We're considering a spring trip to northern Greece, the areas around Thessaloniki, Kerkini, Fractos, Nestos, Xanthi, and other villages and areas in Macedonia and Thrace. Though the focus is birding, we're interested in all sorts of wildlife, scenic areas and unspoiled villages, and we have no experience with this area. Could anyone share their impressions?

I have traveled to Ioannina, Metsovo and Thessaloniki (Salonaki) and although these are cities, there are some lovely areas a short distance away. From Ioannina, tour the Epiros region, including Parga, Preveza, & Arta to the south and Kastoria, and the Zagoria villages to the north. From Saloniki, look at Edessa, Pella, Vergina and Kavala. Metsovo is a small town in the mountains that has a ski industry in winter and brisk mountain air in the summer. Metsovo is located between Ioannina and Saloniki. To research your trip, Lonely Planet, Michelin Green Guides and Rough Guides would be a good start for some itineraries. I like the north very much. Due to more rain the landscape is greener and not what the typically dusty, rocky Greece we see to the south.

NY Times recently had an article on Thrace region (north-east) of Greece
http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/06/28...8explorer.html

Apparently a substantial contrast in scenery and culture, to Greece's more frequently visited southern half.

A report from a poster who subsequently seems to have been disappeared from this site:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...haps-th.cfm?31

Thanks for the interesting and helpful responses. We're psyched!

We were in Northern Greece in June with Tauck tours, and were not prepared for how long the drives were between sites. Be aware also that while the historical sites ,people, and food are wonderful, this is not a pretty, lush country. We were in fact, disappointed with how Tauck presented the tour.

Northern Greece - the area around Parga, Prevenza and Ioannina is green and very lush and gets quite alot of rain. Metsovo is a great ski site in winter but has cool, bracing air in the summer and some lovely wooden chalet type of houses. Northern Greece is not all rocky. I like Thessaloniki very much and want to go back. Salonaki is a very energetic city with several great museum, shopping, restaurants, and wonderful frescoes in churches. It is a good hub for visiting Pella, Vergina, Edessa, Kavala and other historic sites of the north. I would like to visit the Perama Caves and the Zagoria villages near Ioannina on my next visit. Kastoria also looks very interesting. I think you could put together a very nice two week tour. See Michelin Green Guides for some suggested routes.

I have stayed in the city of Thessaloniki, but did not venture into the countryside.

There is a fabulous museum in Thessaloniki filled with gold jewellery culled from Macedonian graves.

I stayed at the Makedonia Palace Hotel on the waterfront---stunning swimming pool and lounge area.

Thin