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Greece Ecotourism:
Doing Greece the Green Way
For many of us, Greece is our portal to ancient history. The iconic Athenian remains of the Parthenon and Acropolis conjure images of white-robed philosophers and thespians performing tragedies and comedies. Known to the world as the cradle of Western civilization, Democracy, and the birthplace of the marathon and the Olympics, ancient Greece lives right alongside modern Greece in a rich tapestry of heritage, culture, cuisine, and natural beauty.
Extending as the mountainous coastal peninsula of southern Europe, Greece has the tenth longest coastline in the world. About four-fifths of the country is mountains or hills and it is surrounded by over 6,000 islands in the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea and the Sea of Crete.
Exploring the coasts of Greece, this one is along the south side of Crete, could take a leisurely lifetime.
As you can imagine, with these geographical characteristics alone, Greece ecotourism offers stellar getaways for climbers, hikers, mountain bikers, sailers, kayakers, and other varieties of water enthusiasts.
Agrotourism: A Greek Shade of Green
Agrotourism is a slight variation on traditional ecotourism. In more rural areas, agrotourism offers ecotravelers opportunities to live the daily life of the locals, participating in agricultural occupations, traditional cuisine, cultural elements, and the natural features of the area, while respecting the environment and traditions. Such holidays allow an immersion in a culture while contributing to its sustainability.
Greek Adventure Ecotourism
Spans Summits to Shores
Given Greece's generally mild climate and abundance of mountainous topography and coastlines, Greece ecotourism is a good year-round getaway for the more active ecoadventurer. Not only is Greece home to Mt. Olympus, the highest mountain peak in the country and home to the gods, but more than 40 mountain ranges have peaks over 2,000 meters. A 3,500 km network of paths and public roads traversing the mounatins have created fantastic access for climbers and mountaineers, as well as creating an easily navigable getaway for mountain walkers and hikers. The alpine environments include some of the oldest natural wooded lands in Europe and offer a rich range of flora and fauna.
With over 6,000 islands in the Greek territory, maritime traditions hail as an extremely popular eco-getaway. The clean and transparent waters around Greece are perfect for scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, and even just gazing. In 2006, 404 beaches and 5 marinas were awarded the Blue Flag, a program which recognises coasts for meeting strict criteria as to the cleanliness of the beaches and waters, protecting the coastal environment, and general safety.
To augment your Greece Ecotourism preparations, check out Trouble-Free Travel to insure smooth ecotravel prep.
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