3 days at Prespes National Park - Hotel "Agios Germanos"

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3 days at Prespes National Park

Day 1 – Hiking at Mt. Varnountas

We start from the hotel towards the slopes of Mt. Varnountas, following the uphill path that in about 1.30 hours will lead us to a small chapel where we have a panoramic view of the entire Prespes basin.

After a break, we continue on a forest road that descends through a beech forest towards Agios Germanos, where we arrive after about 2 hours. Entering the village, we will start the tour of the village which preserves unchanged its traditional character and its special architecture with its many well-preserved stone houses. Before returning to the hotel, we will visit the 10th century Byzantine church dedicated to Agios Germanos, where frescoes from the 11th, 13th and 18th centuries are preserved inside.

Duration: Aprox 4h. Distance: 8Km, Difficulty: 2/3, Altitude difference: 600m

Day 2 – Mountain bike & kayak sti great Prespa lake

Starting from the hotel, we take the bikes heading to the traditional watermill located on the outskirts of the village. The traditional watermill of Agios Germanos is the only one of the twenty watermills that existed in the area which has been fully restored. It is a ground-floor stone building with a wooden roof, which was built in 1930 and was a complex of three uses: the flour mill, the water mill and the mill. The traditional watermill of Agios Germanos won in 2016 the European Union prize for cultural heritage (Europa Nostra Award).

We continue passing to the opposite side of the mountain, where the ruins of the old Agios Germanos are located and we follow a downhill rural road that will take us close to the border with North Macedonia. We continue on rural roads, between the famous bean fields of Prespes and alongside the lakeside birch forest, to end up on the banks of the great Prespa.

From here, we take the kayaks for a ride along the shores of the lake, During late spring and summer, we will have the opportunity for bird watching, as well as swimming in the clear waters of the lake.

After a break to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the landscape, we will make our way back to Laimos, on bikes.

From Laimos we will be transferred back to the guesthouse.

Mountain bike duration: Aprox 2,5h. Distance: 13Km, Difficulty: 1/3

Kayak duration: Aprox 45 min, Difficulty: 1/3

Day 3 – Kayak, hiking & birdwatching at Agios Achillios

Agios Achillios is a small island in the heart of the Prespes National Park in minor Prespa. All around the area there are stands of reeds, where many species of wetland birds make their nests, providing a unique opportunity for bird watching from a safe distance.

We are transferred from the hotel to the shores of minor Prespa lake. We start with the kayaks for a tour at the surrounding area and then we will disembark to Agios Achillios island.

Hiking around the island, we will admire the incomparable natural beauty, we will visit the ruins of the Royal church built by Samuel II, the “Tsar of the Bulgarians”, the 10 Churches that are scattered and we will learn about the ancient city of Lyka and the myth of the island.