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About Family Adventure Holiday in Northern Greece
This trip to the beautifully unspoilt north of Greece is perfect for those who prefer active holidays!
Activity code: FAH
Duration: 6 days
Minimum age: 8 years old. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
All participants must have a basic knowledge of swimming. All activities are suitable for beginners.
Not included:
Overnight Stay Tax: In January 2018 Greece introduced an Overnight Stay Tax of 0.50 to 4 Euros per room or apartment per night, which is payable locally - the amount varies according to the category of the accommodation (i.e. most self catering and 1-2 star hotels = 0.50 Euros, 5 star hotels = 4 Euros).
Itinerary
Arrival into Thessaloniki International Airport where you will be met by a member of our team who will drive you to Toxotes, a village very close to Nestos river and Xanthi town. On arrival there will be a light lunch. Then you'll be taken up to an altitude of 890 m. the starting point of the tour. Bike downhill along a path between abandoned tobacco fields and buildings. You'll probably have the chance to see some wild horses, the only inhabitants of the area. Having a panoramic view of the River Nestos you'll continue downhill until you reach the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay in Stavroupoli.
From the hotel you will be driven to Paranesti where you can visit the Natural History Museum of Rodopi. The rafting tour starts from Platanovrisi dam and, after a short lesson about rafting techniques and safety, you will enter the water. About half way there will be a short break.
Overnight stay in Stavroupoli.
After breakfast there will be a drive of around an hour to the starting point. Shortly after the tiny village of Livaditis is the start of the trail which leads through dense vegetation (beech and birch trees) to the impressive Livaditis falls (40 meters). After lunch depart by car to Xanthi, where you'll see one of the best preserved architectural complexes in Greece. Before returning to the hotel you'll have dinner in a local taverna tasting local and oriental delicacies.
Overnight stay in Toxotes
Early morning start alongside Kosinthos river up to its estuary at Vistonida lake. Continue the bird watching tour along the west side of the lake, full of reeds, tamarisks and salt meadows up to the National Park Information Centre at Porto Lagos. You'll continue the tour by the lagoons and arrive in the afternoon at Ismarida Lake, the last bird watching point. Before returning back to Toxotes, you'll stop for dinner in a fish taverna in Porto Lagos.
Overnight stay in Toxotes
After an early breakfast, you will ride for 30 minutes on the train that drives partly through the gorge, from Toxotes to Stavroupolis. The guides will introduce you to kayaking techniques and safety rules. Then you'll start the kayaking tour, crossing the famous Nestos straits and its scenic forest. The first break is after the abandoned station of Livera. Continue kayaking in the quiet waters of the river. Having covered 2/3 of the route you'll have another break for a swim in the clear waters of the river and for a picnic and coffee at the riverside. After the kayak tour you can practice a zip line or archery by the river. Then you will be transferred back to Toxotes and the hotel.
Overnight stay in Toxotes
After breakfast get the required equipment and depart by car to Chrysoupoli where the trip begins. Biking is the ideal way to explore the great forest of Nestos. A low degree of difficulty riverside path in lush vegetation. The legendary “Great Forest” that surrounds the river is one of the last wildlife refuges. The trip ends in Keramoti port with lunch in a local fish taverna and early in the afternoon a transfer back to Thessaloniki.
This trip can be extended by staying in Thessaloniki or by going to Thassos.