Northern Odyssey: Exploring Greece’s Upper Half
Northern Greece, that large, varied upper half of the country on the map, rarely gets mentioned on the itinerary of most holidaymakers, especially those opting for the trademark sun, sea and sand you find in the southern Islands. It was only after my recent Wild Frontiers group tour, Northern Greece: Along the Via Egnatia, that I came to realise how untouched and underrated this part of Greece is.
If you want to discover the “other side” of Greece, away from the popular tourist hotspots, everyone from history buffs, foodies, birders, hikers, to nature lovers, will find everything they could want in this lesser-visited region.
Amongst cities visited, hidden treasures explored and activities enjoyed, these are my top three highlights:
Metsova, wine and Pindos mountains: Greece beyond the islands
This quaint mountain town with traditional stone houses surrounded by lush forests, free-flowing rivers, and picture-perfect vistas is tucked away in the foothills of the Pindos mountains. Metsova, hidden from the hustle and bustle of cities and other sites, is a perfect gateway for mountain lovers and those seeking authentic Greek culture.
On this trip, we entered the town via the Ursa Trail circular walk, hiking in the Pindos mountain. This lovely, gentle hike lasted a few hours and was a perfect way to see the stunning views in crisp autumn sunshine and most importantly, breathe that fresh mountain air.
There was no better way to end the walk than by heading to the Katogi Averoff winery situated at the edge of town. The guided tour gave us an insight plus the ins and outs of (Greek) wine from this region. A wine and cheese tasting season, part of the activity, was a perfect way to put your feet up at the end of a day of hiking.
Kerkini - The Pelican Lake
Situated in Central Macedonia, Lake Kerkini is one of Northern Greece’s best-kept nature secrets. This serene lake with backdrop mountains, lakeside villages, grazing animals on its shores and flying birds is surprisingly tourist-free and undiscovered (yet) by Insta-moment-seeking masses.
Besides being one of the most important wetlands in the Balkans, this lake is home to many migratory and resident birds, with the large Dalmatian Pelicans being the star of the show. On our guided tour, we followed a fisherman’s boat, witnessing the large Pelicans close behind like they enjoyed its company. The reason for this, we found out, was that when they haul the fishing net in, the birds wait for ”snatch and grab moments”. Watching this while having a picnic lunch on the boat turned out to be both amusing and relaxing. It was amazing being close to these gentle yet massive prehistoric-looking birds, gliding along the water. We were awestruck watching them take off and land, with their massive wings (these happen to be one of the largest flying birds with a wingspan that can reach nearly 12 ft)! A visit to this hidden gem offered some nice variation to our itinerary and a chance to see nature at its best.
Kavala - City by the Aegean Sea
I really believe that Kavala, a small, bright and beautiful city, is Northern Greece’s real coastal treasure. Characterised by pastel houses sprawling on the hillside, a towering Byzantine fortress dominating the skyline, and Aegean Sea views while strolling the promenade. Just wandering the narrow back streets of town to the fortress for a panoramic view in time to catch the sunset on the distant Aegean horizon was a perfect end to the day and a fitting end to this underrated part of the country.
