TOUR CODE: 15170 GRADE: 4 & 4/SS SEPTEMBER 2016 17 September - 01 October Two Weeks EXPLORING HALKIDIKI Combining Greece s picturesque Sithonia peninsula and the Birthplace of Aristotle
HOLIDAY INFORMATION TOUR DESCRIPTION This information is in addition to our General Information Booklet which is enclosed. Halkidiki lies in the northern Greece region of Macedonia, and extends south into 3 fingers Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos. While many tourists head for Kassandra, the less well known peninsulas of Sithonia and Athos have a quieter, more authentic feel. This is Greece at its most welcoming with quiet coastal towns, uncrowded beaches, shady village squares, local markets and of course, the quintessential Greek hospitality and cuisine. Verdant Sithonia appeals to nature lovers, where pine and oak forests, olive groves, fruit trees and vineyards give way to golden beaches, azure seas, picturesque harbours and fishing hamlets. In between you ll find traditional villages, characteristic stone architecture, and tranquil churches. From our base at the lovely Athena Pallas Village, which is located directly on the coast at Elias Beach, our walks lead us around the peninsula on woodland tracks, country trails and along coastal pathways and into the Mt. Holomontas range, rich in flora and fauna, and offering wonderful panoramic views to the coast. We will visit a small mountain village such as Arnaia, known for its traditional and distinct buildings and on several days we will be back at the hotel in time to enjoy the beach for a swim. For our second week, we will stay at the family owned Hotel Liotopi in the tranquil seaside town of Olympiada. From here we ll explore the birthplace of Aristotle at Ancient Stagira, follow part of the Aristotle Trail and walk the Marmari peninsula. We ll visit Ouranoupoli, the area s capital which borders the World Heritage Site of Mount Athos, where we can enjoy a walk on nearby Ammouliani Island. We will also visit the ancient city of Amphipolis, inhabited from the fifth century BC and through the Macedonian, Roman and Byzantine eras, where a tomb has recently been excavated, probably that of one of Alexander the Great s family. Our walks take us through the picturesque countryside, into pleasant woodlands of pine, fir & chestnut, following forest tracks, passing the spectacular Varvara waterfall, and along a coastal trail - enjoying the verdant scenery as we go. Mount Athos, or Holy Mountain, which can be seen from the eastern side of Sithonia has approx. 20 inhabited monasteries and 1,700 monks, and while it cannot be visited without a permit, you can take a cruise take along the coastline, which offers close up views. An important ingredient of any Greek holiday is the opportunity to sample the local cuisine and wines. During our first week we ll eat at the hotel, which offers extensive International and Greek dishes and at local tavernas. While at Olympiada our hotel breakfasts are homemade with locally grown ingredients and dinners will be taken at hotel s delightful sea front taverna. The Greek diet is said to be one of the healthiest in the world, and the meals on this holiday are a wonderful addition to the walking.
ITINERARY Day: Overnight accommodation: Daily itinerary: Meals: 1: 2 7: Athena Pallas Village, Sithonia Depart London Gatwick to Thessaloniki. On arrival travel by road to the Athena Pallas Village, located at Elias Beach, on the green peninsula of Sithonia. Walking on Sithonia and around the Mt. Holomontas range. There will be a free day for you to explore on your own, or relax at the hotel. D 8: We ll return to Thessaloniki Airport to meet participants arriving for the Olympiada holiday and then transfer by road to the Hotel Liotopi, located in the quiet seaside town of Olympiada. B, D 9 14: Hotel Liotopi, Olympiada Exploring from Olympiada takes us through the picturesque countryside, into pleasant woodlands following forest tracks, passing the spectacular Varvara waterfall, and along a coastal trail. Our sightseeing days take us to Ouranoupoli and to the ancient city of Amphipolis. 15 Transfer by road to Thessaloniki Airport for check-in and return flight to London Gatwick. B D (Dinner) B (Breakfast) HOLIDAY GRADE & WALKING PROGRAMME On this Grade 4 & 4/SS grade holiday there is scenic walking over the hills and along the coast. We use coastal trails, forest paths, mule tracks and quiet roads. We proceed at a leisurely pace sometimes making use of the tavernas in the local villages for refreshments stops or lunch. Some of the walks are at the top of the grade, with ascents and descents of 300-400m, though rarely steep. While at Olympiada two of our walks will be on sightseeing days. An example of some of the walks we may include in our programme (dependent on weather conditions and the ability of the group) are as follows: Nikiti to Agios Nikolaos. Up through olive groves and over the hills across the peninsula, with views of Mt Athos, to the oldest village in the area. Ascent / descent 350m; 12.5kms; 4 hours.
Porto Carras. Walk by the sea past many coves and through pine woods in this fine nature reserve. Ascent and descent 100m; 11kms; 3 hours. Polygiros to Tsoukalas Ridge. After a drive through mountain towns, with time to explore, we walk above the regional capital with views to Mt Olympus in the west and the Holomontas range to the east. Ascent 300m /descent 250m; 8kms; 3 hours. Parthenonas. We ascend through woods and farmland to a formerly deserted village below the highest mountain on the peninsula then return through rugged landscape. Ascent / descent 380m; 14.5kms; 4.5 hours. Ancient Stagira: A short walk from our hotel leads us to Ancient Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle. See Byzantine ruins, the acropolis and agora and continue to a hilltop with fine views overlooking Olympiada and the Strimonikas Gulf. Ascent / descent minimal (hill top extension +/- 300m); 3kms (extension 8kms); 90mins (extension 3 hours) Waterfalls & Kalivia Valley: A mainly easy walk that starts in the inland hills, descends to a tall waterfall then continues on forest tracks through pleasant woodland to a valley with a very old settlement, then to the coast and back to the hotel along the beach. Ascent 100m / descent 320m; 15.5kms; 4 hours Aristotle s Way: Starting at Aristotle s Park in New Stagira, we follow forest tracks through chestnut, then beech and coniferous woodland, climbing for 2 km up to and then along a ridge with some good sea views. The descent is gradual. Ascent 270m / descent 445m; 13kms; 3.45 hours We do not include local transport costs or entrance fees in conjunction with the walks programme on this holiday. This is due to walks being weather dependent and also takes into account the group ability and your personal choice (you may choose to take a day off from the group arrangements), and this way you only pay for the activities that you take part in. Local transport costs for this holiday should not exceed 50 per week (approx. 60, which is paid locally in euro). Should you decide to take an optional excursion, these costs are not included in the holiday or local transport costs. Mount Athos, or Holy Mountain, which can be seen from the eastern side of Sithonia has approx. 20 inhabited monasteries and 1,700 monks, and while it cannot be visited without a permit, you can take a cruise take along the coastline, which offers close up views. This optional cruise can be taken on either week of your stay and your group leader will give you details at your daily briefing. Please note that the estimation of local costs relating to this holiday is based on currency exchange rates valid at the time of the publication of our winter 2016/spring 2017 brochure and this Holiday Information sheet. Any fluctuations in exchange rates may impact on this estimation of local costs. Please check with your bank or foreign currency provider prior to your holiday to enable you to plan your spending. Each evening, the leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. If you do not wish to join the party, please let the leader know.
TRAVEL INFORMATION We fly from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki and return with British Airways. Details of your baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent approximately 10 days prior to departure. On arrival the transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to the Athena Pallas Village takes approximately 1 hour by coach. On the transfer day between the Athena Pallas Village and the Hotel Liotopi in Olympiada, the coach will first go to Thessaloniki Airport for departing passengers and to meet passengers on the Olympiada holiday. The transfer time from Thessaloniki Airport to Olympiada is approx 1.5 hours. If you are joining and leaving in Greece it is assumed, unless you have advised us otherwise, that you will join the tour at the Athena Pallas Village and depart at the Hotel Liotopi. If this is not your intention, and you wish to meet the group at Thessaloniki airport and be included on all the group coach transfers, please let us know in writing at least 5 weeks before departure. Please note that your flight must arrive no later than 30 minutes after the group flight to be able to join the group transfer and we require your flight information (flight number, departure point, time of arrival) so that we can ensure your leader is able to meet up with you. PASSPORTS & VISAS Please refer to Section 2 of the enclosed General Information Booklet. For British passport holders, for stays in Greece of up to three months your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to the UK. Passport, visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP, or can be obtained from the Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA). In addition, general travel advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
LOCAL CURRENCY Please refer to Section 2 of our General Information Booklet for details. The currency in Greece is the euro. There are ATM machines at Thessaloniki Airport, banks with ATM facilities in villages of Nikiti and Neos Marmaras, near to the Athena Pallas Village and credit cards are accepted at the hotel. There are no ATMs in Olympiada but credit cards are accepted at the Hotel Liotopi. ATMs will also be available during our visit to Ouranoupoli, which we visit on the 2 nd week of the holiday. ACCOMMODATION & MEALS The family owned, superior category Athena Pallas Village is located directly on the coast at Elias Beach on the Sithonia peninsula. The hotel is similar to a small village in that the accommodation is located across the extensive grounds, there are a couple of restaurants, a shop, three outdoor swimming pools, indoor pool with health club & spa (charges apply for treatments), tennis courts, bar, and even a folklore museum, with items from the area! The owner of the hotel used to build churches before he constructed the hotel and there are two small churches on the hotel grounds. There is access directly across from the hotel to the quiet beach (down steps) which connects to a sister hotel, which has a beach bar serving drinks and snacks. There is free wi-fi connection and there is also a small internet station at the hotel (fee applies). All nicely decorated rooms are en suite (with showers) and have a hairdryer, TV (with English news channels), safe, kettle, climate control, mini-bar, telephone, and a balcony or veranda with chairs and table. Athena Pallas Village Akti Elias P.O. Box 63088 Sithonia Halkidiki, Greece Tel: 0030 23750 23000 Web: www.athena-pallas.gr The Hotel Liotopi is a family run, 16 room hotel located close to the beach in Olympiada and a stone s throw from shops, cafes & restaurants. The hotel prides itself on its homemade breakfast, which is taken outside in the charming garden in good weather. Rooms are uniquely decorated and are en suite with a/c, fridge, TV and a hairdryer. All rooms have a balcony with either sea or mountain view. Free wi-fi is offered to guests. Hotel Liotopi Olympiada, 57 014 Municipality of Stageira Halkidiki, Greece Tel: 0030 23760 51257, 51255 Website: www.hotel-liotopi.gr
Breakfasts and dinners are included in the holiday charge. Dinners will be taken at a mix of hotel (where long trousers are a requirement for men) and local tavernas on the first week and at the hotel s seafront taverna on the second. Lunches are not included in the holiday cost. Picnic lunches can be bought from the hotel, local supermarket or bakery. The electricity supply is 220V AC and you will need a round 2 pin plug adaptor to use electrical items. RESORT INFORMATION Resort facilities in Nikiti, Neos Marmaras and Olympiada include: Local shops Restaurants & Bars Supermarket Pharmacies ATMs/Banks (not Olympiada) CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT Autumn in northern Greece usually offers comfortable, sunny days, but with the possibility of occasional rain showers. You should expect average daytime highs close to 20 C with evenings dropping to 10-12 C. We suggest you bring a fleece or warm jacket for the cooler early mornings and evenings. You may find it useful to bring a small rucksack, a lightweight bottle for drinking water, picnic knife (pack in suitcase) some polythene bags, lunchbox and a small first aid kit. We suggest you take insect repellent, especially for late summer, lightweight waterproofs, swimsuit and towel. You may find it useful to bring a small rucksack, a lightweight bottle for drinking water, picnic knife (pack in suitcase) some polythene bags, lunchbox and a small first aid kit. We suggest you take insect repellent, lightweight waterproofs swimsuit and towel, and beach shoes for stony beaches. Lightweight walking boots with good ankle support are required for most of the walks, as some paths can be rough and stony. It is essential to wear the correct footwear, as any injury caused by insufficient ankle support can spoil the enjoyment of your holiday. We recommend that you wear your walking boots or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the walking programme.
INSURANCE Please make sure that your insurance for this holiday covers you for guided walking below 2000m. Please also take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you - it will help in the event of an emergency. Please note that the EHIC has an expiry date and you should ensure that yours is valid for the duration of your holiday. See our General Information Booklet for further details. TRAVELLING LIGHT You should be able to lift and carry your own luggage. Accommodation at the Athena Pallas Village is located across the grounds. There are paths and covered walkways between the rooms and main building which includes some steps. The Hotel Liotopi is two storeys and does not have a lift. MAPS & SUGGESTED READING Maps and books about Halkidiki may be obtained before departure from specialist map sellers such as: The Map Shop 15 High Street Upton upon Severn, Worcs.WR8 0HJ Tel : 01684 593146 Fax : 01684 594559 Website: www.themapshop.co.uk Further information can be found on the last page of our General Information Booklet. Suggested Reading: Rough Guide to Greece Rough Guide Publications Lonely Planet Greece Lonely Planet Publications Many local libraries now stock a selection of travel guides/books which may offer you more information, and you may find the following websites useful in planning your trip: Greek National Tourist Office Visit Greece Hakidiki Sithonia Mount Athos Area www.gnto.gr www.visitgreece.com www.halkidiki.com www.sithoniagreece.com http://en.mountathosarea.org/
PLEASE QUOTE YOUR HOLIDAY CODE AND BOOKING REFERENCE NUMBER IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE. WE WISH YOU AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY AND WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS UPON YOUR RETURN. Revisions to this Holiday Information sheet Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued. In most cases any revisions will be minor and the overall nature of the holiday will be unchanged. Should we need to make a major change to the holiday arrangements between you booking your holiday and your date of travel we will notify you to specifically draw your attention to any significant change. You may wish to review the latest version of the Holiday Information sheet online prior to travel.