“There is nothing like Halkidiki”, say the people of northern Greece, and they know something. Prepare to succumb to the charm of the three beautiful peninsulas of Kassandra, Sithonia and the third “leg”, which includes the seaside town of Ouranoupoli and the famous monastic Mount Athos, a special state in Greece, known for its monasteries and the highest peak of which reaches 2,033 meters above sea level.

What does Halkidiki mean? Emerald beaches, dense pine forests, dreamy hotels, small settlements by the sea with fish taverns and cafes, beach bars in coves, archaeological sites with a long history, traditional villages in Sithonia, the cave of Petraloni in Kassandra. A small “wonderland” is Halkidiki. Explore it with all your senses.

The first Greek settlers in this area came from Chalkida and Eretria, ancient Ionian cities in Evia, around the 8th century BC, who founded cities such as Mendi, Toroni and Skione, a second wave came from Andros in 6th century. e.g. who founded cities such as Akanthos. The ancient city of Stageira was the birthplace of the great philosopher Aristotle. Halkidiki was an important theater of war during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.
Later, the Greek colonies of the peninsula were conquered by Philip II of Macedonia and Halkidiki became part of Macedonia (ancient kingdom). After the end of the wars between the Macedonians and the Romans, the region became part of the Roman Empire along with the rest of Greece.

During the following centuries, Halkidiki was part of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). In a chrysobull of the emperor Basil I, of 885, Mount Athos was declared a place for monks and lay people, farmers or breeders were not allowed to settle there. With the support of Nikephoros II Phokas, the monastery of Megali Lavra was founded immediately after. Today, over 2,000 monks from Greece and many other Eastern Orthodox countries, such as Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Russia, live an ascetic life on Mount Athos, isolated from the rest of the world. Athos with its monasteries has been self-governing ever since.

*Ask us about the tour schedule and time in Halkidiki.