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Home , Folegandros, Kalymnos (regional unit), Poros, Skyros, Spetses, Symi

DESTINATIONS — & cyprus

Also in Destinations DYNAMIC PACKAGING & add-ons GREECE & CYPRUS PAGE 51

Meera Dattani goes in search of an authentic Hellenic holiday icture: blue palace resort & spa P FIND THE REAL GREECE

rack open the ouzo. Greece is predicted to receive ● ISLAND ALTERNATIVE C17 million tourists in 2013, an all-time high for this Other quieter include , known as ’s burial popular destination. While its weather, sights and beaches place and relatively unknown to UK travellers despite being remain key, there is an increase in holidays offering more a ferry ride from . from also link local, authentic and crowd-free experiences. up Alonissos and while in the eastern Olympic Holidays has added Alternative Greece to its Mediterranean, known as the island of the ‘sponge fishers’, is Summer Sun 2013 brochure. “There are many options, such excellent for diving and climbing. Sunvil also features , as , and Thassos, for those who want to get away one of the world’s five ‘blue zones’ – designated places on from it all and experience the quieter side of Greece,” says Earth where residents lead extraordinarily long lives. commercial director Photis Lambrianides. “Symi is my favourite. Suggest Intrepid Travel’s 10-day Sail Greece: It is small and beautiful, with very little traffic.” Islands, which With so much variety, it is the perfect time to sell Greece in a different way. destinations travelweekly.co.uk/

25 July 2013 — travelweekly.co.uk • 41 DESTINATIONS — greece & cyprus

visits lesser-known islands such New easyJet flights to Clients can take part in the have opened up olive harvest when staying at as , , the region Costa Navarino NEWS and . Sunvil Holidays has FROM introduced the islands GREECE of Kalymnos and to its portfolio, with accommodation in tiny Emborios village, home to just one sand-shingle beach, five EasyJet started direct restaurants, a church and a shop. flights from London to Close to is the island Kalamata in the of , where private cars Peloponnese this month, are banned and horse buggies, flying twice a week on wooden fishing boats and water Tuesdays and Saturdays. taxis are the chosen modes of easyjet.com transport. Classic Collection Holidays and Planet Holidays are Sani Resort has launched among the companies featuring its own smartphone app to this serene hideaway. help guests pre-plan their break. There is information ● NEW FLIGHTS, NEW IDEAS on events such as farm visits With new direct easyJet flights and garden theatre to Kalamata opening up the productions, day trips and lesser-visited Peloponnese region activities, restaurant in the south, the 2013 Mythical information and details of Peloponnese campaign has been the spa and treatments. Get a taste of the real Clients can learn to highlighting outdoor adventures. Greece with lessons in paint on a break with saniresort.gr local cooking Bungee jumping in the Corinth GoLearnTo.com Canal, the vast sea cave The five-star Marbella Beach Hotel on in Diros Bay, Lakonia, the Langada Sani Resort has can book in-villa Greek dancing ● A WALK ON THE launched excursions by Climbing Range and hiking its own marina lessons or have a local chef prepare WILD SIDE private speedboat this along the 20km Neda Gorge are traditional cuisine. Hiking holidays are becoming summer. Itineraries can be among the highlights. Cyclists Learning holiday specialist popular too. World Expeditions’ tailor-made to include the can also bike the Peloponnese GoLearnTo.com offers an Island eight-day tour scales the heights island’s sights and Wine Routes, set up by the Wine Hoppers Cooking Break to of Meteora and Mount Olympus attractions, deserted Producers Association of the island, with a local chef. In , while learning about Greek myths, beaches and some of its Peloponnese – the region has one food company Gaea Products has and G Adventures’ Crete Hike and best cuisine. Trips for two third of Greece’s grape wines and teamed up with Daios Cove Hotel Kayak includes hiking the Samaria cost around €400, plus fuel. produces more than 1,200 labels. to create a yoga package featuring Gorge and kayaking to remote marbella.gr High-end properties are also Ayurvedic , while five- beaches. Headwater’s Coastal increasing. The Villa Collection’s star hotel Aldemar Royal Mare on Crete Walk also takes in coastal Kirini Suites & Spa, the new Trochalo Villas, seven stone- Crete’s northern coast offers free paths, deserted beaches and only Relais & Chateaux built villas with private pools, are Saturday cooking lessons. birdwatching spots. accredited hotel in Oia, a mile from the harbour village Crete’s Blue Palace Resort & Spa Explore’s hiking and biking trips Santorini, has added four of Stoupa. In addition Planet in Elounda also hosts a different include following ancient mule new suites this season. Holidays offers packages to cultural initiative each year. This tracks on the Hike Three have Jacuzzi baths, Kinsterna Hotel & Spa, a restored year is ancient Minoan cooking, or taking on higher altitudes on while the fourth, the Kirini Byzantine mansion on the with guests learning to cook its more challenging Corfu Trail Suite, has its own pool. peninsula. traditional dishes on an open fire Explorer itinerary. Inntravel also kirini.com Monarch’s flights to in the using clay replica cooking pots. offers self-guided walking breaks Pelion peninsula in Staying in small villages also off the beaten track across Greece. Daios Cove, Crete, has a have also opened up this relatively enhances local engagement. The seven-night yoga and unknown region, home to more village of Kastelli is the base for six ● LIVE AND LEARN Ayurveda break from than 70 villages and numerous new You-Phoria Villas with private There is a huge choice of learning September 29, with cooking walking trails. pools (15% trade commission). holidays. GoLearnTo.com’s lessons, yoga and spa The village is in Crete’s Painting and Drawing Holiday treatments included in the ● LOCAL LIVING, bay near airport (served takes place in the Ionian fishing £399 package, but not LOCAL EATING by easyJet, Monarch and Ryanair). village of Paleros, staying in a accommodation. There is Engaging with local people is key to Sister property Mistral Resort is family-run apartment with tuition also a new kids’ menu with this trend. Think has aimed at independent travellers, from a resident artist. Sunvil also child-sized portions of added Think Experiences to its villa and offers interesting excursions offers painting holidays in risotto, ravioli and gnocchi. stays on the lesser-known islands such as gorge hiking and joining a and Alonissos, sold as holiday add- daioscove.com of and Meganissi. Guests local family for lunch. ons for £199. ▲

42 • travelweekly.co.uk — 25 July 2013 25 July 2013 — travelweekly.co.uk • 43 DESTINATIONS — greece & cyprus

Serene Spetses is where the go on holiday Sample Product

Planet Holidays offers a four-night stay at the five-star Kinsterna Hotel & Spa on the Monemvasia peninsula from £865 on a B&B basis in a Byzantine Suite, including return Gatwick to Athens flights in late September. planet-holidays.co.uk 0871 871 2234

Sunvil Holidays offers seven nights’ self-catering on Kalymnos from £668 including flights from Gatwick and transfers, staying at Harry’s Paradise Garden in Emborios. sunvil.co.uk 020 8758 4758

G Adventures’ Crete Hike and Kayak costs from £699 for an eight-day tour including sea kayaking and gorge hiking. All activities, guides, accommodation, seven breakfasts and one dinner are included. Flights to Chania cost from £260 with Ryanair/easyJet. gadventures.co.uk Peter Sommer Travels’ Poros islands for £89. ● RESORTS WITH A 0844 272 2040 archaeology, nature and food New Hotel’s Holiday Memories DIFFERENCE tour in Crete, led by expert Photography Experience takes Larger luxury resorts are also ITC Classics’ seven-night guide Heinrich Hall, is perfect budding photographers around tapping into this trend. Costa half-board Sani Beach Club for history buffs, while specialist Athens’ lesser-visited spots, while Navarino in Messinia in the holiday starts at £835 in archaeological travel company its Cultural Experiences package southwest Peloponnese has a double bungalow with Andante Travels is launching is tailored around the latest introduced experiences such as garden view, with BA expert-led ‘Meet the Past’ tours exhibitions. cookery lessons in local homes, flights from Gatwick and from 2014, including The Intrepid Travel’s Urban taking part in the olive harvest private transfers based on Ancient Greeks. Adventure tours also focus on and philosophy walks as well an October 11 departure. Holidays offers local areas. Tastes of Thessaloniki as local dance events, poetry itcclassics.co.uk everything from yoga, textile (four hours, €40) is a walking readings and traditional Greek 01244 355 527 art and photography to comedy tour around markets, ouzeris shadow theatre. improvisation, seductive and old stores, while Hidden On the Kassandra peninsula speaking and mindful living at Markets of Thessaloniki (three in Halkidiki, family-owned its Atsitsa Bay accommodation hours, €27) takes visitors to see Sani Resort, on a 1,000- on Skyros. artisan products at lesser-visited acre ecological reserve, markets. has wetland tours ● TRIPS WITH A TWIST The Tastes of Athens walking with local bird The cities are also ripe for tour (three hours, €46) includes experts, local authentic experiences. sampling traditional food at organic farm In Athens, visitors can book Central Market as well as visits and eco- Enthusiasts can snap away on Cyplon Holidays’ one-day Saronic visiting cafes and delis learning games New Hotel’s Athens tour Island cruise to , and frequented by locals. for kids. TW

44 • travelweekly.co.uk — 25 July 2013