Optional Trips from Riviera Olympus - Paralia Katerini

OPTIONAL TRIPS DEPARTURES FROM PARALIA KATERINI, OLYMPIC BEACH, LEPTOKARIA, SKOTINA, PLATAMONAS, NEI PORI.

TOURIST GUIDE: ELENA IONESCU  Tel: 0030 6938 919392

Greek civilization - especially ancient - made numerous political and cultural innovations that have decisively influenced Western society. To the same degree Philosophy, Geometry, Medicine - Anatomy, Theater, Music, Architecture, Sculpture, Poetry, Politics, History, Comedy,  Tragedy, Theology, Philanthropy, Democracy though not born all in Greece, all were influenced by the Greek people and transmitted to Europe. Today they are the foundation on which rests our own civilization and contemporary culture.

MONDAY / METEORA 06:00 – 17:00

Breathtaking monasteries built on high rocks. Scientists believe that these pillars were formed about 60 million years ago, during the Tertiary Period. There are 6 Greek orthodox monasteries (2 convents and 4 monasteries with monks) in Meteora, the second orthodox center of Christians from Eastern Europe after the Holy Mount Athos. We visit two of them. The excellent byzantine art and the breathtaking landscapes reward Your effort! At the end of the visit we enjoy the lunch in a local village - or Kastraki either Kalambaka. On the way back passing through Larisa and Tempi Valley. We come back in Paralia at 17:00.

TUESDAY/ CRUISE IN SKIATHOS ISLAND 05:30-22:00

A green diamond in Sporades islands with beautiful beaches and a picturesque island architecture. We start our trip with the transfer by bus lasting for about 3 hours (with coffee break along the way) to one of the ports near Volos, at the foot of Pelion mount. The cruise by ship takes for 2 hours with the folklore dancing program, relaxing and watching dolphins following the ships in the Aegean Sea.

The cruise includes 2 stops. One of them will be for swimming on one of the most  charming beaches Koukounaries (2 hours) and the another one  in the town Skiathos  for 2 hours spending time with lunch, shopping or walking around. All these will get You extremely impressed and enthusiastic. At 19:00 we reach the port and take the bus for transfer to Riviera Olympus.

WEDNESDAY /TOUR OF THESSALONIKI & SHOPPING  09:00-17:30

           The capital city of Greek Macedonia, established in the 4 century B.C. by the king Kassandros on the banks of Thermaic bay. There  1 500 000 inhabitants live in this multicultural city, full of Roman, Turkish monuments, Byzantine churches, taverns, shops and typical Greek agora – market in the centre of the town (part of them we will see in our city tour). Cyril and Methodius, Christian missioners, who brought Slavic liturgy to our countries, came from this town. 

Our tour starts from the White Tower and reaches the Citadel – Ano Poli (place with a fantastic panorama of the city framed with Mount Olympus over the sea). Later on we visit St. Demetrios, Byzantine church and its crypt, Roman Agora, Aristotle Square, and also we enjoy free time for shopping with international fashion brand shops on Tsimiski Boulevard.

THURSDAY/ ATHENS   00:05 – 20:30

   The Capital of Modern Greece since 1834, the largest city of Greece with 5 million inhabitants is waiting to show us some of the most important monuments of the ancient Athens.
   The comprehensive and varied tour comprises a short stop in Piraeus port, the biggest one in Greece, and continues with an unforgettable visit of the Kalimarmaro (the stadium of the first Modern Olympic Games 1896). 

   The core of the trip - Acropolis, the oldest place in European continent with continuous habitation for the past 5,500 years will impress You definitely. There You will discover the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, and the Erechtheion. You will admire citadel’s ruins and the panorama of surrounding monuments, such as Mars Hill (Areopagus), the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the oldest theatre from Greece - theatre of Dionysus, Pnyka – place where was declared first time the Democracy in 6 century B.C., the Philopappos Hill, the Ancient Agora, once the heart of Athens, Temple of Olympion Zeus and Constitution Square.

   Walking around Acropolis and through the centre of the city we have the opportunity to see a lot of monuments, museums, shops, markets. Monastiraki, the famous area of Athens, should not be missed by You, with a lot of shops and restaurants, Athens Cathedral & Little Metropolis, the old city center Plaka with historical buildings and modern markets with famous fashion & beauty brands on Ermou Street. We have 3 hours for walking and shopping. Later on we will watch the change of the Guard at the Parliament at 14:00. The tour continues with The Trilogy, Athenian Classical Buildings, Academy - University - Library and then the Omonia Square. On the way back leaving Athens we will stop at Termopylae, the place of the famous historic battle (480 B.C.) between Persians and Spartans. After that we will have a break for dinner. After a full day with a lot of great memories we will come back in Paralia at 20:30.

FRIDAY / WATERFALLS OF EDESSA & THERMAL SPA POZAR 07:30-17:45

     We pass some rich agricultural regions and cities of Central Macedonia till we reach Edessa City (the capital of Pella district – and the city of cherries) at 09:20. There we have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature, the waterfalls (e.g. Karanos the biggest one) walking down and up on the path around them. Also we will see one small museum of sesame oil manufacture. There during the 20th century the largest tanneries, hemp factories, sesame oil and tahini manufactures and corn flour mills of Macedonia, as well as the first hydroelectric plant, were concentrated in this area, using the power of river water. Our stay lasts there about 1,30 hour.

     To complete the second part of the program we have to travel for 40 minutes to Pozar baths, one of the most beautiful resorts in Central Macedonia - located at the foot of Mount Kaimaktsalan (altitude of 2524 m) with hot springs (37 degrees) that are surfacing along the river bed Agio Nikolaos, forming small natural thermal waterfalls and thermal lakes. There is also the first Speleological Park of Greece in a spectacular natural setting nearby with over 15 caves with traces of Neolithic life /several of them can be visited. There we have opportunity to enjoy the healing waters of the open air pools or if you like you can climb up the Complex of the Caves. 

   It is suitable to take a swimsuit and a towel with You. We have also time to do shopping at the local market with traditional products (alcoholic drinks, dry fruits, honey, jams, tea, etc). We have also possibility to have lunch at a local traditional tavern /for about 1 hour. The way back takes for about 1h and 50 minutes in order to reach Paralia Katerini (17:45).

 THURSDAY/ MOUNT ATHOS CRUISE-BLUE LAGOUN-AMMOULIANI ISLAND   06:00 - 19:30 

   Τransfer by coach for 3 hours to the harbour of Ormos Panagias (Chalkidiki – Sithonia peninsula). There we board the ship for a cruise across the gulf to the Holy Mount Athos (the biggest Eastern Orthodox centre with 20 monasteries). Our cruise (about 2,5 hours) leads us along the west coast of Mount Athos, viewing from a distance of 500 meters from the coast the existing monasteries (since 14 century) up to Ouranoupolis. We stop at Aliki beach in Amouliani Island in the famous Blue Lagoun for about 2 hours for swimming and light lunch on board. Then we take the way to Ormos Panagia (16:30) and after 19:30 we are back in Paralia.

FRIDAY/ GREEK NIGHT 20:30 – 24:00

Enjoy the experience of a memorable Greek atmosphere, the Greek show with live music and traditional dances Sirtaki, Zorba, Hasapiko. You will learn Greek dances with professional Greek dancers. Enjoy the music, the food & the wine and feel free!

SUNDAY – EXPLORE MOUNT OLYMPUS 09:00 – 16:00

Olympus is the highest mountain range in Greece, 2917 m, the place from where in ancient times 12 Gods ruled the world.

We travel for 30 minutes in order to reach the picturesque town Litochoro on the foothills of mount Olympus. Litochoro is considered to be the starting point for climbing up to Mitikas, the highest peak. We will walk in the huge canyon of the river Enipeas for 2 km. We will return to the bus and travel just for 10 minutes to the beautiful Monastery of St. Dionysios of Olympus, well preserved monument, with some points of interest (2 churches, one museum, shop, cells of the monks, etc).

After, there are some more choices of our program. One of them is to climb up by bus to Stavros mountain refugee, on the slopes of Olympus (1.000 meters above sea level) with a breathtaking view over the plain of the Pieria and Thermaikos Bay.
    Then our bus will drive us down to Archeological Park of the ancient Dion.
    Dion was since early in the antiquity and for several ages (till the end of the Roman time) the holly town dedicated to Zeus (Father of the 12 gods of the ancient Greeks).
     Our guide will take us to the Museum and then walk us in the impressive Park on the paths where most of the great men of the antiquity walked, (amongst them Aristotle and Alexander the Great) and visited the temples to pray and sacrifice to the grater of the Gods.

Another choice is from the Monastery of the St. Dionysios to go for 45 minutes to one of the most amazing villages of Greece, the Old Pantaleimonas located at 700m about the sea level. There we admire a lot of guest houses with impressing architecture, protected by municipality, taverns and small shops with local products (honey, ouzo, marmalades, soaps, and souvenirs). We enjoy the unique view of Pieria region, the gulf of Thermaikos and Olympus Riviera.  After free time for lunch, shopping and walking around /for about 2 hours/ we will reach Paralia by 16:00.