National Parks of Greece: The natural beauty that will change your travels

The National Parks of Greece promise their travelers an experience unlike the usual one. We start from the given. Holidays are undoubtedly one of the most golden family moments. Most of the time, however, their design requires art. And what does this art involve? A good answer is to be with your children in an unparalleled natural landscape by getting as much as you can from it. The organization of an excursion based on an “object of desire”, one of the many national parks and parks of the country, promises an exquisite and different experience. We may (mentally) guide you through four national parks to get ideas and make your own plans.

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Trip to Karpenisi: Guide for what to do and what to see

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National Parks of Greece: Pindos

Pindos. Northern Pindos National Park is the largest terrestrial National Park in our country. Its area reaches close to 2 million acres, while its ecological and environmental value at the national and global level is priceless. In fact, within this park, there are other smaller ones, such as the Vikos-Aoos and Pindos park (Valia Calda, the fairytale valley of Greece) and more: 11 NATURA 2000 sites, 11 Wildlife Refuges, and an important part of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark.

Here are also the Drakolimnes of Tymfi-Smolikas, with eerie natural scenery and the Flega Lakes. For much of what you can do here – mountaineering, hiking, fishing – information, instructions, and tips can be obtained from the Information Centers of the National Park (Asprangeloi Zagori, Metsovo, Mavranaioi Grevena). The above areas are also ideal for… Camp with the family and enter one of the “slices” of the vast park.

Visiting the Information Centers will also give you targeted excursions within the protected areas. Another thing you can do is descend the rivers Aoos and Voidomatis. It is worth noting that the Aoos is the only river in Greece that ends in a foreign sea. During the winter season, there are organized ski resorts in Vasilitsa and Metsovo with slopes for beginners and experienced skiers, as well as learning opportunities. There you will also meet one of the most beautiful retreats in Greece. A journey you will remember forever.

National Parks of Greece: Alonissos

National Marine Park of Alonissos – Northern Sporades. It is the first Marine Park in Greece and at the same time, the largest protected marine area in Europe (approximately 2,220 km2). Apart from the marine area, the park includes Alonissos and six smaller islands around it (Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Psathoura, Piperi, Skatzoura, and Gioura) as well as 22 rocky islets.

Some of the things you can do in the visited areas: swimming, snorkeling, and wildlife watching. The most… hot of all, however, that you can try with your center of residence in Alonissos is a dive in the shipwreck of Peristera. It is the first underwater archaeological site accessible to the public in Greece. Amateur divers can visit the site alone or with professional divers, while those who have not been initiated in the art of diving can learn about this important archaeological discovery through a virtual tour application offered by the Public Information and Awareness Center in Chora of Alonissos.

The Athenian cargo ship, which sank at a depth of about 30m. Around 420-400 BC, it carried wine amphorae, destined for today’s Skopelos, departing from Mendi in Halkidiki and Peparithos. Your base for all the above will be Steni Vala, a quiet fishing village, a favorite destination for years for nature lovers and those looking for relaxing holidays. It is located in a natural cove protected from strong winds. From Steni Vala, you will reach the island of Peristera, Kyra Panagia, and several deserted islets around Alonissos.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to visit the National Marine Park, and with a little luck, you will meet the famous and protected seal Monachus monachus. If you find yourself in Alonissos, the most exotic beach on the beautiful island is this.

National Parks of Greece: Prespes

Prespa National Park. Prespa, one of our last borders (in the northwestern corner of Greece, in the Florina region). Where West meets East. A place as immersive as the setting of an Angelopoulos film. Prespa is shared by three countries: Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia. The word Prespa means the two lakes, Mikri and Megali Prespa. What Prespa offers, first of all, is a landscape unlike any other in Greece.

A rich natural environment, the lakes’ water element, evocative landscapes, unique architecture in the settlements, and Byzantine monuments make this corner of Greece fascinating, like a living workshop of nature. Prepare to see alpine meadows, extensive beech and oak forests, a unique lakeside forest and pastures, walk through fairytale hiking trails, be guided by a local fisherman with his boat through Lake Megali Prespa, and do bird watching in the lakeside area of Lake Micro Prespa.

One of the suggested hikes is from the village of Pyli to the abandoned village of Daseri. And of course the must: the visit to Agios Achillios, an islet you can walk around in Lake Micro Prespa, with Byzantine ruins and swamps covered with reeds. An ideal place to stay is one of the picturesque villages of Prespa (Psarades and Agios Germanos, but also Laimos and Platy), in Florina or in Kastoria, and see up close why they call it “the most beautiful city in Greece”.

National Parks of Greece: Olympus Park

A great variety of vegetation due to the intense relief and the short distance from the sea. A place full of microenvironments – this is the landscape that gives the imperious mountain of Greece, Mount Olympus. This park is one of the oldest characterized in Greece, founded in 1938, and includes the high peaks and northern slopes of the mountain. In fact, it is probably the most remarkable natural monument in Greece. In fact, in 1981, more than 40 years after its founding, it was designated a “Biosphere Reserve” by UNESCO.

As for the forest landscape, it shows many variations. The first zone of evergreen broadleaves (from 300 to 500 meters) is dominated by low shrubs and trees, such as holly and arbutus. At 600 to 1400 meters, beech-fir forests and black pine forests dominate. From 1400 meters to 2500 meters, the zone of cold-hardy conifers appears, with the rarest pine species, the robalo. In the streams, plane trees, willows, and other riparian species grow. The fauna of the park is equally rich, owing to the diversity created by habitats at different altitudes. In the park, there are small and large mammals, as well as large populations of amphibians, reptiles, and insects, mainly butterflies.

Its location in the center of mainland Greece makes it an ideal place not only for walks and hiking routes but also for organized mountaineering excursions. At the same time, it is an excursion target easily accessible from Athens, Larissa, and Thessaloniki.

The easiest way to enter the heart of the park is from Litochoro, which is 430 km from Athens, 92 km from Thessaloniki, and 24 km from Katerini. The road from Litochoro leads to Prionia (altitude 1,000 m). There is the option to approach it from its Thessalian side. In this case, the starting point will be Larissa via the national road Larissa – Rodia – Sykamineas, a distance of 46 km. Another entrance option is Elassona. Here, the route is to Olympiada and Sparmos.

If you find yourself in the wider area of Olympus, there are several options to fill your time with beautiful sights. In Elatochori, you will explore the forests of Pieria. A choice that will leave you with the best impressions. In the stream of Orlias, there is the waterfall that “screams”. These are, in fact, two accessible waterfalls. Natural pools are also formed there. You can make a special visit to
Nymphopetres, the unknown and impressive attraction of Greece. They are also called a forest with stone fossils. And once you have arrived outside Thessaloniki, will you not enter the city?
Check the full guide to see what you can do in Thessaloniki and have a great time.

National Parks of Greece: Shelters on Mount Olympus

Let’s return Mount Olympus to the park. On the mountain, there are nine shelters scattered on all sides of the mountain, and these are the nicest places to stay if you have decided that you want to get a good smell of Olympus, through hikes, walks, and cycling in nature.

We mention three of them.

Refuge “Spilios Agapitos”. It belongs to the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing and is located at an altitude of 2,060 m. in the “Balcony” position. It is the second-largest refuge in the country, with a capacity of 110 people and an organized kitchen, restaurant, toilets, and bathrooms.

Refuge “Christos Kakkalos”. Its location is at the eastern end of the Muses Plateau at an altitude of 2,648 m. It was named after Christos Kakkalos, who, together with Swiss climbers Fred Boissonnas and Daniel Baud Bovy, made the first recorded ascent to the highest peak of Olympus, Mytikas, on August 2, 1913. It can accommodate up to 23 people.

Shelter in the area “Beds” Vrontou. It is at a passable altitude -950 m.- and has a capacity of 20 people. Despite its lower altitude, it offers a fantastic view of the north side and the mountain’s steep slopes. At the same time, it is an ideal spot for many hiking trails, both in the lower parts of the mountain and towards the peaks. Apart from the hiking routes, there are also mountain-biking and sport-climbing routes.