Greece’s Epirus Coast

Piercing blue skies and balmy, clear waters meld with sun bleached ruins and a passionate culture.  Greece is mesmerising so it’s no wonder the country is in the top 5 countries UK travellers wanted to visit this year. It’s not just the islands of Greece either that offer these skies and waters alongside stunning coastlines, beautiful beaches, excellent local cuisine and thrilling activities. The Greek mainland, in particular the Epirus coast, is particularly alluring.

Epirus

Reaching from Sivota in the north to the mouth of the River Acheron further south, the short 60 mile long Epirus region packs a punch in terms of beauty and a warm, Greek welcome and is in keeping with the Ionian islands of Corfu, Paxos and Anti-Paxos.  This was the destination for our week long family holiday this year which, as for so many families, was our first overseas summer escape for 3 years.

Home for the week

We chose to travel with Ionian Island Holidays, a small specialist UK tour operator who knows a thing or two about the Greek Islands and Epirus having operated there for 20 years.  We stayed at the Agios Nikolaos Hotel, a small hotel situated in beautiful gardens overlooking the channel between the mainland and the offshore islets of Agios Nikolaos and Mourtos.  The food here was fabulous – an excellent and extensive buffet and a la carte breakfast as well as an incredibly creative and delicious lunch and dinner menu in the hotel’s restaurant.  Two pools, including an adult only infinity pool overlooking the channel, provide plenty of space as well as the small semi private beach with warm gently lapping water and relaxing beach bar.  The rooms were very spacious – we had a two bedroom, two bathroom suite – contemporary and stylish, most with lovely sea views.  The hotel is just 1 km up the hill from Sivota and an hour and a half by car north of the airport in Preveza.

Sivota

Sivota offers beautiful scenery and a bustling harbour. Fishermen tend to their boats by day, bringing their catch to shore to sell to the local tavernas situated along the waterfront.  The tempo picks up at sunset with overnight yachts moored along the promenade where locals and tourists wander, eat and drink. Sivota is a great place to spot some incredible luxury boats and the area is popular for sailing holidays.  We found several lovely family owned restaurants along the waterfront where we spent a few leisurely evenings during the week.

Take to the water

Travelling with 2 teenagers, rest and relaxation came in the form of exploring so we were keen to see more of the area and hiring a boat, as we have done on previous holidays, was high up on the list.  There are several companies, all based in Sivota, that offer daily small motor boat hire and we were lucky enough to have our boat delivered to the hotel’s jetty from where we started our trip. Loaded with water and snacks we explored the local waters; dropping anchor next to small bays and empty beaches, we spent some time swimming, snorkelling and enjoying the space and tranquillity the area offers. It is also possible to hire a private boat to Paxos and Anti-Paxos however there is also a passenger ferry to the islands including Corfu.  A twin centre holiday with Corfu, Paxos or Anti Paxos and the mainland would work well.  As well as boat hire, the hotel hired SUPs and kayaks which the children enjoyed and there were also opportunities to waterski and take out a jetski (over 18s only much to the dismay of our children!)

Parga

Parga, a few kilometres south of Sivota, is known as the jewel of mainland Greece. Known for its scenic beauty, Parga lies between the cities of Preveza and Igoumenitsa, uniquely combining both the mountains and the sea. Parga is the Cote d’Azur without high rise hotels, rows of millionaires’ yachts, traffic jams and crowds of people.  Parga is a lovely space to spend some time in the day, to enjoy a leisurely lunch, as well as a stroll and dinner in the evening.  From here you can take the ferries to Corfu, Paxos and Anti-Paxos and smaller roads out of the village lead to traditional villages where rush hour means donkeys not cars.

Glyki and the Acheron River

Not far from Parga is the small village of Glyki and the springs of the Acheron River.  The name Acheron means ‘a strong flow of sorrow’.  According to Greek mythology, the river was believed to be crossed on a daily basis by Charon or ‘Death’ in order to transport souls from the world on earth to the underworld.  The deceased were obliged to pay Charon two coins to ferry them to the gates of Hades. Here you can walk along the shallow waters of the river that spring out from the rocks in the river bank.  The water is cold, but refreshing and it was hugely enjoyable to walk in the natural springs and beautiful clear water.  Also available is kayaking, rafting and a zip wire, if you need the adrenalin hit.  On the way back from Glyki we ventured into the pretty hillside village of Perdika, great for a traditional Greek gyro lunch.  Gyros were a big hit with the children – they consist of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie (kebab style) stuffed into a tortilla or pitta bread with tomato, onion, fried potatoes and tzatziki.

Further down the river where it widens and deepens is an eco paradise suitable for kayaking.  We enjoyed a guided kayak ‘safari’ along the peaceful river and saw watersnakes, turtles and jumping fish.  We kayaked all the way down to the mouth of the river at Ammoudia, a quiet Greek beachfront village with a gorgeous sandy beach and very good ice creams!

A gorgeous family holiday

We had a great week exploring the area by foot, car, kayak and boat, spending lots of time on and in the water, playing the obligatory family games of cards and water polo and eating lots of delicious Greek food.  It was a perfect spot to recharge and spend time together as a family and we would thoroughly recommend it – our only regret was packing to come home rather than moving on to a second week on one of the Greek islands.

Where else to stay

As well as Agios Nikolaos Hotel we also love the Marbella Elix.  The Marbella Elix sits on top of a pine forested hill, with gorgeous views of the Ionian sea and the islands as well as the beach of Karavostasi below.  Luxurious and stylish, this award winning hotel is a real gem on this beautiful coastline and offers a warm welcome as well as exceptional service.

Get in touch

We are more than delighted to chat about your next holiday and always love to hear from you.  Do get in touch with us via email, telephone or pop into the office in Claygate for a chat.