luluinlove

My husband and I are doing a 3 week Greek road trip this summer (last week of may-early June). We’re in our mid to late 20’s. We like the fact that we won’t stick out as much by not hauling backpacks around and that our destinations are not dictated by public transportation so we can pull over when something looks interesting. I was hoping those of you with experience can comment on our itinerary (rough draft) and voice any concerns, tips, ideas, or suggestions.

We are both explorers at heart and would rather camp out than stay in a hostel. We plan to stay at Greece’s awesome campsites, couchsurf a few nights to hang out with locals, stay at affordable villas, or rent privately owned rooms/apartments. We don’t plan on sitting around in a hotel all day. I want to see sites that but I’m not afraid to go off the beaten path to experience the culture. We’re also bringing a small grill so we can go grocery shopping and make delicious meals when we feel like it.

Our interests include food/hobbies local to the particular areas, festivals, markets, old books, ceramics/clay throwing (workshops, etc.), and photography. I also find orchards/fruit trees beautiful and incredibly romantic. We prefer small charming towns instead of big cities but there are things we want to see at these bigger cities. When we’re not at some site we’d love to lose ourselves in the nooks and city culture.

I thought about flying into Thessaloniki and flying out of Athens (or vise versa) but multi-city flights I’ve seen are significantly more expensive and I would also pay at least $150 more to return my rental car at a different location. We don’t mind driving and like the fact that we get to drive through 2 sides of the country.

Car rental car recommendations, map recommendations anyone?


Day 0
Arrive Thessaloniki/Jetlag/etc.
Buy some supplies.

Day 1
drive ->1.75 hrs
A. Philippi
drive->25 min.
B. Kavala
Overnight at:

Day 2
-> 2.5 hrs
A. Edessa
I. Edessa Falls
Overnight at:

Day 3
drive ->45 min.
A. Veroia
I. Paul's Steps
drive -> 2 hrs
B. Kalambaka/Kastraki
Overnight at: Villa

Day 4
head out @ 5:00 am for sunrise
A. Meteora
I. Monasteries
Overnight at: Villa

Day 5
depart @ 9am
drive->4 hrs
Patras
Overnight at:

Day 6
depart @ 10am
drive -> 1.6 hrs
A. Archea Olimpia
Overnight at:

Day 7
drive -> 2.25 hrs
A. Ancient Corinth
drive -> 20 mins.
Overnight at: Camping Isthmia Beach

Day 8
seaside walk -> 1.6 miles
A. Kechries
B. Explore Korinthos
Overnight at: Camping Isthmia Beach

Day 9
drive -> 1 hr
A. Athens
Overnight at:

Day 10
A. Athens
I. Acropolis, Agora, Mars Hill
Overnight at:

Day 11
Peraus ferry ->
Patmos
Overnight at:

Day 12
Patmos
Overnight at:

Day 13
Patmos
Overnight at:

Day 14
Patmos ferry -> Peraus
Overnight at:

Day 15
A. Athens
drive ->2.5 hrs
B. Delphi
Overnight at: Chrissa Camping

Day 16
drive ->3 hrs
A. Platamon
drive -> 15 mins.
B. Panteleimon
drive -> 20 mins.
C. Leptokarya
Overnight at: Leptokarya Campsite


Day 17
drive ->25 mins
A. Litochoro
I. Mount Olympus [hike, water fall]
6 am park @ Prioria then hike-> Refuge A/Zolotas/Spilios Agapitos (3-4 hours)
3 hours--> Kaki Skala scree staircase
-> minutes to Skolio (on left)
Trek back
Overnight at: Refuge A

Day 18
A. Trek down to Pioria -> 3-4 hrs
B. Explore Litochoro
drive ->20 mins
B. ? Pit stop Dion
drive -> 1.25 hrs
C. Thessaloniki
Overnight at:

Day 19
A.Thessaloniki
Overnight at:

Day 20
A. Thessaloniki
Overnight at:

Day 21
Thessaloniki
Overnight at:

Day 22
Depart

clausar

Another suggestion would be landing and leaving from Athens

Athen - Meterora - Tempi - Thessaloniki - explore Northern Greece, try to include Kastoria too if possible.

Then head to Ioannina via Egnatia Odos, the capital of Epirus, one of the nicest unspoiled regions of Greece, visit Metsovo, which is on the way, overnight in the nice city of Ioannina , visit Dodoni, one of the very important archaeological sites of Greece.
Then head down to Patras, visit Nafpaktos on the way.
From Patras continue to Olympia and from there to Nafplio ( a wonderful and very scenic drive).
From Nafplio drive to Athens and see Ancient Corinth on the way, but not the modern city of Corinth as you had planned.. it is ugly and not worth it.

Maybe you can visit nearby Loutraki and drive from there to the Vouliagmeni lake with the Heraion temple and the old light house.

From Athens you can continue with your initial itinerary......

luluinlove

Clausar, thanks for your suggestions! We took some of them and excluded others because although we wish we could see it all we don't want to feel so rushed from one place to another.

Do you know where/if we could safely park our car in Pareus while we are in Patmos?
What part of this looks too rushed? Since we now have a few days where could I spend more time? Do you know of local foods/activities in our destinations?


Thank you!!


This is the modified schedule:

Day 3
drive ->45 min.
A. Veroia
I. Paul's Steps
drive -> 2 hrs
B. Kalambaka/Kastraki
Overnight at: Villa

Day 4
head out @ 5:00 am for sunrise
A. Meteora
I. Monasteries
Overnight at: Villa

Day 5
DRIVE->1.3hrs
A. Ioannina
I. ferry to little island
II. Silver shops
III. Try local cheeses and baklava
Overnight at:

Day 5
depart @ 10am
drive->3 hrs
A. Nafpaktos
drive->30 min
B. Patras
Overnight at:

Day 6
depart @ 9:30am
drive -> 1.6 hrs
A. Archea Olimpia
drive -> 2.25 hrs
A. Ancient Corinth
drive -> 20 mins.
Overnight at: Camping Isthmia Beach

Day 7
seaside walk -> 1.6 miles
A. Kechries
B. Relax, maybe see Loutraki if we're not too worn out
Overnight at: Camping Isthmia Beach

Day 8
drive -> 1 hr
A. Athens
I. Agora, Acropolis, Mars Hill
Overnight at:

Day 9
A. Hang out in Athens until time for ferry
B. Ferry from Peraus to Patmos
Overnight at:

Day 10
Patmos
Overnight at:

Day 11
Patmos
Overnight at:

Day 12
Patmos ferry -> Peraus
Overnight at:

Day 13
drive ->2.5 hrs
B. Delphi
Overnight at: Chrissa Camping

Day 14
drive ->3 hrs
A. Platamon
drive -> 15 mins.
B. Panteleimon
drive -> 20 mins.
C. Leptokarya
Overnight at: Leptokarya Campsite


Day 15
drive ->25 mins
A. Litochoro
I. Mount Olympus [hike, water fall]
6 am park @ Prioria then hike-> Refuge A/Zolotas/Spilios Agapitos (3-4 hours)
3 hours--> Kaki Skala scree staircase
-> minutes to Skolio (on left)
Trek back
Overnight at: Refuge A

Day 16
A. Trek down to Pioria -> 3-4 hrs
B. Explore Litochoro
Overnight at:

Day 17
drive ->20 mins
A. ? Pit stop Dion
drive -> 1.25 hrs
B. Thessaloniki
Overnight at:

Day 18
A. Thessaloniki
Overnight at:

Day 19
Thessaloniki

Day 20


Day 21


Day 22
Depart

Odin

Considering your interests, I see you are missing out on visiting the Pelion area. This area has its own architecture, cuisine and is quite unspoilt, remote and not visited by many tourists, at least not Americans. Last week May/early June would be magnificient in this area. You could take a trek off the beaten path by ancient mule paths (kalterimia in Greek). Zagora is famous for it's fruit orchards.

luluinlove

Odin, that sounds wonderful. Have you been there? I just entered delfi to zagora on google maps and the road looks INSANE.
Do you know the names of any orchards? Thanks for your help!

clausar

lulu

The Pilio mountain is a very nice and green area of Greece the main city is Volos located on the sea.
Just above Volos you can visit 2 wonderful Pilio villages : Makrinitsa and Portaria.
The mountain has 24 villages, some of the nicest ones are :
Tsangarada, Milies, Pinakates and Milina.

In Pilio you will find many small traditional hotels , they all should be relatively inexpensive in the summer ( with the exception of the villages that are located on the sea).

The winter is the high season for the mountainous villages of Pilio.

Odin gave you an excellent advice with the kalderimia the old paths that are still connecting the villages.
I used to spend Easter in Agios Vlassios, one of the lesser known Pilio villages. There is an old path at the end of the village that leads to a very nice small river, where we used to bath and drink the water, and from there we walked to the next village ( Paliokastro) which had a small mosque, a remaining of the Ottoman occupation.

**************************

As you will arrive to Ioannina there is an exit to Metsovo, which is only a few km away from the Egnatia Odos and NOT to be missed...

In Ioannina visit also the castke, the lake area and time permitted the Perama cave

Also after Ioannina there is an exit to the archaeological site of Dodoni ( a very short drive) , one of the most important ones of Greece

From Igoumenitsa you will drive down to Patra, on your way the number of things to see are endless.
There are many great beaches, my favourite summer destination: Syvota, the beautiful cities of Parga and Preveza the sprigs of the Acheron river etc......

It is there where you could spend some extra days especially in Syvota : http://tinyurl.com/b3xd92l

Odin

lulu
Yes I have been there and the area made a big impression on me because it is so green with plenty of water everywhere, a contrast to other parts of Greece. The roads are definitely insane, mountainous, high and twisting but in good condition. I like the cliffs that plunge down into the sea and the beaches are mainly marble pebbles and clear water. It's very forested with many types of trees inc chestnut.

I don't know the orchard names, but here is some info on the apples

http://www.zagora-pelion.com/index.p...tem/101-zagora

Here are some reviews on a place we stayed briefly, in an archonitiko which is a restored mansion, they might give feel to the area. There was wealth in the area many years ago, by silk. Don't think this guesthouse still operates, last I knew it was for sale.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R..._Thessaly.html

We did this trip from Athens but you could do it from Thessaloniki and from there went to Meteora and back down to Athens.

When you go to Delphi, if you have time continue down to Galaxidi, I love this small town with it's gorgeous houses.

Also, Thessaloniki itself is an interesting city. You need another week at least!

luluinlove

Clausar and Odin, thanks for your ideas and info! I am really thinking of moving it around a bit and spend about 4 days in Pelion visiting some of the villages. All thanks to you! Now I just need to narrow it down.

Clausar, what in particular do you love about Metsovo?

Also, do do guys know much about the Acheron river springs? I'm thinking of doing that instead of Edessa. What is the best way to get there?

Thank you again for being so helpful!

clausar

lulu

Metsovo is just a wonderful mountain village, one of the most famous ones in Greece, it has a great traditional architecture and some great places to eat local specialities.
It is located in an altitude of 1200 meters.
Have a look at some pictutes and videos from the official website of the Municipality of Metsovo ( unfortunately only in Greek ) http://tinyurl.com/cu2mxst


The Acheron Springs is a very nice place to visit, but between Edessa and the springs i would chose Edessa without a second thought !!!

In Pilio IMO best places to base your self would be either Portaria or Makrinitsa, both close to Volos, which is a lovely city with great restaurants and special tavernas that offer tsipouro and meze ( small bites something like the spanish tapas....).

From there you can visit all the other villages

Heimdall

For those who aren't aware, you can copy & paste the URL into http://translate.google.com and get an English translation of the website. The results aren't perfect, but very helpful. Google Translate also works for words and phrases.

Heimdall

Don't try to copy the tinyurl address — go to the website in clausar's link and copy that URL from the address box in your browser. Then open another tab, go to http://translate.google.com, and paste the URL there.

clausar

You asked where you could park your car in Piraeus....

Piraeus is a very busy harbour, and the centre of the city is located right at the harbour.
Parking there is almost impossible, i would never park my car there personally, also because i don't think it is a safe place to leave a car for 3-4 days.

Not sure where you will stay in Athens, but you could park it in a garage in the centre... or in a neighbourhood out of the centre, which won't be easy for a non local.....