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Halkidiki
Shaped like the three prongs of Poseidon's trident, Halkidiki is a land of sandy beaches, pine-clad hills and unspoilt harbour resorts all waiting to be discovered.
Thomson Destinations
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This triple-fingered peninsula spears the northern Aegean. In terms of looks, we're talking sun-drenched sandy beaches. Lush hills studded with villages and monasteries. And century-spanning ruins. All rubbing shoulders with unspoilt harbours and charming family-friendly resorts. What's more, each of Halkidiki's peninsulas has its own personality. The most visited is Kassandra, to the west. And it's easy to see why. Here, beaches are framed by Caribbean-like waters and green hillsides that give way to peaceful hamlets and frothy resorts. The next peninsula, Sithonia, is wilder and more rugged, with secluded coves giving way to sandy bays. Up above, steep pine-covered hills evoke a feeling of Austria, beckoning walkers and outdoor-lovers. And finally, there's mystery-cloaked, Mount Athos. The easternmost of Halkidiki's peninsulas, this holy region is a land of monasteries, off limits to most ordinary visitors. The only way to experience it is on a cruise along its shores. It's fairytale stuff and all part of the bewitching spell Halkidiki casts over you..
Serres
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Kilkis Draviskos
1103
1956 Athos
Kavala
Akra Vrasidas
Sochos Pella
Thassos Town
1203
THESSALONIKI
Stavros Gerakarou Vasilika
1165
Loutra Eleftheron
Thassos
Arnaia
Akra Arapis
Mou
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Thermaikos Kolpos
Akra Epanomi
Polygyros Nea Kallikrateia
Kassandra Kolpos onia P en Peninsula Kassandras
Katerini
os P Gerakina Ouranoupolis eninsu la Sith Kolpos
Agiou Orous
nt A t
h
Things to see and do Thessaloniki Established in 316 BC, this is Greece's second largest city. While lots of it is modern and buzzing, it also overflows with museums and ancient sites. Check out the old prison-fortress that is the White Tower, the crumbling Byzantine walls and the quaint Upper City, a clutch of cobbled lanes crammed with wooden houses and tavernas. Outside town, there's a cluster of forgotten treasures to explore including the Palace of Galerias, the tomb of Alexander the Great's father and a Roman forum. Mount Athos Mount Athos is up there alongside the Acropolis in the Greek landmark stakes. You see, it's the world's one and only monastic republic. What the Vatican is to Catholics, this place is to Orthodox Greeks. It's made up of 20 or so cliff-hugging monasteries, some of which date back to the 9th century. Around 1700 Orthodox monks live here, dressed in their signature black robes and pillar box hats. Monks aside, Mount Athos has got a big name following. Prince Charles is a huge fan, having visited the shrine on numerous occasions. But he's one of the lucky few. Access to Mount Athos is extremely limited. What's more women are forbidden from going within 500 metres of the place! But cruise boat sail close to the shores of the Athos Peninsula so you can take a sneaky peek at this holy site. Sithonia The middle prong of the Halkidiki peninsula, it's also arguably the prettiest. Think thick forests. Emerald-green mountains. And angel-white shores. Imagine the Scottish Highlands meets the Med and you kind of get the picture. Highlights include stylish Neos Marmaras where you can stroll along the waterfront and enjoy a drink at one of the trendy beachfront bars. Cutesy seaside hotspot of Sarti's worth a look in, too. It's packed with restaurants and tavernas, not to mention two gorgeous bays. And don't miss Porto Koufo, the deepest natural harbour in Greece. Waterland Arghhh!' This is the sound you hear as people hurl themselves down the slides at Halkidiki's aquapark, Waterland. It's much the same thing as people race through the twister tubes, too. If all that sounds a bit too much, just zzz' your way around the lazy river. Or simply lie back and work on your tan in one of the chill-out pools. Great fun for all the family. Petralona Caves No trip to Halkidiki's complete without visiting these spine-thrilling caves. Dripping with stalactites and stalagmites, they're where fossils and a skull dating from 200,000 years BC were chanced upon in 1960. Lots of the fossilised remains, including cave lions, elephants and hyenas, are displayed in the nearby museum.
Leptokarya
1588
Akra Platamonas
Afitos Sani Kalithea Kassandria Kriopigi Sikea Fourka Pefkohori Possidi Palrouri Polichrono Akra Paliouri Hanioti
ula ins
2033 Athos
Akra Pinnes
Halkidiki
Aegean
Sea
HALKIDIKI
25 km
© TUI 2005
Beaches Wherever you lay your sunhat, in Halkidiki you'll find glorious sand and pebble bays aplenty. On the Kassandra peninsula, sandy beaches come thick and fast complete with green backdrops and child-friendly shallows. Kalithea beach is a case in point, with shimmering sands and calm turquoise seas that look like they've been shipped in from the Caribbean. It's the same story at Afitos and Sani. Watersports fiends won't be disappointed either. At Kalithea, Sani and Pefkohori in particular, you'll find an excellent choice of ocean-going pursuits. On the Sithonia and Mount Athos peninsulas, there's a wider variety of sandy beaches and pebbly coves. Quieter than Kassandra, Sithonia mixes popular beaches like those at Agios Ioannis and Spathies with romantic rocky coves, like the ones at Elia. At the same time, you'll find loads of near-empty stretches offering almost complete privacy,
as well as the glittering sandy beaches at Sarti and Sykia. And further east on the Athos peninsula, Ouranoupolis boasts lovely sand-and-gravel swathes with more secluded and dreamy rocky bays out towards Tripiti.
Average daily maximum temperature
30
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25 20 15 10 5
London Halkidiki
°F
Apr 8 5 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Average daily hours of sunshine 9 10 12 11 8 6 7 6 6 5 Oct 6 3
°C
110
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