|
When most people think of Greece they imagine islands with small white houses and a background of blue sea and sky. But Greece is a land of mountains, some of them quite high and just like in the Alps, the Rockies, the Poconos and the Catskills, when the winter months come along, the high elevations see snow, sometimes quite a lot of it. Though the ski slopes of Greece are no secret to Greeks and many Europeans, they are unknown to Americans and most other people around the world. It's a shame too because imagine that you can combine a Greek Island cruise or meals of grilled octopus and fried kalamari with a weekend of skiing and even throw in a visit to the Acropolis, the famous nightlife of Athens or a journey to Delphi. |
| There are a number of ways to approach
a Ski Holiday in Greece. One way is to do a ski package through Fantasy
Travel in Athens. They take care of all the details and offer different
combinations which can also include islands, day-trips and of course Athens.You
can also book through another agent or on your own and do day or overnight
trips to the ski centers by car rental or by using George
the Famous Taxi driver.
But however you do it, a trip to Greece in the low season, whether you are skiing or hiking the trails or hanging out on the coast watching the fishing boats as life returns to normal after the tourist season, you will find it not only less expensive then high-season travel, but a richer and more rewarding experience. |
 |
 |
Kalavrita
Mount Helmos Kalavryta Ski Centre 1650m-2340m Slopes: 4 Lifts: 7 Open Mon-Sun from 8:30 to 4 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 500 persons, parking, doctor, ski rental Distance: 14km from Kalavryta. 200 kms from Athens (about 2.5 hours from Athens) tel (0692)-22661 fax (0692)-22415 For more on Kalvrita see www.greecetravel.com/kalavrita |
| Mount Menalo
Ostrakina 1600m Slopes: 5 Lifts: 3 Distance: 30km from Tripolis, (about 3 hours from Athens) tel (0796)-22227 |
 |
 |
Mountain Parnassos
Kellaria 1750m, Fterolakas 1950m Slopes: 3-easy, 6-medium, 5-difficult, 1-very difficult, 1-cross country Lifts: 13 Open: Mon to Sunday from 8:30 to 3:30 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurants for 500 people(Kellaria) and 300 people(Fterolaka), parking, doctor, babysitting, Distance: 24km from Arachova (about 3 hours from Athens) Tel: (0234)-22694-5 Fax (0234)-22596 This is Greece's most popular ski center since it is only about two hours from Athens and very close to Delphi. For more on Delphi see www.greecetravel.com/delphi |
| Agriolefkes, Pelion
Pelion Mountain, 1500m Slopes: 3 ,One Cross-country Lifts: 4 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 150 persons. Chalet Accommodations for 80 persons, parking, doctor, ski rentals Open Mon-Sun from 9 to 4. Distance: 27kms from Volos (about 4 hours from Athens) Tel (0428) 73719 Fax (0428) 73719 See also www.greecetravel.com/pelion |
 |
 |
Karpenisi, Mountain Velouchi
Diabolotopos 1800m Slopes: 3 Lifts: 5 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 300 people. Chalet accommodation for 96 people, parking, doctor, ski rental, ski school, bars Distance: 12km from Karpenisi. (about 4 hours from Athens) Tel (0237)-21112 Fax (0237)-23506 |
| Mount Olympos
Vrysopoules 1800m, Slopes: 2 Lifts: 2 Distance:40km from Elassona. Special permission is required for non-Greek citizens as the place is run by the army. Facilities: Chalet accommodations for 50 people, military doctor, military helicopter pad Tel (0493)-23467 |
 |
| Mount Vermio
Seli 1500m Slopes: 8 and 1 cross-country Lifts: 7 Distance: 22km from Veroia.(96kms from Thessaloniki) Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 800 people, chalet accommodations for 600 people, parking, doctor, ski rental Open Mon-Sun 9 to 4 Tel 0332-71234 |
 |
Tria-pente Pigadia 1420-2005m
Slopes: 5 Lifts: 4 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 400 people, chalet accommodations, parking, doctor, ski rental tel (0332)-44464 Fax (0322)-44985 |
| Mounta Vasilitsa
Vasilitsa 1750m Slopes: 4 Lifts: 3 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 300 people, chalet accommodations for 30 people, parking, doctor, ski rental Open Mon-Sun 9 to 3 Distance 45km from Grevena tel (0462)-26100 Fax (0462)-28001 |
Mount Kaimaktsalan
Vorras 2050-2480m ski slopes:13+ snowboard slopes:1(Snowboard Fun Park) Lifts: 7 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 400 people, accommodations for 46 people, parking, doctor, ski rental, Austrian Ski school, snow bar, snowmobile rental, bus service Open November-May, Mon-Fri from 9 to 4 Distance: 45Km north of Edessa tel:0381-82169 (chalet) tel: 093-780009-994 884141 Fax (0381) 24359 |
| Mount Verno
Verno Vigla Pissoderiou 1650m Slopes: 4 Lifts: 3 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant, accommodations Distance:18km from Florina tel (0385)-22354 fax (0385)-29939 |
 |
| Vitsi, Katoria
Mount Verno, Vitsi 1610-1875m Slopes: 5, 1 cross-country Lifts: 3 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 250 people, parking, doctor, ski rental Open Sat, Sun and Holidays Distance: 18kms from Kastoria Tel (0467)-24884 or 83927 Fax (0467) 24884 |
Orphea Valley
Mount Paggaio 1750m, Slope: 1 (400m) Lift: 1 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 300 people, chalet accommodations for 60 people, parking, pharmacy Distance: 44km from Kavala Tel (051)-223938 Fax (051)-232429 |
| Mount Falakro
Agio Pnevma 1720m Slopes: 3 Lifts: 2 Open weekends and holidays from 10 to 4 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 120 people, chalet accommodations for 70 people, parking, ski rental, scooter rental, ski school Distance: 43 km from Drama. Tel (0521) 23691 Fax (0521) 33484 |
Mount Vrontous
Lailias Serres 1600m, slope: 1 Lifts: 2 Distance: 27km from Serres. Facilities: Chalet accommodations Tel (0321) 53790 Fax (0321) 23724 |
| Mount Pindos, Metsovo
Karakoli 1350m slope 1 easy lift: 1 Facilties: Cafeteria and restaurants for 100 people, parking, doctor, ski rental Distance:2Km from Metsovo, 90 kms from Trikala Open Mon-Sun from 9:30 to 3:45 tel (0656)-41211 Fax (0656)-41876 |
Profiti Ilias, Metsovo
Mount Pindos, Politses Metsovou 1420-1650m Slopes: 3 easy, 1 medium, 1 difficult, lifts: 3 Facilities: Cafeteria and restaurant for 250 people, parking, doctor, ski rental Distance:2Km from Metsovo, 90 kms from Trikala Tel (0656) 41095 or 42630 Fax (0656) 41095 |
| Hellenic Ski Federation
7 Kar Servias Athens Greece Tel: 323-4412 Fax: 323-0142 |
Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering
and Climbing
5 Millioni Str Athens, Greece Tel: 364-5904 Fax: 364-4687 |
| Keep in mind that just like where you
live (maybe) Greece's winter season begins in December. Some of the mountains
have snow on them in November but don't count on it.
You can do a ski tour in combination with
other aspects of adventure travel in Greece through Fantasy Travel.
See their Ski and Trekking page at www.toursofgreece.com/fantasytrekking
You can contact Dolphin Hellas, who also can arrange ski trips, at www.greecetravel.com/dolphin You can do weekend or day trips to ski in Parnassos and Kalavrita or weekends to Pelion with George the Famous Taxi Driver or one of his crew. Contact him through his website at www.greecetravel.com/taxi You can also rent a jeep from Swift Rent-a-Car and make the ski and hotel arrangements yourself or through a travel agency. See www.greektravel.com/swift In Pelion you can stay at the Villa Horizonte a combination villa, hotel and cultural center. See www.greecetravel.com/horizonte |
 |
|
|
|
