Paths of Peace

Paths of Peace

 

In summer 2019, we implemented a multi-day hiking trail and a cycling route called Paths of Peace. It is located in the area of Florina, Western Macedonia, Greece. The trail is divided into 4 hiking days, and it starts and ends at Lehovo village. It crosses the most important natural and cultural places of the area: the settlements of Lehovo, Asprogeia, Nymfaio, Agrapidies, Sklithro and Limnochori, the Wolf sactuary, the lakes Zazari and Cheimaditida, as well as dense forests. For more information, click here.

Tinos Trails

Tinos Trails

 

Tinos Trails, the official hiking network of Tinos island is a fact! 152 km of trails, planned according to the hiker needs, invite you to discover the nature and culture of this beautiful island of the Cyclades.

Tinos Trails is a project of the Municipality of Tinos, in co-operation with Paths of Greece, as well as the local population and tourism businesses.

The trails network aims at strengthening the tourism season before and after the summer months, bringing quality visitors, revealing the rich nature and geology of Tinos as well as its cultural assets, through old footpaths.

12 thematic routes invite the visitor to live a unique experience. The trails pass through all the picturesque villages of Tinos, they are looping, are interconnected and cover most of Tinos island.

The work that Paths of Greece undertook was related to the Tinos Trails planning, the way-marking and sign-posting, as well as the clearing of the routes. In addition, Paths of Greece created a website, leaflets, maps and performed promotional actions.

The first hikers have already appreciated much these trails! Tinos Trails will keep developing and in the following months it will have some surprises for all those who will decide to discover Tinos on foot!

For more information: www.tinostrails.gr

New Trails Around the World Magazine

New Trails Around the World Magazine

 

We are proud to present our new article about the trails of Kythera in the 4th edition of the World Trails Magazine “Trails Around the World”. Our article, written by Fivos Tsaravopoulos and Rigas Zafeiriou presents a 4000 years old pilgrimage route on the island of Kythera, linking two villages and 3 pilgrimage sites of different religions through the ages. You can find the article in English here, in Greek here, and the full magazine here. Under our portfolio tab you will also find further information about the Kythera Hiking project.

The Hikers’ Friendly certification has been launched!

The hotel certification standard has been launched!

“Hikers’ Friendly” is a certification for services related to hiking activities. It is currently available only for hotels, but it will soon be open for other sectors. It has been developed by the Social Co-operative Paths of Greece, in collaboration with Green Evolution. Its aim is to enhance the hiking experience by upgrading the services offered to the hikers.

The adjustment of the “Hikers’ Friendly Hotels” Certification was conducted in the Greek island of Sifnos, where now the trial period is completed and from the 1st of August 2017 the Certification is available for all areas in Greece. All hoteliers who are interested in upgrading their services and in increasing the tourist flows toward the accommodation and each destination, mostly during the off-season period, are more than welcome to apply.

It is important that to promote Greece as a top hiking destination, 5% of the certification fee will be returned to each municipality for trails maintenance or promotional action. This applies for municipalities where the number of the certified accommodations is above five.

Find more information on the “Hikers’ Friendly” website and of course you can follow “Hikers’ Friendly” social media to stay always updated!

Building Sustainability in European Tourism

Building Sustainability in European Tourism

Paths of Greece presented its recommendations on the development of hiking destinations at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) “European Regional Meeting – Building Sustainability in European Tourism” that took place at Zappeion on 23-24 November 2016. During a second presentation, the hiking network developed on the island of Sifnos, called “Sifnos Trails”, was analyzed as an example of good practice on hiking destination development, as well as an example of good cooperation between Paths of Greece and the Municipality of Sifnos. Paths of Greece was invited to the Council by Green Evolution.

World Trails Conference and Friendship Trails

World Trails Conference and Friendship Trails

The World Trails Network 6th World Trails Conference took place between the 14th and 17th of October 2016 in Tottori, Japan. During the conference, which attracted participants from over 30 countries, “Paths of Greece” gave a presentation titled “Utilizing 5000 year old trails for a better future”, analyzing Greece’s potential in becoming one of the 10 leading hiking destinations worldwide. In the same spirit, during the final day of the Convention, the ceremony of the joining of M1 Kythera Trail and San’in Kaigan Geopark Trail (two trails with several similar characteristics), along the WTN “Friendship Trails” programme, also took place. This was a special event for the Japanese as Kythera M1 Trail passes in front of Roza Kasimatis house. She was the mother of Lafkadio Hern, known as Yakumo Koizumi, considered Japan’s national storyteller.

This was the second trail joining taking place in Greece, along the WTN “Friendship Trails” programme, once more an initiative by “Paths of Greece” that continues its efforts at promoting the country as a leading hiking destination, through its participation in the World Trails Network organizing committee.

Successful Participation at the NOSTOS exhibition

World Trails Conference and Friendship Trails

“Paths of Greece” joined forces with ecotourism-greece.com and took part in the 1st International Expo on alternative tourism “Nostos Expo 2016” that took place in Nafpaktos, Greece, from 14 to 17 October 2016. Conveying the values and potential of hiking tourism in Greece, drawing information by the projects that Paths of Greece has completed and exchanging that information with the various participants of Nostos Expo, at the “Paths of Greece” stand and at b2b meetings, “Paths of Greece” promoted the already developed hiking destinations and its quality work. Through teaming up with ecotourism-greece.com the opportunity to exhibit that through the development and promotion of a hiking destination other forms of alternative activities can also develop, was provided.

Participation in the 1st Greek Alternative Tourism Expo

Participation in the 1st Greek Alternative Tourism Expo

Paths of Greece proudly announces participation in the NOSTOS Greek Alternative Tourism Expo 2016! It will take place in the town of Nafpaktos from October 14th to 17th. It will be our pleasure to see you at our stand (#31), in order to inform you on our activities and the latest developments in our projects and in the worldwide hiking community. For this expo, Paths of Greece teams up with Ecotourism-Greece.com, the top website on alternative tourism activities in Greece, in a new alliance, aiming at making Greece a worldwide ecotourism destination.

The first “Friendship Trail” in Greece!

The first “Friendship Trail” in Greece!

For the first time, a Greek trail signed the “Friendship Trail” agreement between trail #2 of Sifnos Trails and trail 18-1 of Jeju Olle trail (South Korea). In the context of the Friendship Trails programme of the World Trails Network, the Mayor of Sifnos, Mr Andreas Babounis and the President of Jeju Olle Foundation Mrs. Suh Myong, did sign an agreement linking the two trails! The Jeju Olle trail is more than 425 km long and attracts about 2.000.000 hikers a year!

New video about the trails of Sifnos

New video about the trails of Sifnos

Following other promotion actions, the Municipality of Sifnos, in collaboration with Giannis Kontos (Photo Kontos), has created a short video to show the walking trails of the island! Through the imagery, one can admire the characteristic landscape of Sifnos, the incredible trails and the monuments that are along the 100 kilometers long trails network.

The Sifnos Trails website: www.sifnostrails.com

The website of Giannis Kontos who created the video: www.photokontos.com

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