Greece’s natural environment offers:

• A coastline exceeding 16,000 kilometres in length

• Mountain ranges of altitudes of 2,000 metres and over

• Three of Europe’s longest and most spectacular gorges Fast-flowing rivers

• Thousands of acres of forest

• 300 and over lakes, lagoons and river deltas.

Greece’s natural environment is ideal for a great variety of Outdoor Activities such as Golfing, Riding, Hiking, Mountaineering, Trekking, Gorge Crossing, Mountain Biking, 4-wheel Driving, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Waterskiing, Windsurfing, Diving, etc.

Some Greek Federations and Clubs of Outdoor Activities & Sports are mentioned below:

• Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering & Climbing: www.eooa.gr

• Air Sports Clubs: www.athensaeroclub.com, www.mesogeion-aeroclub.gr, www.flightexperience.org, www.anla.gr, www.aeroclub-tsl.gr

• Samaria Gorge National Park, Crete: www.samaria.gr/language/en

• Mount Psiloritis Natural Park, Crete: www.psiloritis-natural-park.gr

• Olympus National Park, Thessaly-Macedonia: www.olympusfd.gr

• Vikos-Aoos National Park and Pindus National Park, Epirus: www.naturallyzagori.gr

• Parnassos Natural Park, Central Greece: en.parnassosnp.gr

• Official Greek National Parks: en.parnassosnp.gr/usefull-links.aspx

Horse Riding Centres specializing in Riding Tourism

In mainland Greece and the Greek islands there are lots of Equestrian Clubs as well as Horse Riding Centres specializing in Riding Tourism. Information on the equestrian clubs and the sport can be obtained from the HELLENIC EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION, Olympic Equestrian Centre, PO Box 221, 194 02 Markopoulo, Attica, Tel.22990-49350/1/2, Fax 49617, email: [email protected], www.hef.gr.

Mountaineering | Walking Hiking | Trekking | Climbing

Greece is not a country of sea and sun alone. It is also a country of mountains, since the greater part of its surface is mountainous. The Greek mountains are known for their great beauty, and can offer unique wilderness experiences to ordinary walkers, hikers, rock and alpine climbers, and demanding mountaineers. The most pleasant time of the year for treks and climbs is spring, from April to June, when the weather is fine, when one sunny day succeeds the other.

There are about 60 mountain refuge huts at altitudes ranging from 900 to 2,700 metres which can accommodate the mountaineers.

Information concerning mountaineering and mountain refuges can be obtained from a) the website www.visitgreece.gr (Enjoy/Activities/Land Sports/Mountaineeing-Hiking), and b) the HELLENIC FEDERATION OF MOUNTAINEERING & CLIMBING, 5 Milioni St, GR-106 73 Athens, Tel. 210-3636617, 3645904,
Fax 210 3644687, email: [email protected], www.eooa.gr