From the slopes of Mount Olympus to the shores of the Myrtoan Sea, these destinations uniquely combine mountains and sea.
Spring is the perfect season to plan an escape that combines mountain and sea. The ideal scenario includes strolls through picturesque villages, hiking along trails amid glorious springtime nature, as well asdips at beaches beneath the mountain. Here are four ideal destinations for those of you who want the ultimate combination of mountain and sea.
Pelion
At any time of year, Pelion is a paradise. Nowhere else in Greece does the sea harmonize so perfectly with the mountain as it does in Pelion. With more than 30 villages, the Mountain of the Centaurs feels inexhaustible.Portaria,Makrinitsa,Vizitsa, Milies and Tsagarada are among the best-known and most traditional Pelion villages. If you head to the eastern side, using Tsagarada, Mouresi or Kissos as your base, you can visit famed Aegean beaches such as Mylopotamos, Fakistra, Plaka and Papa Nero.
If, on the other hand, you choose southern Pelion, you will find picturesque settlements and gorgeous beaches for tranquil holidays. A key stop for those traveling on this side of the mountain is the chief village of Argalasti which gazes out over the Aegean and the Pagasetic Gulf. Discover the serene fishing villages of Lefokastro and Kalamos on the shores of the Pagasetic Gulf, sip your coffee in the square of pretty Lafkos, watch the sunset from Milina and much-photographed Tzasteni and continue to the fishing village of Agia Kyriaki to cross over to the islet of Paleo Trikeri.
Kissavos
To the northeast of the regional unit of Larissa and south of the Tempi Valley, directly opposite Olympus, rises Kissavos (also known as Ossa), a lush and beautiful mountain that hides within its mass picturesque villages, ideal for getaways in every season. TheMetaxochori is the quiet strength of Kissavos and an ideal base for touring. It is a lovely little village at an elevation of 300 m. with notable mansions - witnesses to the era when the village flourished thanks to silkworm cultivation. Within a stone’s throw liesAgia, a picturesque small town built on the foothills of Kissavos, with noteworthy mansions and important religious monuments.It’s also worth visiting the traditional settlement ofAnatoli, Melivoia with its wonderful views and the picturesque Ano Sotiritsa.
On the other side of Kissavos, 30 km from Larissa and “hanging” above the Tempi Valley, lie the mansion-filled Ampelakia, a village - a jewel of Thessaly, which became renowned mainly for the founding, in the year 1778, of the world’s first cooperative («Common Partnership and Brotherhood of Ampelakia»). In the shadow of Kissavos, on the Aegean, you will find wonderful beaches with crystal-blue waters, such as the contiguousVelika - Kato Sotiritsa - Agiokampos with a total length of 14 km.
Olympus
The mountain of the gods is a popular destination for hikers, mountaineers and climbers who want to enjoy wandering its slopes and conquering its peaks, as well as for lovers of mountain escapes in picturesque villages amid beautiful nature. A classic base for exploring Olympusis Litochoro, at the foot of its eastern side. It is the gateway to the mythical mountain, yet it lies just a few kilometers from the sea,making it an ideal destination to enjoy the mountain nature and also take your dips. Litochoro is also an ideal base for exploring the traditional settlements of Palaios Panteleimonas and Skotina.
From the summits of Olympus, visitors can find themselves on the gorgeous beaches that lie in the mountain’s shadow. A short distance from Litochoro await Variko, Gritsa and Plaka (the port of Litochoro) with views on one side of the endless sea of the Thermaikos and on the other of Olympus.
Parnon
Parnon,the mountain that separates Arcadia from Laconia, hides beautiful traditional villages within a verdant landscape with abundant waters and splendid fir forests. Early autumn is just right for visiting them. Kastanitsa with its stone-built houses, one of the most beautiful traditional preserved settlements of the Peloponnese, the chief village of Agios Petros and Kosmas, otherwise known as the «balcony of Kynouria» (elevation 1,150 m.), with its gorgeous square shaded by plane trees, are ideal choices for mountain escapes.
Between the slopes of Parnon and the Myrtoan Sea, beneath a crimson rock, lies the picturesque Leonidio, the capital of Tsakonia - aplace ideal for those who want to combine mountain forays with strolls by the sea. From here you can visit Plaka, Leonidio’s little port, the quiet seaside village of Poulithra, as well as the charming small town of Tyros.
