Votsala Hotel

As mentioned in our main description, alongside the sea, wholesome food and relaxed atmosphere, the Votsala Hotel offers guided activities that connect guests with Greek culture and nature. These are paid locally and prices quoted are for 2025.

Each walk ends at an authentic taverna, where guests dine the Greek way - sharing dishes in the middle. Dinner is paid locally, costing approximately €15 per person for a full meal.

For those not wishing to complete a full walk, the hotel provides car alternatives so you can still enjoy part of the experience. (The hotel often has couples where one person enjoys walking while the other does not, and they always offer them the opportunity to join in another way).

A Typical Week Includes:

• 3 accompanied activities. Each one cost €13 per person (covering transport and organisation).
• 1 history-themed walk
• 1 nature walk
• 1 museum visit (archaeological, castle, or modern art museum with hotel guiding)

Greek Cooking Class with Daphne

Guests cook together and enjoy the meal as their evening dinner. The cooking class is the hotel’s gift to them - guests only cover the €18 per person dinner cost.

Here are some examples of what is offered (to give you an idea), though the hotel won’t know exactly which trips they will choose in advance. However they can always promise one history-themed walk and one hike in nature as well as the museum.

Examples of Walks & Excursions:

1) History Walk in Our Village. Starting from Votsala, we pass Ancient Greek and Roman ruins, historic churches, and 17th–18th century mansions. Led by either Christophe (historian) or Iannis (architect & history enthusiast), the walk brings history to life in a simple and engaging way. We finish with a 40-minute olive grove walk, ending at a charming taverna for dinner.

2) Petalidi to Mystegna Walk. A short 10-minute drive brings us to our starting point. We take a 15-minute walk to an abandoned monastery, where Daphne welcomes us with coffee, tea, and snacks. Then, a 50-minute walk under olive trees, followed by 20 minutes along the coast, ending at a seaside taverna.

3) Panorama Walk to Agiasos. A 35-minute drive to our starting point for a scenic 1.5-hour shaded walk under Mount Olympus. The hike ends in Agiasos, a charming and very authentic mountain village, where we dine in the town square among the locals.

Experience the warmth and joy of Greek Easter with us, where guests become part of a big Greek family, immersing themselves in cultural traditions, scenic nature walks, and vibrant local festivities. April is the perfect time to visit, with mild spring temperatures ranging from 15-22°C and a sea temperature of around 19°C. It’s also an ideal season for birdwatching, as migratory species pass through, and for witnessing the island’s stunning wild orchids in full bloom - Lesvos boasts an impressive 65 species. Most importantly, guests will experience the heart of Greek culture during the country's most significant celebration of the year.

Easter Programme 2025:

Travel to Lesvos

As Easter is before direct flights to the island commence we recommend flights with Aegean Airlines daily from Heathrow at 12.15 with a connecting flight from Athens getting you into Lesvos at 20.00 local time. Airport transfers are provided. To avoid peak Easter week fares we suggest arriving towards the start of the week and having an extended stay. It is possible to return to the UK on a direct flight to Stansted or Manchester on Saturday 27th April. The hotel will arrange additional local excursions and walks for guests that stay more than 1 week at an extra small local charge.

Thursday 17th April – Historical Walk in Mytilini

A guided tour of Mytilini’s ancient theatre, castle, and neoclassical architecture, led by Iannis (architect). The evening ends at a taverna, followed by attending a Byzantine crucifixion ceremony.

Friday 18th April – Scenic Hike & Village Procession

 We offer a beautiful hike, divided into three parts, allowing guests to choose whether they want to continue walking or join our cars at each stage. Along the way, we stop at a picturesque spot to enjoy a picnic prepared by our Votsala kitchen. Afterward, guests can either walk the final stretch or drive up to the mountain village of Assomatos. There, we take part in the unique Procession of the Epitáphios of Christ - the only one in Greece led by local musicians playing traditional instruments: a rare and deeply authentic experience, as music is not usually permitted in Orthodox churches.

Saturday 19th April: For the very early risers, we offer an optional experience—attending a special ceremony at the cathedral of Mytilini, where the first "earthquake" moment makes the entire church tremble. Afterwards we return to Votsala for breakfast. Later in the morning guests are welcome to join in the preparations for Sunday’s feast, helping with the cooking in a warm and communal atmosphere.

In the afternoon (around 15:00), we set off on a bus tour to the north of the island, stopping at Skala Sykaminea and Molyvos. Along the way, Iannis shares fascinating stories about the island’s history and culture over the microphone. We pause for coffee in Skala Sykaminea, then take a beautiful walk through Molyvos - starting from the castle at the top and making our way down, so there’s no need to climb uphill. Dinner is in Petra around 21:00 (paid locally) and at 23:00, like all Greeks, we head to the church on the rock for the midnight Resurrection celebration. After the ceremony, we return to Votsala by bus.

Sunday 20th April: Everyone takes a turn spinning the spit-roasted lamb over a charcoal fire by the sea, under the trees. The day is filled with eating, drinking, music, and celebration, starting early and ending late in the afternoon - it’s truly a day of festivity! Somewhere between Thursday and Saturday, Daphne invites guests to join her in decorating and painting the traditional red eggs - a lovely and relaxed gathering. She also sets up a table where anyone can decorate their own candle for Sunday’s celebration.

From Alexander the Great to the Roman Empire (Hellenistic to Roman times)

2025 dates are 13 to 20 September. However these can be adjusted slightly to fit flight schedules so if guests arrive a couple of days earlier or later, we will ensure they still experience the full package.

This week is dedicated to the rich history of Lesvos. The island was a major centre in the Ancient Mediterranean and remains full of traditions untouched by mass tourism. Guests will experience a microcosm of Greek history, from the Neolithic period to modern times, through daily small walks or drives, engaging conversations, and great food in local villages.

Includes:

• 3 history lectures & historical film night at Votsala (includes Greek movie finger food dinner e.g. some Greek pies or souvlaki with salads and some fruit or dessert)
• 4 history guided excursions
• 1 museum visit