Miss Barr says...
Varied walking,steep and challenging at times.Lovely scenery.
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This self-guided walking holiday explores the Pelion Peninsula in mainland Greece. It is named the 'Land of the Centaurs' due to its associations with Greek mythology, with its name coming from King Peleus, father of Achilles. Walk from village to village on old cobbled donkey paths, called kalderimi that were mostly built in the 18th and 19th centuries to connect the villages and transport olives and honey.
Discover the contrasts of the region from the lush green mountainous interior to coastal trails on the Aegean Sea. The flora of the area is characterised by orchards, olive groves and forests of oak, eucalyptus, walnut, chestnut and beech, wildflowers and herb-scented maquis. The mountain villages have whitewashed, half-timbered houses with grey slate roofs. On the coast discover hidden coves, sandy beaches and picturesque fishing villages and enjoy stunning views on almost every route.
Starting in Milies with its traditional Pelion architecture you'll start to get a feel for the region with its old houses, mansions and spring water fountains. Tsagarda is considered one of the most beautiful villages of the Pelion and is known for its 1750 year plane tree that measures 14m in diameter. On the coast at Damouchari you can see old Venetian houses and a Byzantine castle and enjoy an array of tavernas with sea views, the village was also used as a set location in the first Mamma Mia film. Heading back into the mountains enjoy stays in Chania and Portaria and visit the 'Balcony of the Pelion' at Makrinista for amazing views out to the Pagasestic Gulf.
The hotels you'll be staying in are a range of small, family-run properties and larger properties with more facilities, and you will find a choice of restaurants and tavernas so you can enjoy the local cuisine each evening.
Arrive in the traditional mountain village of Milies.
Stay at the Hotel Dryalos or similar (breakfast included)
Today follow an old stone path to the village of Kala Nera. Take time to relax at the beach, have a swim and enjoy lunch at a small fish restaurant before hiking back to Milies.
Stay at the Hotel Dryalos or similar (breakfast included)
Cross the mountains from south west to north east walking on a forest road and old kalderimi (stone paths) through chestnut trees to reach the village of Tsagarada. At the square admire the oldest plane tree in Europe, more than 1750 years old
Stay at Lost Unicorn Hotel or similar (breakfast and picnic lunch included)
Our destination today is Damouchari on the Aegean Sea - following the kalderimi out of Tsagarada head first to the isolated beach of Fakistra where you can enjoy your picnic and a swim in the crystal clear blue water before following a coastal path to Damouchari.
Stay at Damouchari Taditional Hotel or similar (breakfast and picnic lunch included)
Continue along the coast to Agios Ioannis and the magnificent white sandy beach Papa Nero. Ascend towards Chania stopping at the village of Kissos from where a transfer will take you the rest of the way to the highest village in the area where you spend the next 2 nights.
Stay at Manthos Mountain Resort & Spa or similar (breakfast and picnic lunch included)
Follow the road up the mountain to the ski centre at 1580m and from there you can enjoy fantastic views of both the Aegean Sea and the Pagasestic Gulf. Continue through the forest of aspen and beech trees in a circular route back to Chania.
Stay at Manthos Mountain Resort & Spa or similar (breakfast and picnic lunch included)
Today you will follow the path that was used according to Greek Mythology by the Centaurs, the half-horse, half-human creatures. The path leads us to the village of Portaria. In the afternoon continue to Makrinitsa, another picturesque village of the area with many old mansions, known as the 'Balcony of Mt. Pelion', offering amazing views to the Pagasetic Gulf and the city of Volos.
Stay at the Hotel Kriti or similar (breakfast and picnic lunch included)
After breakfast, leave Portaria.
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat or email sales@headwater.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Varied walking,steep and challenging at times.Lovely scenery.
What a complete break from the everyday. Warm welcomes, and enthusiasm to communicate at every hotel, from discussing Greek education systems to the barefoot chef and the amazing discovery that Greece has winter ski resorts, every day had a great balance of activity and interest. Your rep mr thannassos was amazing, I am sure he even arranged for the dolphins to swim past us on our last afternoon . Fabulous scenery, food (especially lost unicorn and hotel Kritsa) and comfortable hotels. the Pelion is a real gem.
Excellent on site agents and staff. It was tough to get things booked and agreed at short notice but the staff were very nice
A brilliant holiday! The Pelion is such a beautiful part of Greece, with our route taking in very different terrain, from beautiful beaches and coves to the wooded hills and flower filled meadows. The hotels were very varied, each wonderful in their own way, and all our hosts were exceptionally welcoming, kind and helpful.
The walking was fairly challenging at times, with many of the paths quite steep, rocky and overgrown - we got lost a few times. More of the red path markers and more information re timings would have been helpful on some days. However we enjoyed the challenge and loved the peace and solitude - we hardly met another soul on the paths, though were helped a couple of times by a local goat and a couple of friendly dogs who led us up the path to Kissos!
The organisation and support from the Headwater Team was excellent, with staff being unfailingly helpful and friendly, and the local support and pick ups organised by Thanassis in Pelion were easy and reliable.
Thank you!
A great holiday in lovely walking country. Good service from Headwater but let down in place by local agents (although not really the fault of the rep Thanassis).
This walking holiday was well organised with excellent transfers and a good level of interesting and varied walks. The fact that we went in mid May meant the temperature was perfect- hot but not overwhelming. The hotels and villages we stayed in were generally of a good standard and very pleasant. Do bother to clamber down to little coves when you can because they are the best beaches, imho. I would also strongly suggest you get one of the navigation apps and your own map as the written instructions are not terribly accurate and the map provided doesn’t have enough detail. Great holiday though and would thoroughly recommend it!
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night self-guided walking holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of , and hotels
All breakfasts and 5 picnics
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Headwater navigation app for your smartphone
Luggage transfers between hotels
Walking transfer on day 5
How to book:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
| Departing | Tour only | Prices  |
Single supplement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29th Jun 2024 | US$1949 | US$277 | Tour only: US$1949 Single supp: US$277 |
Check availability |
| Check availability | ||||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
Single supplement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th Jul 2024 | US$1949 | US$277 | Tour only: US$1949 Single supp: US$277 |
Check availability |
| Check availability | ||||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
Single supplement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Sep 2024 | US$1949 | US$277 | Tour only: US$1949 Single supp: US$277 |
Check availability |
| Check availability | ||||
| 14th Sep 2024 | US$1949 | US$277 | Tour only: US$1949 Single supp: US$277 |
Check availability |
| Check availability | ||||
| 21st Sep 2024 | US$1949 | US$277 | Tour only: US$1949 Single supp: US$277 |
Check availability |
| Check availability | ||||
The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
Solo travellers
Please call for details and prices
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided walking Managed locally by Headwater appointed agent.
Departures
Saturday departures from 29th Jun 2024 to 21st Sep 2024, for 7 nights. All dates are subject to availability, please contact us to check.
Meals
All breakfasts and 5 picnics
This holiday does not include any flights or rail.
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' button above.
If you need further information before you book simply complete our Holiday Enquiry Form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'Check availability' button below.
