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GREECE - VAN TRIP

Bike trip Sri Lanka route map

Greece


- October 08 till November 25 2022
- km in total
- Road t
rip from Ghent, Belgium

- Visited countries: Greece

- Part of our road trip to the Balkan, but we stayed so long in Greece because we loved it so much. So Greece deserves a page of its own :)

"Slow traveling in Greece"


In Greece we really found our own rythm, traveling slow.

We found some true places of paradise, where we lingered long.

Drawing until the sun sets, swimming in the sea,

and then at night when it gets a little colder we lit the fire.

Life on the road!

OUR HIGHLIGHTS

Fantastic view of Lion Rock, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Drinking ouzo in the sun at Parga

  Agios Giannakis beach, Parga


Parga, our first stop in Greece! Sun was shining, people dancing in the streets, cheering with an ouzo, and we fell in love with Greece instantly. That day it felt like starting a whole new journey within the journey.  Our camp spot at this beautiful beach is amazing and if you wander around a bit you might find the most precious, secluded hidden beach! :)

Amazing view over valley from Ella Rock hike, Sri Lanka

Hidden beach near Agios Giannakis beach, Parga

Walking the railroad line on the Ella Rock hike, Sri Lanka

Agios Giannakis beach, Parga

Going to school in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Drinking Ouzo in the beautiful seatown Parga

Fantastic view of Lion Rock, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Exploring the Zagorohoria region

  Vikos Gorge, Zagorohoria


From Parga we drove to the Zagorohoria region to explore the Pindus mountain range. So beautiful! We hiked in the Vikos Gorge from Vikos to Monodendri. We hitchhiked back, and got a ride from Carmen and David. The most funny Canadian couple. The next day we visited some of Zagohoria's old stone bridges, Kokkori bridge and Plakida bridge.

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Road in the Zagorohoria region

Woman plucking teain Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Sunrise above the Vikos Gorge

Tea plantation in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Beautiful tree in the Vikos Gorge

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Hiking in the Vikos Gorge

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Sunset above the Pindus Mountain range, Zagorohoria

Sri Lanka Proud

Kokkori bridge, Koukouli, Zagorohoria

The Sri Lanka smile

Plakida bridge, Kipi, Zagorohoria

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Road in the Zagorohoria region

Cycling through tea plantaions in Srai Lanka

Living the good life at the beautiful beaches of Lefkada

  Egremni beach, Lefkada


Lefkada is still attached to the mainland with a small stretch of land. So however it is not a 'real' island, it gives you all the island vibes you wish for and more. Since you can drive here, it is an ideal place to visit on your road trip. We camped at Egremni beach, Porto Katsiki and Gialou Skala Beach. Here all the stories about white sands and turquoise waters are true, and we felt so happy. We also camped one night at the lighthouse Doukato, where you can see a sunrise and sunset from the same place. Such a special place. 

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Egremni beach, Lefkada

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Egremni beach, Lefkada

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Egremni beach, Lefkada

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Egremni beach, Lefkada

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Egremni beach, Lefkada

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Beautiful camp spot near the lighthouse Doukato at Lefkada

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Beautiful camp spot near the lighthouse Doukato at Lefkada

Train spotting on Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka

Hiking in the mountains and relaxing at the beach.. Peloponnesos has it all

  Prodromos Monastery, Melanon Trail, Peloponnesos


Peloponnesos has a lot to offer. We hiked the first section of the Melanon trail, from Stemnitsa to Dimitsana. You can visit the Prodromos Monastery and the old and new Filosofou monastery in this part. This time we didn't hitchhiked back, but prepared in advance. We left our folding bikes in Dimitsana, drove back to Stemnitsa and started hiking. After we cycled back from Dimitsana to where we left our Sapa. Another fun hike is from Kalavytra to Diakopta. You follow the train tracks all the way. We took the train back from Diakopta to Kalavytra. A fun and beautiful train ride.  Ofcourse we also took the time doing absolutely nothing at the beautiful Voidokilia beach and Itilo beach, or drinking coffee in Nafplio.

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Menalon Trail, cycling from Dimitsana to Stemnitsa, Peloponessos

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Filosofou Monastery, Melanon Trail, Peloponessos

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Prodromos Monastery, Melanon Trail, Peloponessos

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Prodromos Monastery, Melanon Trail, Peloponessos

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Train back from Diakopta to Kalavytra, Peloponessos

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Start of the trail from Kalavytra to Diakopta

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Train back from Diakopta to Kalavytra, Peloponessos

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Hiking from Kalavytra to Diakopta

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Itilo beach, Mani, Peloponessos

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Itilo beach, Mani, Peloponessos

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Beautiful camp spot at Lagkouvardos beach, Peloponessos

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Beautiful camp spot at Lagkouvardos beach, Peloponessos

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Cape Tenaro, Mani, Peloponessos

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Cape Tenaro, Mani, Peloponessos

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Itilo beach, Mani, Peloponessos

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Athens

  Athens, Greece


Cities.. either we love them or we truly don't. Athens, we love you! It is edgy, with some weird corners. It gave us inspiration, it made us think and we were never bored. We danced the night away, found some real treasures on the flea market in Monastiraki and had a favourite bar from day one in Exarhia. It is street art heaven. Close to the center there is a secured parking for busses and campers, where you can still sleep in your van. Perfect!

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Athens

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Exarhia, Athens

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Monastiraki, Athens

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Psyrri, Athens

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Acropolis, Athens

Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Acropolis, Athens

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Monastiraki, Athens

Abhayagiri Vihara in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Finding our little place of paradise in the Pelion peninsula

  Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula


We were already traveling slow, but went even slower arriving on the Pelion peninsula. Here we really listened to our own rythm. We stayed days at Vathia Spilia beach. Our little place of paradise! Camping right on the beach under the olive trees, swimming and enjoying the sun, drinking wine while reading a book and knowing that there is absolutely nothing that needs to be done. Can we please go back right now? :)  Also Mylopotamos beach is a beautiful place, but here we didn't linger long. Since it was already late in the year the sun was too low early in the day, setting the beach in the shade most of the day. And we are not really early risers, so no much sun to catch here for us. :)

Lying Buddha in Dambulla cave temple, Sri Lanka

Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula

Buddha statue in Dambulla cave temple, Sri Lanka

Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Vathia Spilia beach, Pelion Peninsula

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Mylopotamos beach, Pelion Peninsula

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Mylopotamos beach, Pelion Peninsula

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

View over Volos, Pelion Peninsula

Sunset over Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka

Meteora

  Moni Agias Varvaras Rousanou, Meteora

Meteora and its monasteries high on top of the rocks. We have never seen anything like this before. The mist made it even more special and magical.

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Meteora

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Meteora

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Moni Varlaam, Meteora

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Meteora

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Meteora

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Moni Varlaam, Meteora

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Moni Agias Varvaras Roussanou, Meteora

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Moni Varlaam and Moni Megalou Meteorou, Meteroa

Sunset over Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka

Mt Olympus

  Mt Olympus, Litohoro

Litohoro is the perfect base for hiking on the slopes of Mt Olympus. We attempted to hike to Skala Peak. We almost made it, but due the changing weather (it became realy cloudy) and slippery shoes on the snowy trails we decided to turn back to the warmth and coziness of our Sapa before we reached the peak. :)

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Hike to Skala Peak at Mt Olympus

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Hike to Skala Peak at Mt Olympus

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Hike to Skala Peak at Mt Olympus

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Mihintale in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Firing it up at Halkidiki Bay

  Possidi Cape beach, Kassandra Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay


Reaching Halkidiki bay mid november the sun was still shining and giving warmth during the day, but from the moment the sun would set it became a little colder. So both at Possidi Cape beach and for sure at Little Golden beach where we stayed for several days we would go for a morning run, chilling and swimming for the rest of the day and drawing until the sun sets. And then when it got a little colder we lit the fire, drank some wine and enjoyed watching the stars and gazing into the flames. We love this life on the road! 

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Possidi Cape beach, Kassandra Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Possidi Cape beach, Kassandra Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Possidi Cape beach, Kassandra Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Lagoon beach, Kassandra Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Little Golden beach, Sithonian Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Little Golden beach, Sithonian Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Boardwalk hike in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka

Little Golden beach, Sithonian Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Little Golden beach, Sithonian Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Little Golden beach and Aretes Beach, Sithonian Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Flowers in Temple of the tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Little Golden beach, Sithonian Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Bodhi tree, Sri Lanka

Aretes beach, Sithonian Peninsula, Halkidiki Bay

Palm tree sunset view in Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka

On the road towards new adventures!

  Train from Diakopta to Kalavytra


New adventures, we are ready! Are you? ;)