Why shoulder season is the perfect time to visit Greece and Cyprus
Quieter resorts, cooler temperatures, greater interaction with locals… it’s no wonder operators are extolling the benefits of travel to Greece and Cyprus in shoulder season, says Abra Dunsby
There are endless reasons why a trip to Greece or Cyprus in shoulder season will appeal to clients: from fewer tourists – allowing for a more authentic travel experience – to the cooler temperatures that make it a great time to visit for mature clients, families and those who enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking.
Sunvil and GIC The Villa Collection have both noted “a sharp increase in enquiries for travel in early spring” and have increased promotions for this period accordingly. Managing director Chris Wright says: “Sunvil has waxed lyrical about the delights of Greece in the low season for many years and it has now been realised: wild flowers, foraging and gastronomy experiences, excellent hiking, spa hotels and wellness retreats, city and cultural breaks… the secret is out.”
Ricky Watson, head of product and purchasing at Olympic Holidays, says “a high percentage” of its customers travel to Greece in shoulder season. He reveals another advantage of visiting at this time of year: “The locals are refreshed from the restful winter months and have prepared their properties, bars and tavernas, so [it is] the freshest you will experience [both] the locals and the facilities.”
Clients who visit in spring can also enjoy one of the highlights of the Greek calendar – Orthodox Easter (in April this year and in 2023), with visits during this period enabling clients to experience the richness of the county’s culture.
Here we present new Greece and Cyprus itineraries and product that are at their best in shoulder season.
STROLL ON
The mountainous landscape of the Greek mainland is dotted with certified hiking routes, which are best enjoyed in spring and autumn, says Ged Brown, founder of website Low Season Traveller. He recommends the 47-mile Menalon Trail, which is split into sections of varying difficulty and is found in the hiking-rich Peloponnese region; or the seven-hour Vikos Gorge hike in Epirus, which takes in bays, cliffs, caves, quaint villages and a monastery.
Clients who prefer a Greek island experience for their walks could consider Crete, where temperatures reach 20C in April. Pure Crete’s Guided Country Walking within Western Crete trip (from £995pp) takes place in both spring (3-10 May) and autumn (4-11 October).
Louise Killner, sales and operations manager for the operator, says: “The spring tour is particularly popular for the flora – Crete has 150 endemic species of wildflowers and orchids – as well as the dramatic backdrop of snow on the White Mountains.”
On the operator’s 10-day guided Crete in Bloom tour (from £1,195pp), which takes place each year in either April or May, clients can see the island’s many anemones, scillas, crocuses and orchids, with plenty of opportunities for birdwatching and nature photography along the way.
Activity and adventure lovers hoping to visit the Cyclades Islands without the crowds should consider a sailing trip – G Adventures’ options run from May. Stu Darnley, national sales manager, explains the benefits: “Travellers can get to coves and beaches that the crowds never visit and, with a local skipper onboard, they’re sure to visit local treasures too, including family restaurants or bars. It’s a far cry from busy Santorini.”
The operator also launched three hiking trips to Greece during the pandemic, taking in the north, Crete and Corfu. Its new Corfu Trail Hiking Highlights trip has departures from 3 April 2022.
ISLAND LIFE
Kefalonia is another good option for the shoulder season, says Bernadette Askouni, who looks after agency sales at Ionian & Aegean Island Holidays.
The operator commences its programme to the island on 23 April this year, the day before Greek Easter, which Askouni says is “a perfect time to visit to join the celebrations”.
It has added a range of new villas on the island, including Villa Blue in Ithaka (from £1,119pp including flights), which sleeps two and has its own pool and hot tub; and the modern Theofilo’s House (from £1,589pp including flights), which sleeps 10, has its own spa and looks out across the Ionian Sea.
Konstantinos Santikos, managing director of Santikos Collection, says the Sporades islands of Skiathos and lesser-visited Alonissos are strong options for spring travel. “With the weather being cooler, walks and hikes are much more enjoyable throughout the day, rather than being restricted to first or last thing. Diving and snorkelling are also better experiences in shoulder season, as there is more sea life to spot when the water is less crowded. Plus all the flowers and herbs are out in abundance.”
Meanwhile, Sunvil’s new island additions for spring 2022 include five-star hotel Banyan Tree Angsana in Corfu, which boasts an outdoor infinity pool, extensive spa, a private beach and fitness studio, plus four restaurants and seven bars.
CROWD-FREE CULTURE
City breakers will have a more relaxing experience if they visit Athens out of peak season, believes Low Season Traveller’s Brown.
“The sprawling capital… can be overwhelmingly stifling during summer but makes for a special shoulder-season city break, with world-renowned ancient landmarks and cuisine to die for.”
Sunvil offers fly-drives on the mainland that can combine Athens with the mountain town of Metsovo and the stone villages of Zagoria.
More stone villages and picturesque beaches can be discovered in Pelion, a mountainous peninsula sitting in central Greece that’s famed in Greek mythology for being home of the centaurs.
“[Pelion is] not geared to mass tourism, it’s very traditional and the scenery is magical,” says Askouni. Ionian & Aegean Island Holidays has a range of properties in the region, including 12-room family-run pension Pounda Paou. “The hotel has a super swimming pool and an outdoor whirlpool, and there’s a 100-year-old steam train operating at weekends in shoulder season, for a great day out on the mountain,” she adds.
The resort town of Parga in north-west Greece is another lesser-known mainland option. The five-star Parga Beach Resort (from €140 per night in low season) welcomes both couples and families and has direct access to the Blue Flag Valtos Beach.
Chief executive Christos Ioannou says shoulder season is a great time to visit. “We find the majority of guests who return to Parga Beach Resort do so in the shoulder season, often because there are more opportunities to connect with the local communities at these quieter times.”
He adds: “Guests tend to move at a more relaxed pace and enjoy the destination for everything it has to offer – from visits to the Necromanteion, the most renowned temple of necromancy in Greek antiquity – to day trips to Paxos island.”
CYPRUS IN SHOULDER SEASON: IN FOCUS
- Sunvil introduced a series of self-guided walking itineraries to Cyprus last year to meet the demand for travellers wishing to explore the lesser-known parts of the island. Sunvil’s Jordan Kalatzis says: “Cyprus's spring begins at the end of February with the almond blossom. March to May and September to November are great months to visit, with coastal temperatures between 19-24C and those in the mountains between 10-24C.”
- During shoulder season, guests at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Limassol, can enjoy unrivalled wellness facilities at its Kalloni Spa, home to 14 treatment rooms and four thalassotherapy pools. The hotel can arrange excursions to Limassol and also runs a halloumi-making workshop.
- Larnaca’s updated range of thematic cycling routes are best enjoyed in shoulder season, thanks to cooler temperatures. Options include the Neolithic Route, Europe’s oldest bike route, which visits the ancient settlements of Choirokoitia and Kalavasos; and the Birdwatching Route, which journeys from the natural wetlands of Voroklini Lake to Larnaca Salt Lake.
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