SHIRLEY Valentine might have been lucky enough to stumble across something authentically Greek on her package tour to Mykonos, but other holidaymakers will have to move further from their sunloungers to unearth the romance of the islands. And Greek National Tourist Office UK director Panos Argyros is on a mission to make them do just that, even if it’s just for a couple of hours to explore more of what Greece has to offer. To kick off his campaign to get consumers to explore further than the beach, the GNTO launched a UK trade roadshow to give agents an idea of the sightseeing opportunities available to clients. “The days of the Shirley Valentine holiday, where you simply go to Greece to lie on a beach, are over,” he said. “Returning clients, having seen something of the real Greece, must explore a little.” Although not all operators allow agents to prebook excursions, Thomas Cook head of product Jeannette Linfoot said they were an essential part of the selling process. “If agents can tell clients what there is to see and do in a destination, it helps to get the booking,” she said. The following four islands and one mainland area of Greece offer good examples of interesting local attractions and sights and are also ideal bases from which to explore further afield.
Skiathos
Why? This is one of the few islands from where it is possible to make day trips to Athens. There are also plenty of sightseeing opportunities on the island, including the Blue Caves, the white pebble beach of Lalaria – which can only be reached by boat – and the old village of Kastro, once the capital of the island.
Best excursion: the Flying Dolphin hydrofoil from Skiathos at 8am will get passengers to the mainland port of Agios Constantinos in less than 90 minutes. From there, they can join a coach tour through the countryside to Athens for a day’s sightseeing. They can climb the Acropolis hill to the Parthenon temple; spend time in the Plaka area, the old marketplace of Athens, and also lunch in the city. They arrive back in Skiathos at 8.45pm.
Who would it suit? Anyone with an interest in culture, specifically ancient history, and shopping.
Cost: about £75, including transfers and hydrofoil crossing, but not entry fees. The excursions can be booked in resort with a number of operators, including Amathus Holidays, Kosmar, Libra and Olympic Holidays.
Lefkas
Why? Lefkas is one of the lesser-visited Greek islands and has not yet succumbed to large-scale tourism. Visitors who are prepared to hire a car can still discover traditional hillside villages, picturesque vineyards and peaceful valleys. A causeway links the island to the mainland, making it easy to explore further afield.
Best excursion: for a traditional Greek night, that doesn’t necessarily include smashing plates in some cheesy taverna, suggest the island of Meganisi. Clients will take a vessel similar to a traditional Greek sailing boat, or kaiki, from the port of Nidri at 7.30pm for the cruise to the small port of Spartochori on Meganisi island.
From here, it’s a short stroll uphill to a local restaurant where there will be Greek dancing – guests will be invited to join in, learn the steps and even be shown how to master the local dance. They’ll arrive back at Nidri at 11.30pm.
Who would it suit? Lovers of Greek food and a good laugh.
Cost: approximately £25 including transport, food and wine booked through Amathus. Other operators offer similar excursions.
Cephalonia
Why? Boat trips around the island take in sites such as the Drogorati Caves and underground lake of Mellisani, and it is close enough to the mainland for day trips to the Peloponnese.
Best excursion: as part of a guided tour to Olympia – the birthplace of the Olympic Games in 776BC – clients can see the original running track. The Archeological Museum contains exhibits from Olympia. Clients should lunch and shop in the Olympia village before sailing back. They’ll leave early in the morning and return late afternoon.
Who would it suit? History buffs and those with an interest in archeology.
Cost: about £40, including ferry crossing and guided tour of Olympia. Available from a number of operators, including Amathus, Best of Greece and Kosmar.
Halkidiki
Why? The three-pronged peninsular of Halkidiki is in the mainland region of Macedonia, making it one of the best bases from which to explore. Nearby attractions include the Petralona Caves, where bones of a 700,000-year-old man were unearthed, and Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city.
Best excursion: one of the three fingers of Halkidiki has been inhabited by monks living in Byzantine monasteries on the holy Mount Athos for more than 1,000 years. Women are forbidden to visit, but they can get a sneaky peek from their seat on a boat trip around the peninsular. The trip also visits the small, traditional village of Ouranoupolis.
Who would it suit? Anyone who likes boat trips, religious history, and the chance to see something unique.
Cost: about £20 including boat trip and transfers. Bookable through numerous operators including Thomson and Airtours.
Corfu
Why? The north and central parts of the island have many hidden treasures, including the Monastery of the Virgin and the Achilleion Palace, overlooking the sea, which can be visited on a Grand Island Tour. Plus, it’s close enough to the mainland to visit on a day trip.
Best excursion: clients can take a boat trip to Paxos and the mainland coastal town of Parga. Although it lies just nine miles south of Corfu, Paxos offers a complete contrast.
One of the most picturesque islands in the Ionian Sea, it consists mainly of fishing villages and sandy beaches. From Corfu Town it takes a couple of hours to reach Paxos and a further hour by ferry to get to Parga, an attractive harbour town. Ferries leave for Paxos from Corfu at 7am and return from Parga at 8pm.
Who would it suit? Those who want to escape the hordes for a day and see places relatively untouched by mass tourism.
Cost: about £25 return. Kosmar has departures every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
