Villages with flowing streams and plane trees, natural pools, emerald gorges and cool turquoise lakes. Discover the summer allure of four mountain destinations.
While we may be seeking beaches to beat the heat this season, mountain destinations also offer generous coolness and make a great alternative for summer holidays. Youll unwind in villages with running waters and plane-tree-shaded squares, dive into natures pools, go rafting and hiking, and discover places of rare natural beauty. Here are four suggestions to head for the mountains this summer.
Papigo, Zagorohoria
Though famed as a winter destination, the Zagorohoria are wonderful in summer too. The most renowned villages are Megalo Papigo and Mikro Papigo (about three kilometers apart), with well-preserved houses of Zagori architecture and the imposing «towers» of Astraka rising above the settlements. Follow the path linking the two settlements to reach the «Kolymbithres» or «Ovires». These are hollows carved by the natural flow of water, resembling small pools. In summer, the pools invite refreshing dips and sunbathing on smooth schist slabs. For adventure seekers, theres also the option of activities like rafting on the crystal-clear waters of the Voidomatis or hiking to the Drakolimni of Tymfi, one of our countrys best-known alpine lakes, set on a plateau of the Tymfi massif at an altitude of 2,050 m.
Pavliani, Fthiotida
Just two and a half hours from Athens, a captivating destination amid fir trees and lush nature, beside the waters of the Asopos River springs, awaits your discovery. Built on the verdant slopes of Oiti, at an altitude of 1,040 meters, the Pavliani in recent years has been attracting more and more travelers seeking peace and relaxation combined with outdoor activities in a dense fir forest. The village boasts a uniquely beautiful recreation park, crafted by locals with care and respect for the natural environment, making it an ideal destination for families with children. Inside the park you’ll come across witty signs, hammocks strung between trees, distinctive benches and other imaginative installations inviting you to live a one-of-a-kind experience.
Lake Doxa, Mountainous Corinthia
It could be a lake in the Alps, but it lies in Greece, specifically in Mountainous Corinthia, just two hours from Athens. Close to the villageFeneos, at 900 m elevation, the artificialLake Doxais one of the most beautiful lakes in the Peloponnese. Its blue-green waters mirror the mountains and the region’s colorful forests. A slender peninsula stretches into the center of the lake, home to the picturesque chapel of Agios Fanourios, while higher up, on a hillside, about 2 km away, stands the 15th-century Monastery of Agios Georgios of Feneos amid stunning nature. There, you can taste the monks’ rose spoon sweet and savor the unique lake view from the wooden covered balcony. The wider area of Doxa and Feneos lends itself to a nature-filled escape, with stops in stone-built mountain villages and plenty of outdoor activities. You can visit the main village, Goura, with its old stone-built houses and beautiful square, as well as the villages of Feneos, Kalyvia (Ancient Feneos), Steno and Panorama.
Tsagarada, Pelion
If you find it hard to part with the sea, the Pelion is an ideal destination to swim at wonderful beaches while also reveling in enchanting mountain nature. A great choice is Tsagarada, one of the most beautiful and greenest villages on the Mountain of the Centaurs, on the Aegean side, about 50 km from Volos. The village is divided into four quarters (Agioi Taxiarches, Agia Paraskevi, Agios Stefanos and Agia Kyriaki), with beautiful squares and churches, traditional mansions and stone-paved cobbled lanes. Using Tsagarada as your base, you can visit some of Pelion’s most famous beaches such as Mylopotamos, Fakistra, Plaka and Papa Nero. If you enjoy hiking, you can follow the trail that starts from Agia Paraskevi and, after a walk through the forest, ends at Damouchari with its lovely natural little harbor and then continues to Ai Giannis.
