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Renowned for its magnificent golden beaches, often backed by the green of a pine forest, Halkidiki has three legs - Peninsulas extending into the Aegean south-east of Thessaloniki (Salonika).
Owing to this geography, Halkidiki boasts one of the longest single stretches of coastline in Greece, much of it sandy. The white of the sand, the azure of the sea and the green of the pines typify Halkidiki - in places the coastline could almost be mistaken for the Caribbean.
This all means that Halkidiki sees plenty of visitors in the summer months and a string of resorts and hotels, large and small, has sprung up. Some areas, inevitably, get over-busy, but with some 500 kms of coastline these are not difficult to avoid.
Most visitors stay on the western peninsula called Kassandra which has the majority of Halkidiki's more established resorts. That said, it also has many of the best beaches too and boasts what is undoubtedly Halkidiki's prettiest and most traditional seaside village in Afitos - one little spot which has worked hard not to lose its character.
Least developed of all is the easternmost peninsula, Athos, as is appropriate for a region which takes its name from the Holy Mountain at its tip. This peninsula is world famous for the male-only ‘monk’s republic’ in its southern half. one trip every visitor should make is the daily cruise down Athos' western coastline to view the monasteries from the sea - really quite spectacular and even at 500m distance from shore (the closest that women are permitted!) one gets a sense of the mystery and power these ancient Byzantine monastic citadels still exude.
Not many people know that Halkidiki has an island! We are delighted to be the first British operator to offer holidays to Ammouliani, just off the top of Athos' western flank. Ammouliani is Halkidiki's only inhabited island and is very small and friendly. Like the rest of Halkidiki, Ammouliani boasts a string of superb white-sand beaches.
Inland Halkidiki is good for walking almost everywhere, and some organised trails are now starting to appear. There are traditional villages such as Arnea, a 45 minute drive through the forest from Olymbiada, and the spectacular Petrolona Cave some 35 kms south east of Thessaloniki, which is the site of the famous skull, Europe's oldest hominid estimated at some 800,000 years old. The little museum here is fascinating.
The bustling large village of Ouranoupolis lies half way down Athos' western side and is known as 'the gateway to Athos' as it is just above the border with the monastic republic. Monks going about their business mix with tourists, and the souvenir shops here sell more icons than T-shirts. Ouranoupolis is the port from which daily excursion boats cruise along the western flank of Mount Athos, getting as close to the monasteries as they dare. As nearly everywhere on Halkidiki, Ouranoupolis is blessed with fine sandy beaches to either side.
Our holidays here can be very flexible and we are pleased to quote for odd durations. They may also be combined with a few nights in fascinating Thessaloniki, or with a fly-drive arrangement to discover northern and central Greece.
Holidays are based on daily flights from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki. Then 1½-2½ hrs by minibus or taxi (see resort descriptions). Regional flights from other airports (including MAN, EMA, BRS and LTN) available. Odd durations from Gatwick and Manchester can be arranged (please ask for details).
All resort areas can be combined. It is also easy to arrange a few nights at the start or end of your holiday in the vibrant and historic city of Thessaloniki. Holidays here can also combine with a fly-drive of northern and central Greece, including Pelion.
Can be pre-booked in Olymbiada or from the airport (significant transfer savings can be achieved for holidays booked to Afitos.
We have a local agent based in Thessaloniki who can always be contacted but no representative in our Halkidiki resort areas. However, good English is spoken at all our hotels, who are always happy to give local information and assistance.
Whatever your reasons for wishing to visit, it will be a unique experience.
You do not have to be of the orthodox (or indeed any) faith to visit Mount Athos and stay for a few nights in the monasteries - but you do need to be male!
The only restrictions are (other than gender):
However, applying for and getting the relevant permit, called a 'diamonitirion', plus booking your overnights, which has to be done separately with each monastery (there is no central reservations system quite yet!), can be time consuming and complicated.
If you are booking a holiday to the area with Sunvil and wish to spend some nights during it at Athos, we can help. We need only a scanned copy of your passport and dates you wish to stay (these may need to be flexible). We will then make the necessary applications on your behalf. if you have any particular monastery in which you would like to stay we will try to accommodate that request. as Athos has a daily quota - only 10 non-orthodox a day are allowed in - we recommend booking as early as possible (but not more than 6 months before).
There are no charges for staying on Athos, although the monasteries always appreciate a donation. However we make a £65 per person administration charge.
Local costs you will incur are:
Useful and important websites to see before booking are athosfriends.org/PilgrimsGuide/ and mountathosinfos.gr (see infos and then Pilgrims informations)
We recommend loved ones left behind stay at Skites hotel, where they will be well looked after and which is within walking distance of ouranoupolis. ammouliani or olymbiada are also options by taxi, which the hotels can book.
GMT + 2 hours
Euro
Greek
3 hours.
Average rainfall
Athytos beach, Halkidiki
Ammouliani, Halkidiki, Greece
Beach bus, Ammouliani, Halkidiki, Greece
Byzantine tower, Halkidiki
Afitos, Halkidiki
Megali Ammos beach, Ammouliani
Ouranoupolis, Halkidiki
Olymbiada, Halkidiki
Olymbiada, Halkidiki
Olymbiada, Halkidiki
Olymbiada, Halkidiki
Olymbiada, Halkidiki
Departing between Jun 19th 2019 & Nov 7th 2019
2 Adults
Bed & Breakfast
London Gatwick Airport
7 Nights
Departing between Jun 19th 2019 & Nov 7th 2019
2 Adults
Self Catering
East Midlands Airport
7 Nights
Departing between Jun 19th 2019 & Nov 7th 2019
2 Adults
Bed & Breakfast
East Midlands Airport
7 Nights
Departing between Jun 19th 2019 & Nov 7th 2019
2 Adults
Bed & Breakfast
Edinburgh Airport
7 Nights
Departing between Jun 19th 2019 & Nov 7th 2019
2 Adults
Bed & Breakfast
Manchester Airport
7 Nights
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Those of our clients who have, over the last 20 or so years, visited Tolon in the Peloponnese will know Jackie; our very knowledgeable and passionate representative. Having decided to return to the UK, she has joined our reservations team and, needless to say, knows Tolon, a resort we have featured since 1973, inside out. It will come as no surprise to know that the Peloponnese is her favourite region in Greece.
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