A Greek Mezze Travel Passports You may need to renew your British Passport if Baggage Allowance you are travelling to an EU country. Please ensure We advise that you stick to the baggage your passport is less than 10 years old (even if it allowances advised. If your luggage is found to be has 6 months or more left on it) and has at least 6 heavier than the airlines baggage allowances the months validity remaining from the date of travel. charges at the airport will be hefty. EU, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Swiss valid national identification cards are With British Airways your ticket includes one hold also acceptable for travel. bag of up to 23kg plus one cabin bag no bigger For more information, please visit: passport than 56 x 45 x 25cm including handles, pockets checker and wheels, and one personal bag, such as a handbag or computer bag. Visas As a tourist visiting from the UK, you do not need For more information, please visit a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, www.britishairways.com Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day Labels period. For all other passport holders please check Please use the luggage labels provided. It is useful the visa requirements with the appropriate to have your home address located inside your embassy. suitcase should the label go astray. For further information, please check here: travel to the EU Border Control At border control, you may need to: Greek Consulate: 1A Holland Park, London W11 • show a return or onward ticket. 3TP. Tel: 020 7221 6467 • show you have enough money for your stay. • use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. Tickets Included with this documentation is an e-ticket Taking food into EU countries which includes a reference number for your flight. You are not able to take meat, milk or any At check-in you will need to quote/show this and products containing them into EU countries. you will be issued with your boarding pass. Online check-in is not available. Transfers Please check that the details on your On arrival at Athens Airport please collect your documentation are accurate and that all names luggage and exit the luggage area into the arrival’s are spelt correctly and match the names on your hall. You will find your Tour Manager there, passport. Your flight ticket is non-transferable and holding a Travel Editions sign. The journey time to non-refundable. No refund can be given for non- your hotel is approximately two and a half hours. used portions. Special Requests Departure Tax If you have not already done so, please notify UK Flight Taxes are included in the price of your Travel Editions of any special requests as soon as holiday. possible to allow sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements. Accommodation When eating out the Greeks nearly always eat Alexakis Hotel, Loutra Ypatis ‘Mezedes’ style. This means ordering several dishes, starters and/or main plates, whatever Address: Loutra Ypatis 350 16, Greece takes your fancy, to put in the middle of the table Tel: +30 2231 059380 for all to share. It’s a very sociable way to eat and a great way of tasting lots of different dishes! This friendly, family-run hotel is situated in the tiny Don’t be shy in the amount you order, or if you spa village of Loutra Ypatis. Bedrooms include only find yourselves ordering starters – any shower room, air-conditioning, TV, telephone, combination is acceptable. In Arachova, taverna’s fridge, safe, hairdryer and wi-fi. Newly added to will often offer two or three ‘dishes of the day’ as the hotel are spa facilities, including steam and well as offering other dishes such as grilled meat, sauna. salads and various starters. For more information visit the hotel website; When ordering fish in Greece you will find the http://hotelalexakis.gr/en/ price on the menu usually relates to a cost per kilo. Likoria Hotel, Arachova Don’t be put off by this. You are expected to choose the fish and then it will be weighed in front of you so you know what you will pay. Address: El. Venizelou, Arachova 320 04, Greece Tel: +30 2267 031180 Nearly all tavernas sell their own ‘open’ wine, known as village wine. It can be something of an The family-run Likoria Hotel is an attractive acquired taste, but it goes very well with the local traditionally designed hotel situated on the edge food. The white is usually always very drinkable, of Arachova. Comfortably furnished with dark but the red varies quite a lot. If you are unsure, wood and warm colours; the comfortable you can always ask if you can try the wine before bedrooms, with private bathrooms, are equipped you agree to it. Prices of local ‘village’ wine are with TV, fridge, hairdryer air-conditioning/heating. usually around 5 euros per half litre. A breakfast buffet is served daily, and the hotel has a cosy lounge bar with a fireplace, where we Local drinks are ouzo, tsipoura, metaxa and, of are sure our guests will enjoy congregating in the course, Greek wine. Tsipoura is the local firewater! evening. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout This is distilled from the residue of the grapes after the hotel. The hotel also offers the facilities of a making wine. sauna, steam, and massage room. Tavernas and other facilities are situated within an easy 5- There are two tavernas easily accessed from the minute walk from the hotel. hotel in Loutra Ypatis and in Arachova you can find a large choice of tavernas again situated within For more information visit the hotel website; easy walking distance of the hotel. www.likoria.gr Meals included in the holiday: Dining The standard of food in Greece is excellent and Breakfast daily offers a remarkable variety of freshly prepared One dinner and three lunches and very tasty dishes, many of which use locally grown products and locally produced olive oil. Destination Loutra Ypatis foothills of mount Kaliakouda are in the south. Loutra Ypatis, built at the foot of the northern Karpenisi has a ski resort and is a popular slopes of Mount Oiti is a small and pretty village destination, especially during winter. It is called popular predominantly amongst Greeks due to its Switzerland of Greece for the resemblance of the thermal waters. These waters prompted the mountainous country its beauty and its clean air, village to build a swimming pool that is fed by the atypical for a Mediterranean place. naturally heated thermal waters. The pool is emptied and refilled daily with the thermal waters. For more information about Karpenisi, please visit: If you wish to use the pool during your stay in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karpenisi Ypatis, don’t forget to pack your swimming costume, it really is a relaxing experience. Megalo Chorio The traditional village of Megalo Chorio is famous Mount Oiti in the area of Karpenisi because of its stone houses, narrow alleys, smoking chimneys and the Mount Oiti, known as the ‘mountain of flowers’ is discreet touristic development that has not altered associated with the legendary hero Hercules. its picturesque character. Just outside the village According to mythology, at a position known as there is a road that leads up to the mountain and “Hercules’ Pyre”, Hercules fell into the flames to in the canyon of “Pantavrechei” (the name means relieve himself from the unbearable pain caused 'raining constantly'), which is accessible only on by the robe poisoned with the blood of the foot. In the nearby historic location of Lakomata Centaur Nessus, which his wife Deianeira had sent the Greek army was defeated by the Turks on the him to wear. Philoctetes lit the pyre to burn 23 of August 1823 after more than 150 men were Hercules, who in turn thanked him by giving him killed. This win allowed the invaders to reach and his bow and arrows. According to the myth, Zeus conquer Messolonghi. wrapped Hercules in the clouds and raised him to Olympus, where he married the beautiful Hebe, For more information about Megalo Chorio, please the Goddess of Youth. Hercules aside, Oiti is a visit: mountain of unique beauty, with vast fir forests, http://www.wondergreece.gr/v1/en/Regions/Evritania rare as well as impressive plant species, rich fauna _Prefecture/About_region/Main_cities_villages/10385- and abundant waters, which mostly flow abruptly Megalo_Chorio through steep and beautiful gorges. It is the fifth highest mountain in Central Greece, located in the Meteora boundaries of the Prefectures of Pthiotis and Meteora, a sensational rock formation in central Phocis, and its highest peak is Pyrgos (2.152 m). Greece, hosts one of the largest and most The Management Body of Mt Oiti National precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox Park was established in order to provide the monasteries, second in importance only to Mount protection and the management of the Mt Oiti Athos. The six (of an original twenty-four) area. monasteries that remain in existence today are built on immense natural pillars and hill-like For more information about Mount Oiti, please visit: rounded boulders that dominate the area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Oeta Meteora is located near the town of Kalambaka at the north western edge of the Plain of Thessaly Places of interest included in the tour: near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains. The exact date of the establishment of the Karpenisi monasteries is unknown. By the late 11th and Karpenisi is a town in central Greece.