The Greek National Tourism Organisation

Soft adventure and wine tasting networking event

WTM, Stand EU1200 & EU1270

Monday 2 November 16.30-18.00

Do you write about wine, walking, cycling, soft adventure or nature? Then join the Greek National Tourism Organistion at WTM on Monday 2 November 2015 at 16.30-18.00 on stand EU1200 & EU1270, for a wine tasting and networking event sponsored by the Region of the Peloponnese.

Journalists will have the opportunity to meet Greek exhibitors and tour operator specialists as well as being able to take away a goodie bag with local Greek products.

At the event, learn more about:

Wine Routes of Greece

Greek viticulture is one of the oldest in the world and Greece is one of the most renowned winemaking nations. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the quality of wine labels from Greece and today the nation produces world-class wines.

Wine routes have been developed in key winemaking areas including the Naousa wine route in Northern Greece, the Nemea wine region in the Peloponnese, the wine roads of Heraklion in Crete, and the upscale Santorini wineries in the Aegean islands.

Travellers can sample wines, find out about the wine making process and stay in guesthouses in the heart of vineyards or nearby.

Nature in Greece

Many undiscovered areas of Greece are natural paradises, full of dramatic landscapes and beautiful and rare flora and fauna. Greece has 10 National Parks covering 68,732 hectares and these are: 

• Prespes National Park, and Mount Olympus in Northern Greece
• Vikos-Aoos in Zagorohoria and Valia Calda, in the Pindos Mountains in Epirus
• Mt Parnassos, Mt Oiti, Mt Parnitha and Sounion National Park in Central Greece
• Ainos in Kefalonia
• The Samaria Gorge in Crete

In addition, there are two National Marine Parks of Alonissos in the North Sporades and Zakynthos in the Ionian Islands.

Walking in Greece

Walkers and hikers have a wide range of beautiful landscapes to discover in Greece, both in established regions as well as in little-known countryside areas. There is a broad network of 'official' walking paths stretching some 3,500 km across Greece, created from old cobbled paths that used to be the main transport routes across the country. Many of these paths are particularly well preserved in rural areas as they had been vital in providing access to remote communities across mountains and ravines.

The majority of these paths are extensions to the European Long Distance walking paths of E4 and E6. The E4 in Greece crosses Northern and Central Greece and weaves its way through the Peloponnese continuing onto the island of Crete, while the E6 skirts the borders of Albania and Bulgaria stretching from the port of Igoumenitsa and continuing across northern Greece to end up at Alexandroupoli by the Aegean Sea. Recently the Aristotle walking routes have opened up in Eastern Halkidiki and in 2015 the Mainalo Path was revived in the Peloponnese. 

Cycling in Greece

Road cycling, mountain biking, bike sharing and E-bikes have all been enjoying a growing popularity in Greece as discerning holidaymakers become more demanding. All levels of difficulty can be catered for as Greece has varied terrain from mountains and gorges to gentle coastal paths.  Serious cyclists can enjoy self-guided routes over a number of days with pre-loaded routes on GPS systems while recreational cyclists can enjoy guided trips from their resorts to local sites and landmarks. 

There are three Eurovelo routes in Greece (which connect the whole of Europe with cycling routes) soon to be completed. These are: 

• EV8, which crosses western Greece from Epirus in the mainland down to the Peloponnese and across to Corinth and Athens
• EV11, which starts in Northern Greece taking in vineyards of Goumenissa, passes by Greece's second city of Thessaloniki and then heads down Greece's eastern coastline past Mount Olympus, through Pelion and down into Athens 
• The EV13 starts its Greek section on the border with Bulgaria by Lake Kerkini and follows the natural boundaries of the Rodopi mountains following a route north of Drama and Xanthi.

As a contrast, the island cities of Rhodes Town and Chania in Crete have both now introduced a bike sharing system by Cyclopolis visitors can use to explore their beautiful historic centres.

UK tour operators such as Ramblers Holidays, Macs Adventure, Inntravel, Responsible Travel, Exodus, Sherpa Expeditions, and hooked on cycling offer numerous options of self-guided and guided walking and cycling tours across Greece that also take in routes on the islands as well as in the Peloponnese, Halkidiki and the mainland.

Ends

Please RSVP to Frances Tuke frances@wearelotus.co.uk or Panos Papadopoulos pr@gnto.co.uk