Landof plenty


Escape to the country in Greece and Cyprus, says Katie McGonagle


@katie_mcgonagle T


he sun-kissed shores of Greece and Cyprus


have been drawing British holidaymakers for decades, and for good reason – sandy beaches, lapping waves and guaranteed sunshine are the building blocks for any good holiday. But why stick to the fringes when there’s so much going on inland? Drag yourself away from those golden sands and you might be surprised by how much there is to discover, from biking trails around the Troodos Mountains to stomping the grapes on the Greek mainland.


We find out what’s on offer in


the rural heartlands of Greece and Cyprus, so you’ve got extra reasons to sell the shoulder seasons, and a good alternative for clients who’d rather swap busy beaches for quiet countryside.


◗ BE A FARMER Many resorts have tapped in to the trend of growing their own produce or shouting about zero- miles menus, but few actually let guests get their hands dirty – until you get to the Grecotel collection, whose ‘Be a farmer for the day’ experience encourages visitors to do just that. Agreco Farm, owned by the hotel group, is a 40-hectare


estate growing organic ingredients for use in its resorts. Families can spend a day on the working farm to try baking in a wood-burning oven, milking goats, picking vegetables or shearing sheep. It’s not all hard work, though: they can make lunch using ingredients grown on- site, taste wine and sit down to a six-course evening meal complete with Cretan music and dancing. Book it: A guided tour, lunch and activities at the farm starts at €55 per adult and €28 per child aged six to 12, free for under-sixes. Rates at Grecotel’s White Palace Resort, close to Agreco Farm, start at £223 per night. agrecofarms.gr


◗ VILLAGE LIFE Wind the clock back 50 years and Cypriot villages were the very heart of island life, until job and education opportunities began to lure the younger generation towards bigger towns, leaving traditional buildings to fall into disrepair. Yet the past decade has seen the tide start to turn, with a resurgence of interest in preserving that way of life – and creating a unique tourism product along the way – injecting fresh enthusiasm (and cash) into some of those smaller villages. One of the best examples


Agreco Farm 17 May 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 65


GREECE & CYPRUS RURAL STAYS DESTINATIONS


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