DESTINATIONS RURAL STAYS GREECE & CYPRUS


is Tochni, halfway between Larnaca and Limassol, and home to Danae Traditional Houses. These rustic Cypriot houses might lack the facilities of a big hotel but more than make up for that with bags of character, built from local Tochni stone and close to several walking and cycling routes. Book it: Olympic Holidays offers a week at Danae Traditional Houses from £590, based on two sharing a one-bedroom apartment with breakfast, shared pool and flights from Gatwick, departing October 9. olympicholidays.com


◗ MOUNTAIN WALKS Nothing gets you closer to nature than exploring on foot, and that’s exactly where a walking tour comes in, particularly if you’ve got a guide to identify and explain the local flora. Headwater has a walking holiday


around Evia, the second-largest Greek island after Crete. Walkers will trace the old stone paths between tiny mountain villages and stop at Roman quarries, aqueducts and Byzantine churches – approaching all on foot for a unique perspective on the island. That still leaves time for the


occasional swim at a deserted beach or stop for lunch at a traditional taverna, returning each night to the family-run two-star Galaxy Hotel.


Book it: Headwater’s Mountains and Villages of Evia walking tour starts at £1,079 including seven nights’ hotel accommodation, most meals, four and a half days’ guided walking, sightseeing in Athens, and British Airways flights from Heathrow. headwater.com


◗ SCENIC SELF-DRIVE If a quiet escape appeals, do what the Cypriots do when they have a free weekend and make for the Troodos Mountains, where the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism project has created a network of self-drive routes. Sunvil was one of the first UK


operators to support the project and encourages guests to get out and explore the area on anything from a birdwatching or botanist-led walk through the forest to sampling the wares of artisan producers. Chairman Noel Josephides says:


CLOCKWISE


FROM BELOW: Evia; Danae Traditional House; and


Costa Navarino


“Sunvil’s long-time rep Angela can organise many ways of immersing yourself in local events. Choose from halloumi-making, olive oil manufactur- ing in November and December, tours and tastings at the wineries, lace- making and more. There’s even a rose festival in the summer months.” Book it: Sunvil offers a week in the self-catering, three-bedroom Stella Maris Villa with private pool near


Pomos from £1,268 based on two sharing, including flights from Gatwick, car hire, weekly maid service and welcome pack with wine. sunvil.co.uk


◗ VINE TIME While some luxury resorts can feel rather cut off from their surroundings, the development at Costa Navarino in Messinia, in the southwest Peloponnese region of mainland Greece, does quite the opposite. The resort’s activities programme,


Messinian Authenticity, is dedicated to getting guests out to explore. They can go to a traditional stone house to cook a Messinian menu under the watchful eye of two village women, go on a nature tour to discover the region’s trees, flowers and herbs, or combine the two with a Messinian picnic. For visitors there between August


and October, the vineyard and wine- tasting tour is a must, giving them the chance to go to Costa Navarino’s vineyards at Mouzaki and take part in the foot-pressing of grapes. Book it: Cyplon offers a week at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino from £3,870 in total, for a family of three sharing a Deluxe Sea View Room, with breakfast, easyJet flights and private transfers, departing August 7. cyplon.co.uk


66 travelweekly.co.uk 17 May 2018


PICTURES: HEADWATER; AGRECO FARMS


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