Agrotourism, a form of nature-centric tourism that has seen great success abroad, especially in Germany, Spain and France, has officially arrived in Greece. Over the last decade, tourist units have been created to welcome guests to an experience a completely different from their everyday life, in which they live surrounded by nature and learn how a farm works. At an agrotourism retreat you can, for example, participate in olive harvesting and get to know the olive oil production process, gather eggs from the chicken coop and pick the vegetables that will accompany your meal. In these guesthouses you don’t just come into contact with nature, you learn where and how food is produced, and what the natural order of the food system is.
Apart from engaging you in agricultural activities, agrotourism often includes adventure activities such as hiking, climbing and rafting, cultural tours such as visits to folklore museums, nearby villages, archaeological sites and churches, local cooking classes, food and wine tastings and more. Apart from being a wonderful opportunity to get away from a humdrum urban routine, it’s also a great way to support local communities through tourism as many mountain villages and remote areas of the country tend to suffer economically when they are deserted during the long winter months.
Agroktima Guesthouse, Leonidio
Within a lush green estate surrounded by orange and lemon groves are 10 well-maintained stone cottages ideal for a tranquil holiday in nature. In the morning you can collect eggs from the hens, pluck oranges and lemons from the trees on the farm and even olives when they are in season. In the afternoon lie with a book in your hand and a hot drink, warming up by the fireplace. Later on, from January onwards, they also grow a vegetable garden in the nearby greenhouses where you can participate in picking the vegetables and if you wish, learn the process of growing them.
Vamos Village, Crete
This small “village” of mainly restored old houses in Vamos, is nestled among beautiful gardens away from the noise, traffic and demands and everyday life. Here you will learn to cook traditional dishes of the famous Cretan cuisine under the guidance of an experienced local cook. You will help pick oranges and learn their secrets and if you wish you can also cook with oranges, but you can also go out to the farm and the fields to gather wild greens and aromatic herbs with the help of an expert who can teach you how to distinguish the edible greens. Depending on the season of course there are other activities such as olive harvesting and olive oil production in the traditional way.
Montanema Handmade Village, Agrafa
On the slopes of Agrafa, at an altitude of 1100m just above Lake Plastiras, is the Montanema Handmade Village. The rooms are wonderfully atmospheric with folkloric chic decor and forest views. Without being deprived of luxury here you can experience the rural side of life by collecting mushrooms from the forest when they are in season, feeding the livestock and cooking. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy meals made with pure ingredients from the farm, take cooking classes, make soaps with herbs from the farm. From spring onwards you’ll be able to learn the secrets of cheese making, practice archery, picnic in the forest (weather permitting) and go horseback riding at Lake Plastira.
Ninemia Stay & Play, Karpenisi
Between Chelidonas and Velouchi, on the riverside, lies the Ninemia Stay & Play hotel, a special place where the whole family can have fun playing tsouvalo races, riding bikes or just barbecuing together at the outdoor grills. Here the primary aim, apart from good hospitality, is also to offer guests education in environmental and sustainability issues, so if you’re up for it you can help with the small farm’s chores such as picking vegetables and herbs, growing them, composting them and picking fruits and berries such as apples, quinces, pears and cranberries which you can then cook as delicious spoon sweets, jams and even liqueurs. The hotel also has a small farm with animals such as chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits, sheep, goats and horses that you can visit and feed.
Ikoperigitis, Kerkini
Ikoperigitis, next to Lake Kerkini, is a lovely guesthouse where the owners edidently pay great attention to detail, as shown in the atmospheric rooms. Cooking classes are not available here but who has time for the kitchen where there are a bundle of wonderful excursions in nature to be enjoyed? Explore the scenic area, tour the lake by boat or canoe, go hiking, mountain climbing or rock climbing with the help of expertly trained instructors, practice archery or even go biking along 4×4 trails. In the summer they also organise a children’s nature camp, teaching children everything from first aid to flora and fauna identification.
Fokaeon Farm, Achaia
Within a 40-acre farm surrounded by a plethora of trees you can have fun and at the same time learn the basics of how a farm works. You can feed small animals like chickens, bunnies, ponies and donkeys and learn how to grow and harvest vegetables from the garden, depending on the season. Within the estate, there is a very beautiful pond and various paths along which you can set off on a leisurely walk. If you feel like a longer walk then take the path that leads to the Ladopotamos gorge. During the year they organize other activities such as a wine-tasting visit to a vineyard during harvest season.
Read also:
Stone and hearth: 5 stunning traditional guest-houses on the highest Greek mountain
Anemotrypa cave, Tzoumerka: a journey to the centre of the earth
Kalavryta’s Stunning Cave of the Lakes
