Holy Mount Athos. Review: Halkidiki Sithonia tourist reviews (Greece, Sithonia)

29.09.2019 State

One of the popular resorts of Halkidiki is the village of Sarti, Sithonia, on the east coast of the peninsula, famous for its magnificent beaches and views of the holy mountain. Actually, beaches stretch along the entire coast, but Sarti is the largest and most populous summer resort in this part of Sithonia. The most famous beaches in the area are Kavourotripes, Platania, Goa, Platanitsi.

Rest in the shadow of Mount Athos - Sarti, Sithonia

Sarti is conveniently located amphitheatrically in a bay in the southeast of Sithonia, under the shadow of the green Dragudelis mountain range. The distance from Thessaloniki is about 140 km.

History of Sarti

The historian Herodotus wrote about the same name ancient city Sarti, member of the Athenian Union. At one time, Xerxes and his army passed here. It is unknown why the city was abandoned or destroyed. The ruins of its walls can be found a little south of the modern village.

In the 14th century, this place was referred to as Sartis, and the lands were the grounds of the St. Athos monastery of Xiropotamus. And after 1922, Greek refugees from Asia Minor arrived here, from the small island of Afisya in the waters of Turkish Marmaris. At first they called their new settlement that: Nea Afisya, that is, New Afisya. Some of the settlers' houses have remained in the village to this day.

Now the main occupation of the residents of Sarti is serving tourists, as well as Agriculture and fishing. They realized that you can make good money from tourism back in the 60s of the last century, and began to develop this area.

And numerous tourists love Sarti and its gorgeous beaches very much, and for good reason. The magnificent nature of Sithonia, the clear emerald sea and views of the Athos peninsula attract both Greek and foreign tourists. During Sarti season there is a lively nightlife, a lot of young people gather in local beach bars and campsites.

The beach of Sarti itself has been receiving the Blue Flag for cleanliness and quality for more than one year; it is also one of the longest in Sithonia - about 3 km. Access to the beach is very easy, there is no sharp depth - the entrance to the sea is gentle. This is great for family vacation with small children. The beach has both organized areas, with umbrellas and sunbeds, and for free use. There is also everything for water sports.

You can book accommodation in Sarti yourself, or you can use the services of travel agencies, for example, find tours to Greece from Ukraine or Russia.

Best beaches around Sarti

In this part of Sithonia you will find some of the best beaches in Greece, with fine white sand and clear azure seas. Each beach has its own flavor, its own appearance. If you want to enjoy the sea here alone, then in June and September the beaches are almost deserted. But even at the height of the season you can find many secluded corners. If you want to use the beach of any campsite, you will need to have your passport or ID with you.

Goa beach

Goa Beach is a small bay with a sandy beach, surrounded by a cliff, 2 km south of Sarti. The beach got its name from the beach bar of the same name, very popular among young people. In summer it is noisy and fun, with a lot of people gathering to take part in Goa's famous beach parties.

The sun loungers and umbrellas of the beach bar occupy approximately half of the beach; you can sit freely on the second half. Goa offers beautiful views of Mount Athos. To get to the beach, you need to turn off the highway south of Sarti, there is a corresponding sign. And then along the country road you will get to the beach.

Cavourotrypes – Crab holes

This is not just one beach, but a very picturesque coastline, stretching for five kilometers, 6 km north of Sarti. Here, the rocky eastern coast of Sithonia forms large and small coves, open and secluded, each of which has its own unique beauty. Here everyone can find their own little paradise! The beaches are usually sandy, but there are also rocks.

Getting here is not so easy - there are almost no signs, only country roads lead from the highway to the sea, sometimes not of the best quality. However, the postcard-like, fabulous beauty of these places will be a worthy reward for the difficulties of the road! Some beaches can only be reached by climbing along rocks through bushes and thickets.

The largest and most organized beach is Portocali (orange), named after the beach bar of the same name. On the highway, keep an eye out for the sign that says “Beach Bar Orange” as you turn onto the rough track to Portocali and drive 350 metres. Gray-white rocks, pine trees, in some places approaching the water, turquoise-blue sea - this is what the little paradise of Portocali looks like. It is here that you will see the famous stone Mermaid, lying down to rest and dangling her tail into the oncoming waves. The author of the sculpture is Dionysios Karipidis, there are other bas-relief sculptures carved on the coastal rocks, but the Mermaid is the most famous of them.

Kavourotrypes is called the last stronghold of free tent tourism; here you can still meet “savages” in tents. But in general, only organized camping is allowed in Greece; they also exist in the Sarti area. During the high season, a lot of tourists gather here, but you can always find secluded places!

Platania

At the southern end of Sarti beach you will find a chain of 4 small beaches ranging from 50 to 300 meters long, all with fine sand and pure water. To get to these beaches, you need to take the highway south from Sarti and after about 1 km you will see a turn to the left onto a country road to the sea, which leads to the largest of the beaches. It has umbrellas and sun loungers for those interested. You will have to get to the rest of the beaches from the top through the rocks.

Ahlada

About one and a half kilometers north of Sarti there is another chain of three beautiful sandy beaches - 60, 100 and 350 meters long. From the central highway the distance to the sea is approximately 500 m, getting there is easy. Ahlada also has a pier for fishing boats.

Platanitsi

Located 5 km north of Sarti. The famous beach bar Afri-Café is located on this beach. The entrance to Platanitsi beach is controlled by a local organized campsite, and after passing the control, you find yourself on a half-kilometer sandy beach, divided by a river bed. Its beautiful clear waters and the view of Athos will not leave you indifferent!

Boat trips from the Sarti Estuary

You can travel not only from Ormos Panagias and Ouranopolis. On the Sithonia Peninsula it is possible to go on boat trips from Sarti. So where can you go?

Cruise to Saint Athos

One-day excursion on a pleasure boat to the shores of Saint Athos. In the morning, the ship sails from the Sarti estuary to the southwestern tip of the Athos peninsula, and from there begins to move north, towards Ouranopolis.

On board the ship, vacationers enjoy the view of the majestic Mount Athos, the impressive and beautiful complexes monasteries and beautiful views nature. The excursion is accompanied by a guide's story about the history of the monasteries and the life of the monastic state.

On the island of Ammouliani there is a two-hour stop, where you can have lunch in one of the many taverns and walk around the island. After lunch the ship returns to Sarti.

Walk to the Blue Lagoon

A whole day of rest - swimming, tasty food and invigorating Greek wine. From the small estuary of Sarti, the captain will lead his boat with vacationers to the north, where you can swim in the open sea and admire the picturesque coasts of Vourvourou and Cavourotripes.

After lunch, in the second part of the journey, you are expected delicious dishes Greek cuisine and Greek fun.

Taverns Sarti

Kivotos Tavern, Sarti. Photo www.toronaios.gr/

Sarti, like many coastal villages in Greece, offers to try simple and tasty Greek dishes of local cuisine. First of all, this is, of course, the freshest fish and seafood. But for meat eaters there will also be a real paradise here - the Greeks know how to cook meat for every taste! You will also find other delights such as international pizza here.

Here are some local taverns where you can enjoy Greek flavors:

Orestis Tavern- a small family tavern without a sea view, but with excellent food.

Tavern "Pirofani"— on the second line from the beach, excellent cuisine and service.

Tavern-useri “Barba Yorgos”— snacks, seafood, fish, meat, all served in the cool, shady courtyard of the tavern.

Tavern "Ο Μεγα Αλεξανδρος"(“Alexander the Great”) - on the first line by the sea, overlooking the impressive bulk of Mount Athos. Good cuisine and excellent service.

Tavern "Ark" on the embankment. Cozy and delicious!

Of course, these are just a few examples of where you can eat. This does not mean that other taverns are not worthy of your attention! Perhaps you will fall in love with some other establishment, the dishes of which you will remember with nostalgia on long winter evenings!

Riding on mules and horses

The mountains around Sarti are very beautiful, and if you climb the green slopes of the Dragudelis ridge, the views from there will be stunning. In Sarti you can try yourself as a rider, under the guidance of an experienced instructor, and take a romantic ride through the hills of Sithonia. Here you must not forget your camera - capture yourself as a fearless rider in the mountains among olive groves! This hike can be done by the whole family with children.

Mule rides: daily from Sarti 9.00 - 13.30 or 14.00 - 18.30.

To go horseback riding, you can first train at a local stable and get to know the horses that will take you on the ride. Mountains or sea - the routes may be different, but in any case, this great way diversify your vacation!

As you already understand, you won’t be bored while relaxing in Sarti on Sithonia. If you get tired of lying on the beach, go explore the mountains and the sea!

Elena Meteleva

Halkidiki / Kassandra / Sithonia / Athos

Athos

Being a “state within a state”, Holy Mount Athos, or Agio Oros is at the same time the monastic center of Greek Orthodox Church, spiritual “heart” and open-air museum.

Geographically, Athos is the easternmost of the three peninsulas of Halkidiki. The peak of Mount Athos seems to pierce the sky at an altitude of 2033 m, and its steep slopes, covered with lush evergreen vegetation, create the impression of harsh and inaccessible beauty. Administratively, it is a self-governing unit of Greece, subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople and consisting of 20 autonomous territories belonging to monasteries, around which monastic settlements (monasteries, cells, kalivas and caves) are located. All monasteries are monastic communities. This means that the monks serve the liturgy together, pray, work, and also share a common shelter and table. The abbot of the monastery is elected by the monks for life. The abbots are members of the Holy Council, which carries out on the peninsula executive power. Only men are allowed to visit Holy Mount Athos subject to appropriate permits. Women can only admire the monasteries from aboard a pleasure boat.

Mount Athos is one of the most beautiful places on earth, more reminiscent of fantasy than reality. Majestic temples, similar to fortresses or castles, rise along the coast or open to the gaze of the traveler on the mountain slopes at every turn of the road. There are caves in which hermits still live today, just as they did a thousand years ago, and cells, which are simple dwellings for several people with a small church. There are temples here that have more gold than the treasuries of other states and icons that work miracles. Here you will find virgin forests and animals that are found nowhere else but on the Holy Mountain. Monks from all countries live here Orthodox world and even several novices from states where there is no Orthodoxy. Here you will discover gardens of stunning beauty, cultivated with love for nature and God. For people seeking spiritual perfection, Athos is the place where the earth ends and heaven begins. Of course, the life of a monk is full of difficulties and hardships. But Athos is a truly fantastic place that is worth visiting if you are a man who is not alien to spiritual quest, respects traditions and loves to travel.

From the city Ouranoupolis on the border between the Holy Mountain and the rest of the world, you can take a small boat to the port of Daphne, the official entry point for pilgrims to Mount Athos. The only bus route connects the port with the town of Karey in the center of the peninsula, where there are a couple of shops. The monks are generally friendly and love to talk, especially about life “in the world” outside the Holy Mountain. Be prepared to be offered a glass of tsipouro (a locally produced hot drink) and asked to tell you about your own life (many of the monks are well educated and speak English).

If you are a woman, stay in Ouranoupolis and enjoy the surrounding atmosphere and local attractions. The town has several restaurants and a very nice beach; In addition, there is a unique feeling here, as if you are on the very edge of civilization. You can also take a sea trip cruise around the Holy Mountain. You can book a hotel in Ouranoupolis online.

<< Ситония

I would like to mention a couple of places on the first leg of Kassandra for those who would like to spend not so much a stormy, but a beautiful and romantic evening... First of all, this is the cafe-bar “MAGIA” (emphasis on the second syllable) in the village of Afitos. The urban village itself, in the light of day, will shock you with its national stone architecture, simplicity and beauty at the same time... But to fully taste the magic of this town, go up to the MAGIA cafe of the same name - it is located quite high on a cliff, hanging over the sea, and its structure not horizontal, but stepped, reminiscent of an amphitheater. The view of the bay and the glowing second finger located across the bay - Sithonia - will make you remember that saying of the righteous Greek about Halkidiki and paradise...

Another popular night spot on the Kassandra Peninsula among locals is the BAHALO bar in the village, located right on the shore. Among others, it is distinguished by torches installed directly in the water near the shore, and the opportunity to swim in their light, and after that, as if nothing had happened, return to your table and finish your cocktail. During the hottest weeks of summer, BAHALO visitors take great pleasure in this type of night bathing.

Having started talking about swimming, one cannot help but once again praise the peninsula. The first thing that distinguishes it from other “legs” or “fingers” is the amazing two-color coastline on the left coast. The color of the sea varies from light to very dark turquoise, depending on the seabed. Secondly, almost all beaches have a gradual, smooth entry into the water and relatively fine sand. Some places may offer diving lessons, but don't get your hopes up here! This is not the Red Sea...

Halkidiki is one of the record holders for the number of blue flags in Greece

The second “leg” of the Chalkidiki Peninsula is . She is much more serious than Cassandra. It is forbidden to build new hotels on it in order to preserve the wonderful protected areas, so those who didn’t have time are late, there really aren’t many hotels on it, but campsites are very popular. The most famous and luxurious hotel complex is Porto Carras. The hotel has its own vineyards and developed winemaking, stables, golf courses, yacht piers... you can get there by “shuttle boat” from the town of Neos Marmaras. The shuttle departs every hour and costs about 3 euros; travel time is no more than 10 minutes.

If you have already reached Porto Carras, drive a few more kilometers and visit the amazing bay of Porto Koufo, located almost at the very tip of Sithonia. I advise you to swim in it carefully: the depth immediately off the shore is 60 meters.

At the height of the season, in warm water, you have very little chance of encountering a jellyfish. They swim to the shore only with the onset of cold weather.

When going around Sithonia, be sure to make a stop: a mountain with a snow-capped peak, the view of which opens up to you is none other than Holy Mount Athos.

Holy Mount Athos is the last, third finger of the Chalkidiki Peninsula. This is an Orthodox monastic state, the only one in the world - a holy land, two thousand years ago brought as a gift to the Mother of God by her Son. According to Tradition, with the arrival of the Mother of God on Athos, another woman should no longer set foot on its land - and, with rare violations, this rule was indeed practically not violated... The extreme point of travel for tourists is the town. For those wishing to penetrate further, two conditions are required: male gender and a visa to Mount Athos.

Another opportunity to see some of the legendary monasteries is to take a boat trip along its coast. Such flights regularly depart from Ouranoupoli, as well as from Ormos Panagias Bay in Sithonia.

Let's take a look at Halkidiki today: pristine beaches, exuberant nightlife and Cote d'Azur... fish taverns and white bread with spices fried in olive oil... Greek hospitality, green forests and white houses with tiled roofs... rocky shores and monasteries growing out of them, where hundreds of monks They tirelessly offer prayers for each of us...

Athos, the third “finger” of Halkidiki, is the most beautiful and spiritual of all. It is home to the Holy Mount Athos and 20 Orthodox monasteries, including the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon. There are few hotels on the peninsula, and they are located at the very beginning in the small resort towns of Neo-Roda and Ouranoupoli (“heavenly city”).

Karis is the capital of the monastic republic of Agion Oros (Athos). There is a museum of the history of Christianity here, which is famous for its unique icons, books and manuscripts.

Women are prohibited from entering Athos, but men can visit the peninsula only with special permission.

Myths and legends of Athos

Mount Athos is covered in even more myths and legends than ancient Olympus. Its very origin is unusual - according to myth, Poseidon raised it from the bottom of the sea and crushed it with a giant named Athos when the Titans rebelled against the gods.

And the biblical legend tells that Mary once sailed past Mount Athos, and was so enchanted by these lands that she asked God for them for herself. Since then, they have become her earthly destiny, and are also intended for everyone who strives for salvation and trusts in the Lord. This happened in the 1st century, and already in the 5th century. The first monasteries began to appear here.

This mountain is one of the most important shrines of Orthodoxy; even before the construction of the Kyiv Lavra began, Anthony of Pechersk went to Athos for a blessing.

And even then, access to Athos for people with “smooth faces,” that is, for the fair half of humanity, was closed. This is one of the fundamental points of the charter of the state of Mount Athos, and non-compliance is punishable by imprisonment from 8 months to a year. So ladies can only look at the holy places from a boat at a “safe” distance. There are also no animals here, except those that are indispensable in the household, and even birds. Nothing should distract monks from their main calling, from prayer.

According to another legend, in the Middle Ages the queen of Serbia tried to appease the local residents with generous gifts, but an angel blocked her path to the holy land. In general, the monks claim that a small cloud is always visible above the top of the mountain; they are sure that it is the Virgin Mary herself who watches the life of Athos. And not a single person has managed to capture it on camera. Video filming here, of course, is also strictly prohibited.

This mountain is one of the most important shrines of Orthodoxy; even before the construction of the Kyiv Lavra began, Anthony of Pechersk went to Athos for a blessing. Since ancient times, Orthodox Christians from all over the world have made pilgrimages to the Athos monasteries.

Visa to Mount Athos

An entry visa to the territory of Athos (diamanitirion) is limited to 4 days and is issued to professors, teachers and students of theology, philosophy, history, art history, architecture and fine arts - upon provision by the tourist of a certificate of his occupation. “Profile” students just need to present their national student ID. Russian tourists can obtain permission to visit Mount Athos with a letter of recommendation from the Russian consulate at the Ministry of Northern Greece.

How to get there

The route of a pilgrim or tourist next to Athos necessarily passes through three points: Thessaloniki, Ouranoupolis and, in fact, one or another pier on the Holy Mountain. Let us remind you that the land border with the peninsula from the mainland is closed, so the last leg of the journey will invariably pass through water.

You can get from Thessaloniki to Ouranoupolis by taxi (more expensive, faster and more comfortable) or bus (cheaper, slower and without amenities). A taxi will cost from 80 to 100 euros per car and will deliver to the exact address in Ouranoupolis (or drive around the city in search of, for example, a hotel for the night). Buses depart from the Ktel Chalkidiki bus station and arrive at the same central bus station in Ouranoupolis. 8 buses depart per day, the first at about 5:30, the last at 18:30 (in winter - at 17:00).

The morning ferry from Ouranoupolis to Athos, leaving at 9:45, can only be caught by taking the first two buses from Thessaloniki, leaving at 5:30 and 6:15. Before boarding the ferry, you must get your diamanitirion from the Ouranoupolis Pilgrimage Office (you will need to pay 25 EUR).

Ferry route: Ouranoupolis - Hilandar - Zograf - Konstamonit - Dochiar - Xenophon - St. Panteleimon Monastery - Daphne port. In most cases, you have to walk to monasteries located inland (up to 5 km).

From Daphne you can get to the capital of the peninsula, Karrier, by city bus - it meets every ferry.

The return ferry from Daphne to the mainland departs from the Daphne pier at 12:10 and picks up passengers at the monastery piers along the way. Arrival in Ouranoupolis - at 14:00.

Transport

The most reliable, although not the fastest, way to travel around the Holy Mountain is as old as the universe itself - on foot. The path passes along picturesque mountain paths, among thickets of olives, lemon and almond trees, groves give way to vineyards, and meadows in the hollows between the hills give way to coniferous thickets. In order not to get lost, you must use a map, which can be purchased in Ouranoupolis, in Daphne or in the monasteries themselves. The minimum distance between monasteries is 2.5 km, the average is from 10 to 15 km. It is recommended to go in groups of several people; this is easy to arrange, since pilgrims often move between monasteries. It should be taken into account that after 18:00 the monasteries close the gates, and there is a risk of staying overnight on the street.

For more comfortable travel on Mount Athos, there are minibuses. True, it is important to note that they are few in number and set off when all the seats are occupied (there are from 5 to 8), or the existing passengers do not want to wait and will pay for the missing ones. It is clear that it is almost impossible to predict the appearance of the desired minibus. Another option is to “buy out” a car going to the desired location, but this can be expensive: from 40 to 80 EUR.

Ferries also run between the monastery piers. The ferry arrival schedule can be found in each monastery. Ferries travel around the peninsula, stopping at each pier in forward and reverse order.

Monasteries of Athos

Each monastery has a special building - archondariki, where pilgrims live. The archondarics are served by monks - archondarises, who help visitors settle in and conduct a short sightseeing tour, as well as provide the necessary introductory information.

Today Athos is an autonomous state with an area of ​​almost 336 thousand square meters. m, which has its own Charter, recognized by the Greek government, and representation in Parliament. Life here is very unusual, many monks live without the basic benefits of civilization, many monasteries do not even have electricity. On Mount Athos they do not eat meat, do not smoke, do not wear revealing clothes, and do not even swim in the sea. Bread is baked in monasteries - it is the basis of the diet of the local residents. Monks can afford to drink red wine to invigorate.

Unique manuscripts, books and miraculous icons are collected here. It is believed that everything in these places acquires special power; every day a small miracle occurs, for example, in the Serbian Hilandar monastery there is a unique grapevine, the fruits of which help women heal from infertility. And these grapes sprouted from the coffin where the ashes of the King of Serbia, St. Stephen, were tonsured as a monk.

One of the most outstanding Athonite monasteries from an architectural point of view is undoubtedly Simonopetra, whose name comes from the name of its founder - Simon and the Greek word "petra", that is, "stone". The fact is that the monk Simon saw in a dream a sign about where and how he needed to build a monastery. So in the 14th century. on a steep cliff, more than 200 m high, a majestic and austere building of 7 floors appeared.

Features of the peninsula

Access from the land side is blocked by militarized guards; you can only arrive at the peninsula on which Mount Athos is located by sea, by boat from Thessaloniki, after going through very strict “customs control.”

Timekeeping in this mini-state deserves special attention. The fact is that different monasteries define the beginning of the day differently. So, in some of them, a new day begins at the moment when the sun sets, in others, on the contrary, the day begins with the rising of the heavenly body, and in others they live according to the time zone of Greece. Therefore, only here on one meridian people live in different times. In addition, the measure of the length of the journey is prayers, or rather the number of them that you manage to say along the way.

Having received a rental car for 4 days, on the first day we went to explore our entire peninsula around the perimeter. We drove around Sithonia almost all around, examined almost all the densely populated, sparsely populated and completely wild beaches. The best beaches are wild ones:)

On the map the blue dot indicates our location. This is the village of Metamorfosi. We left it in the morning and returned to it in the evening.

The Chalkidiki peninsula branches into three peninsulas - Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos. The middle peninsula is Sithonia. We will go around it, along the red road on the map. The whole route is about 160 km, it took us all day. No one was tired, because there were a lot of places where we stopped and swam, or simply looked at the views from the shore.
The first stop is 10 km from Metamorfosi:


The road climbs a little, soon we make the next stop, here there is a pocket for an exit:

Agaves are found along the roads:

Going down from the highway near the village Kalogrias, the first wild sandy beach of today appears before our eyes:

Here is the first swim of the day. Half an hour passes and we get ready to move on.

This is what the village of Neos Marmaras looks like from the coastal highway:


Yes... People here don’t know what slate or ondulin is, here there are only natural tiles. :)
In the background on the right is Turtle Island.

Taking a closer look at it, it becomes clear why it was called Turtle. Look at it carefully:

A regular bus runs along the same road, its stop is:

There is a lot of graffiti of various contents along the roads:

And the roads in Greece are of very decent quality, I have already described them. Such a “pothole” is the maximum inconvenience, and they are rare:

Almost there Toroni:

Here the road again approached the shore, zigzag to the left, but we already saw a small sand spit ahead, with a small rock and a beach on it. You need to see everything there and take a swim!
We park the car next to the spit, go swimming and explore the rock:


The water is the clearest.
Near the rock, on the stones in the water:

there were a lot of sea urchins:


They lie in the water and don’t bother anyone. Such sweethearts! You just can’t touch them, you can only admire them.

The sea is always calm here, and during World War II several Allied submarines hid in this bay.


Thus we reached the village Sarti.
Sarti has become a very popular resort town, which stretches along the beach with the honorable Blue Flag. The beach offers amazing views of Mount Athos, which rises steeply from the sea and with its peak in the clouds resembles a slightly smoking volcano.
Beach:

Mount Athos is clearly visible from here:


There really seems to be smoke curling over the mountain, like a volcano :) But this is just a “caught” cloud.

After lunch at a cafe on Sarti beach, we move on.

And the next stop is at Vourvourou:


Here the beach has fine sand and a very smooth entrance to the sea. It's perfect for children to frolic in the water! We stay for an hour, swim, sunbathe.

It’s getting dark and we finish our detour around the peninsula of Sithonia, the middle finger of the Halkidiki peninsula. According to legend, once upon a time in Chalkidiki, Greece, two brothers Siton and Athos fought for the beautiful maiden Pallini. The noise of the struggle woke up Poseidon, who was sleeping nearby, and he threw his trident in anger. Thus, on the southern tip of the Chalkidiki peninsula, three fingers, three peninsulas were formed - Athos, Sithonia and Pallini. Pallini was later renamed Kassandra. And if you look at the map of Chalkidiki, then the southern part of it really resembles a trident.

And we continue our detour around Sithonia, and here’s another stop:


In Sithonia (as well as in Kassandra, and throughout the rest of Greece) it is not at all necessary to book a hotel in advance, especially through a travel agency. Arriving on the peninsula, you can rent a villa or part of a villa. For example, this one.