops as we go downhill could be the village Livadero (22km. from Drama), where we may dine in one of the many taverns, and Taxiarches with the nearby Convent of the Ascension of the Savior (Analipsi tou Sotira) (10km. from Drama).