The best way to verify a widely held view supporting that “there is no place like Halkidiki” was to take off on a road trip to the destination in Greece’s north. Making this trip in the right car made the experience even more rewarding.
Opting for an Avis car-rental solution was the wisest choice we could have made to ensure quality conditions during our journey. We were impressed with the variety of car models on offer, combining high-standard performance, spacious comfort – needed when travelling as a family – and low fuel consumption, crucial given the current period’s elevated fuel prices. We were able to select and reserve the vehicle of our choice online. Its delivery was made on time, while the procedure at the Avis station was swift, as we selected the online check-in service.
We found ourselves on the Athens-Thessaloniki in no time, quicker and more affordably than we had imagined, as we headed for the Halkidiki region’s middle peninsula.
At Nikiti
For our accommodation, we chose to stay at Nikiti, a large seaside village covering all tourism-related needs, which made it an ideal base for excursions to the wider region. Naturally, making it to Halkidiki’s superb waters was our trip’s first experience. Taking the advice of travellers with greater knowledge on the region, we reached Kastri beach within minutes. This magical beach is situated between Nikiti’s main beach and another popular beach, Ai Giannis.
The children had plenty of space for fun and games on the wide sandy beach as we lazed about under the shade offered by the trees. If on a family excursion, Kastri beach is an excellent choice. If seeking a more active scene, or you like water sports, Ai Giannis is probably a more appropriate choice. Our day was topped off with exceptional dinner at one of the many tavernas on offer at Nikiti.
Taxiarhis, surrounded by fir trees for Christmas
Taxiarhis, not unlike the region’s villages high up on the mountain and further down the slopes, features a picturesque stone-built square, small chapels and elegant houses. But what makes this particular place special is its nature.
This village is surrounded by fir trees, grown in an organised fashion over the past 50 or so years and sold throughout Greece as Christmas trees for the festive season. There is a reason for this cultivation. The region’s freezing temperatures are too cold for most plants and fruit-bearing trees to survive and prosper, which prompted locals to turn to fir trees, covering Christmas needs. Over two-thirds of the country’s Christmas trees are grown in the Taxiarhis area. These trees are not removed from the forest but planted and grown in designated fields for five to ten years, until they have reached the right height, before being cut and sold for the Christmas season.
The wider region is perfect territory for car-cruising enthusiasts. The exploration experience is made even more fulfilling with an Avis rental car of your choice. We wandered the Taxiarhis forest for quite some time, taking charming trails, reaching lovely clearings offering sensational views as well as picture-perfect settings of nature that left us in awe. Cycling enthusiasts should know that bicycle rentals for enjoying the forest on two wheels are available.
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Picturesque Arnaia
Our road trip’s next stop was Arnaia, on the northern foothills of Mount Holomontas and roughly 20 kilometres from Taxiarhis. This small town is probably the most beautiful settlement in Halkidiki’s mountain area as many of its houses are built the traditional Macedonian way. They feature vibrant colours and elegant traditional wooden bay windows. Before departing Arnaia, we bought local products – honey and mountovina, a local tsipouro spirit with honey.
Our visit to the forest offered protection from the hot weather, but beaches in Halkidiki are irresistible this time of the year. So we headed back towards the coast.
In the early afternoon hours, we reached one of the beaches of the Agios Nikolaos region, Trani Ammouda, a big sandy beach approximately 40 kilometres from Arnaia. Once again, we took the advice of locals and, the following day, went swimming at one of the area’s other beaches, Pyrgos, featuring blue, transparent waters.
Long road of return
Our road trip’s fourth day, including the drive back home, was inevitably a touch melancholy. Having our own wheels, courtesy of Avis, was a wise choice that took some of the sadness away as we managed to make a number of stops before reaching Athens. The first of these was at Nea Flogita, a big, sandy and serviced beach with crystal-clear waters. The second of our final day’s stops was at the Vergina archaeological site.
Spring and early summer are probably the best periods to visit Vergina. The midday sun created superb colour shades at the site’s royal tombs. Seeing the archaeological discoveries from these royal tombs was most impressive.
The remainder of our journey back to Athens was filled with discussion on whether “there is no place like Halkidiki.” If desiring mountain and sea, it is hard to disagree about this.
All good things tend to be brief, but thanks to Avis’ affordable offers, we will soon be heading off on yet another road trip.
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