Sun, sea and sand – the three “Ss” that characterize Greece as a tourism destination. As that may be correct, there is a fourth “S” that is missing from the sequence – Snow. Yes, although that may come as a shock to many travelers, Greece is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, as 80% of it consists of mountains. For this reason, it is safe to assume that Greece has villages high up in the mountains that will knock your socks off!
Our top 5 winter picks for this year are to inspire and have you think of Greece as an all-year-round destination. If the 12 Gods of Olympus chose a mountain as their home, you can choose Greece as your winter holiday home too!
Tzoumerka, Pindos
Tzoumerka is considered to be the most imposing mountain range of Pindus which is an impressive complex of mountains, mountain ranges, gorges and ravines. The natural wild beauty of Tzoumerka is further enhanced by the two magnificent rivers that encircle it, Arachtos and Acheloos. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the nature at its fullest and for those whose adrenaline is bubbling, to have fun with outdoor winter sports. Another aspect of the region that must be mentioned, are the locals along with their traditions. The authenticity is genuine and is shown through their everyday life making the travelers feel as if it’s their home and they belong in either of the mountainous villages that supremely are situated on this range.
Zagori, Epirus
Zagori is located in the region of Epirus tucked in the mountain range of Pindus. The 46 villages that it contains – Zagorochoria – are famous for their beauty and preserved architecture and style from wood and stone dating back to the 19th century. Zagori has two national parks, including the Vikos Gorge, the second deepest Gorge in the world, after the Grand Canyon. Apart from outdoor sports like hiking and rafting, one may enjoy coming across rare species of flora and fauna as well as endangered birds, deer, foxes and even bears. I guess we could only wish you to have fun taking pictures as you’ll be clicking away.
Pilion, Magnesia
Pelion is basically a large mountain with numerous historic and traditional villages such as Makrinitsa, Portaria, Milies and Tsagarada to name a few. These villages are represented by elegant traditional mansions with grey stone roofs and cobblestoned paved paths. A region loved by climbers, hikers and mountain bikers offers wonderful experiences tied with nature as well as charming hotels and suites that take you back in time of aristocracy. The exotic beaches of Mylopotamos, Fakistra and Agios Ioannis will make you want to visit this beautiful scenery in about 7 months from now for your summer holidays.
Mountain of Arcadia, Peloponnese
Another all-year-round destination is the mountainous region of the Peloponnese, Arcadia. The traditional villages are inviting as they offer an exquisite environment for families, couples and for foodies as you will discover the most cozy accommodations, taverns that you will definitely revisit and activities that you can have fun with your loved ones. Just a 2-hour drive from Athens, this mountainous region will attract the active travelers as well as the extreme sport lovers, as you can go rafting in Lousios River, ski at the Mainalo ski center, and hike through the mountains or simply explore the beautiful countryside.
Kastoria, Macedonia
A lakeside town in the impressive region of Macedonia, Kastoria steals any visitor’s heart with its painting-like features. Its perfect dazzling lake has the locals promenading by it at all times of days and others relaxing at a café admiring its view while engaging in conversations. The tall trees and the scattered Byzantine churches with the fishermen in their boats make the scenery seem even more aristocratic. However, don’t be fooled only by the lake, as Kastoria has more to offer! From old Monasteries to Dragon’s cave to bespoke neighborhoods with mansions, Kastoria is indeed the utmost winter destination.
George Koletsos is Co-Founder of Kudos Life Experiences. Kudos Life Experiences is a custom-designed private travel specialist to Greece, for the discerning and sophisticated traveler who is seeking to return to the authentic form of personal discovery and explore really life-enriching travel experiences.If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
George Koletsos is the Founder and CEO of Kudos Life Experiences.
Kudos Life Experiences is a bespoke luxury travel specialist, delivering life-enriching journeys that can deeply touch the soul of the sophisticated traveller, through a selective offer of authentic experiences that most people are unaware they could discover. In doing so, we create and deliver unique travel stories, we uncover and provide handpicked accommodation, and we are proud of our insiders extraordinary service, always preserving the highest standards of privacy and execution that set us apart. Prior to Kudos, George has served as the Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).
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5 Comments
I never knew. I’ve been to the Pindos Mountains in July and they were beautiful then. They look even more stunning covered in snow.
I arrived by ferry into Igoumenitsa and that made a great Greek start before the ascent into the mountains.
Yes, it looks fantastic but will we be able to fly there easily after March 29th 2019? I’ve got to admit that I haven’t got any flights to EU countries booked after that ominous date.
I don’t suppose that it is olives, calamari and salad in the winter? What’s the Greek winter cuisine like? Gamey stews and casseroles? What are the winter specialities?
People don’t realize this, but there is a considerable amount of snow in Greece in the winter. It’s very beautiful and there are even a few ski resorts in the country!
Yep, it’s definitely sun and beaches that come to mind when thinking of Greece, so it’s almost odd to think of snow. There are definitely some awesome views to be had, and lots of mountains to choose from to get snow fix. These are some postcard photo perfect locations, so it does make you think twice about only considering Greece as a summer beach destination.
Zagori, Epirus
Zagori is located in the region of Epirus tucked in the mountain range of Pindus. The 46 villages that it contains – Zagorochoria – are famous for their beauty and preserved architecture and style from wood and stone dating back to the 19th century. Zagori has two national parks, including the Vikos Gorge, the second deepest Gorge in the world, after the Grand Canyon. Apart from outdoor sports like hiking and rafting, one may enjoy coming across rare species of flora and fauna as well as endangered birds, deer, foxes and even bears. I guess we could only wish you to have fun taking pictures as you’ll be clicking away.
Zagori, Epirus
Zagori is located in the region of Epirus tucked in the mountain range of Pindus. The 46 villages that it contains – Zagorochoria – are famous for their beauty and preserved architecture and style from wood and stone dating back to the 19th century. Zagori has two national parks, including the Vikos Gorge, the second deepest Gorge in the world, after the Grand Canyon. Apart from outdoor sports like hiking and rafting, one may enjoy coming across rare species of flora and fauna as well as endangered birds, deer, foxes and even bears. I guess we could only wish you to have fun taking pictures as you’ll be clicking away.
Pilion, Magnesia
Pelion is basically a large mountain with numerous historic and traditional villages such as Makrinitsa, Portaria, Milies and Tsagarada to name a few. These villages are represented by elegant traditional mansions with grey stone roofs and cobblestoned paved paths. A region loved by climbers, hikers and mountain bikers offers wonderful experiences tied with nature as well as charming hotels and suites that take you back in time of aristocracy. The exotic beaches of Mylopotamos, Fakistra and Agios Ioannis will make you want to visit this beautiful scenery in about 7 months from now for your summer holidays.
Mountain of Arcadia, Peloponnese
Another all-year-round destination is the mountainous region of the Peloponnese, Arcadia. The traditional villages are inviting as they offer an exquisite environment for families, couples and for foodies as you will discover the most cozy accommodations, taverns that you will definitely revisit and activities that you can have fun with your loved ones. Just a 2-hour drive from Athens, this mountainous region will attract the active travelers as well as the extreme sport lovers, as you can go rafting in Lousios River, ski at the Mainalo ski center, and hike through the mountains or simply explore the beautiful countryside.
Kastoria, Macedonia
A lakeside town in the impressive region of Macedonia, Kastoria steals any visitor’s heart with its painting-like features. Its perfect dazzling lake has the locals promenading by it at all times of days and others relaxing at a café admiring its view while engaging in conversations. The tall trees and the scattered Byzantine churches with the fishermen in their boats make the scenery seem even more aristocratic. However, don’t be fooled only by the lake, as Kastoria has more to offer! From old Monasteries to Dragon’s cave to bespoke neighborhoods with mansions, Kastoria is indeed the utmost winter destination.
George Koletsos is Co-Founder of Kudos Life Experiences. Kudos Life Experiences is a custom-designed private travel specialist to Greece, for the discerning and sophisticated traveler who is seeking to return to the authentic form of personal discovery and explore really life-enriching travel experiences.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
I never knew. I’ve been to the Pindos Mountains in July and they were beautiful then. They look even more stunning covered in snow.
I arrived by ferry into Igoumenitsa and that made a great Greek start before the ascent into the mountains.
Yes, it looks fantastic but will we be able to fly there easily after March 29th 2019? I’ve got to admit that I haven’t got any flights to EU countries booked after that ominous date.
I don’t suppose that it is olives, calamari and salad in the winter? What’s the Greek winter cuisine like? Gamey stews and casseroles? What are the winter specialities?
People don’t realize this, but there is a considerable amount of snow in Greece in the winter. It’s very beautiful and there are even a few ski resorts in the country!
Yep, it’s definitely sun and beaches that come to mind when thinking of Greece, so it’s almost odd to think of snow. There are definitely some awesome views to be had, and lots of mountains to choose from to get snow fix. These are some postcard photo perfect locations, so it does make you think twice about only considering Greece as a summer beach destination.