Kostanikos Villa
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Things to do
OTHER THINGS TO DO FURTHER AFIELD
Fancy a night or two away from Assos? Pack up an overnight bag and venture a little further afield. Here are just a few suggestions.
Ancient Olympia (& Kouroutas)The birth place of the Olympics is one of our favourite archaeological sites especially in the spring/early summer when the blossom is still on the trees. It takes approximately 3 hours to drive there so although it is possible to make the journey there and back in a day, we would advise you to stay the night. The site is best visited early in the morning or late afternoon before/after the coach-loads of tourists. The site itself is fascinating though to appreciate and understand the place you need to do a little research. The museum is also well worth a visit. Further information can be found here
With respect to accommodation, there are many hotels within walking distance of the site though we would suggest you book in advance during peak holiday periods. We normally stay in Kouroutas, a tiny seaside town about 25-30 minutes drive from Olympia. It has two hotels a couple of tavernas and miles of sandy beaches. Tourism is beginning to discover the place, so it will soon lose its charm. We tend to set off early in the morning, arrive in Kouroutas for lunch, have a swim and find a room for the night, before visiting Olympia first thing in the morning.
Delphi (& Arahova)
Perched on the top of a mountain, from Delphi there are spectacular views over a plain of olive trees, with the shimmering, silver sea in the distance. Delphi can visited in a day but we would advise you to stay the night in a local hotel. There are several routes you can take to Delphi but we would recommend that you cross over the Rio-Antirrio Bridge either on the way there or back. (You can also cross over the Gulf of Corinth at Egio using a ferry). The site of Ancient Delphi is at its finest early in the morning (at sunrise if you can get up that early!) and a guide book is a good investment. Again, whilst there are many hotels in Delphi, we tend to stay in Arahova, a small town ten kilometers or so from Delphi. Arahova is used as a base for the ski resort at Mount Parnassus in the winter. It is also famous for its red wine and its hand woven rugs. Accommodation prices in Arahova tend to be more reasonable than Delphi in the summer. More information can be found here.
Scuba Dive in Porto Heli
Porto Heli is around two hours drive from the villa. It's famous for it's watersports and there is an excellent scuba diving school here called the Porto Heli Scuba Club. If you have never tried scuba before, you can take a 40-minute (or so) introductory dive with a qualified instructor/dive master for around 60 Euros. Their instructors speak good English and provide excellent tuition. They also offer brush-up courses for those who are a little rusty and recognised PADI certificates up to Advanced Open Water Diver. Be warned though ... scuba diving is an addictive sport. Once you have rubbed shoulders with an octopus, you may want to return and take a full course.
Visit an IslandA few of the Greek isands are withing relatively easy reach. You can drive to the port of Kilini in around two-and-a-half hours, nd take a ferry to either Zakinthos or Kefalonia (of Captain Corelli fame!). The ferry crossings are only around an hour and fifteen minutes. Alternatively you can drive to Porto Heli and catch a ferry to Spetses. If you would think you might like to spend a week in Assos and a week on an island, please feel free to call us to discuss your ideas.
Skiing in Kalavrita
Believe it or not, there is a small ski resort in Kalavrita, about 2 hours' drive from the villa. Skiing is very reasonably priced, even during February half term, although we would stress that this resort is only really suitable for beginner and elementary level skiers. There are three ski schools there where you can book lessons. We have taken lessons with 4 Seasons Outdoor. They also have a shop in Kalavrita town where you can hire any equipment you need, before driving up to the lifts around 20 minutes away. They speak passable English although their web site is entirely in Greek. Their contact details can be found here should you wish to call them for further information.
