Navis.gr - Cruise Atlas - Halkidiki, Greece

HALKIDIKI, GREECE

Halkidiki has endless ribbons of pale, sandy beaches with clear waters alive with the play of dolphins. Its interior is thick with golden fields of corn and sticky-sweet pinewoods. ideal for long country walks. A region-of Macedonia, birthplace of Alexander the Great, its' colourful historical heritage lives on in the Byzantine monasteries of mist-shrouded Mount Athos. It has a timeless pastoral feel about it. Terracotta-roofed villages adorn sweeping foothills, unspoilt and rarely crowded. Halkidiki is very cosmopolitan and especially popular with Greeks - a sure stamp of approval!

Swimmers & Sunners Halkidiki's crowning glory is its beaches. Stretches of golden sands swathe the coasts of the Kassandra and Sithonia peninsulas and you can swim almost anywhere. A sandy stretch between Pefkohori and
Paliouri is possibly the best. Siviri has pale sands; Fourka gently shelving coarse sand; Afitos, Neos Marmaras and Kalithea white sand, and Ouranoupolis some good beaches.

Sportspeople Most resorts have sporting facilities. Kassandra's coasts have the best windsurfing, most watersports are available at bigger resorts.

Out & Abouters Take a look at the cave at Petralona where a 200,000-year-old man's remains were discovered. Although these have now been moved to a museum, the cave still boasts stalactites and stalagmites, and a reconstruction of early man. Mount Athos, a monastic sanctuary, can be viewed by boat. Thessaloniki with its Byzantine architecture, tower museum and host of shops.

Winers & Diners Wine-buffs look out for local wines, especially from Mount Athos. Also good as are Macedonian wines, Tzantali and Boutari. Most places are amply stocked with fish and traditional Creek tavernas.

Night Owls Kalithea is busy in July and August with lively bars and discos. All resorts tend to wind down in September and the villages are very quiet in October.