Itinerary

1. Day 1: Athens to Kastoria

   Get acquainted with your BMW rental motorbike at the tour company's office. After a short briefing of the tour & itinerary, take off on your BMWs. All destinations and points of interest will be uploaded to the GPS with the motorcycle.

   • Stop at Nestorio, Kastoria Region, West Macedonia. An extraordinary village is full of charm with a lovely river running through it. Every summer, a big festival takes place on this river gathering famous artists, both foreign and domestic. (Duration: 30 minutes).

2. Day 2: Kastoria City and Surrounding Area

   • Stop at: Kastoria, Kastoria Region, West Macedonia (Duration: 3 hours)

     • Ride to this charming furrier city, whose beauty will most certainly seduce you, built amphitheatrically on a narrow peninsula, mirrored in Orestiada Lake and nestled in between Grammo and Vitsi Mountains.

     • See the old neighbourhood Doltso, a picturesque corner of the town where buildings date back to the 17th and 18th century when the city’s economy blossomed due to the fur treatment and trade is a must-visit. Lots of buildings have been converted into museums, such as the Neratzi Aivazi mansion that houses the Folk Art Museum, Emmanouil mansion lodges, the Costume Museum etc.

     • Visit the second oldest neighbourhood with an aristocratic allure is Apozari; Fall in love with the Byzantine churches and the beautiful mansions, which are typical examples of Macedonian architecture. 

   • Stop at the Cave of Dragon (Spilia tou Drakou), Kastoria. Head inside a captivating cave system where you’ll get to see seven underground lakes and rooms with astonishing stalactites. (Duration: 1 hour).

   • Stop at the Prehistoric Lake Settlement, Dispilio. At the site of Nisi, an artificial island in Lake Orestiada, a Middle Neolithic lake settlement with wooden structures has been excavated, dating back to 5600 to 5000 BCE. Near the site, an impressive park has been erected, recreating the lake dwellers’ settlement and providing information about the life of its Neolithic inhabitants. (Duration: 1 hour)

3. Day 3: Prespes Lakes and Florina

   • Prespa Lakes, Agios Germanos Prespa (Duration: 3 hours)

     • Ride to the region of Florina which is a magical world of incomparable natural beauty created by retreating glaciers and a series of seismic phenomena. Two important lakes surrounded by mountains, Great and Small Prespa, provide a stunning sight, reflecting the wooded slopes of the surrounding mountains in their waters.

     • Kit yourself out with the right bird watching equipment and visit the special Bird Observatory, where members of the Hellenic Ornithological Society will tell you all about the birds or even lend you a telescope to observe them. The shores of Mikri Prespa, with thick reeds, host pelicans, wild ducks and many other species of rare birds attract the interest of international scientific institutes. 

   • Stop at the Agios Achillios island, Prespes National Park. Cross the floating bridge leading to the island of Agios Achilios in Small Prespa and admire the ruins of the 10th-century church of the same name. Visit the caves where hermits used to live and admire the rock paintings which can be seen at Fishermen Bay or along the shores of Great Prespa. (Duration: 1 hour)

   • Stop at Florina, Florina Region, West Macedonia (Duration: 2 hours)

     • Start your tour around the city with a visit to the Archaeological Museum standing next to the Railway Station. One of the Station’s old buildings houses the Art Gallery that exhibits works of local artists.

     • Head to the landmark of the city, Sakoulevas river, which one can walk along starting from Ioannou Arti Street.

     • Go to the left bank of the river where you can gaze at the Second Primary School, the House of Tegos Sapountzis (the first Mayor of the City, 1912), the workshops of two local artists, the Modern Art Museum and the House of Voyiatzis, where many scenes of Angelopoulos film “The Beekeeper” were filmed.

     • Cross over to the opposite side where still stands the three-storey “House of Peios”, one of the most impressive traditional mansions of Florina.

     • Continue your tour at the Dikeosinis (meaning Justice) Square, adorned with well-preserved public buildings, the old prison and the Turkish Baths. If you want to rest a bit, choose one of the hive cafes of Melas Pedestrian Street to indulge in a coffee or a delicious local speciality.

4. Day 4: Amyntaio and Nymfaio

   • Ride to Amyntaio, a hub for entire Western Macedonia with a unique view to Mount Vermio, Mount Vintsi, Mount Kaimaktsalan, Lake Petron and the vineyards of the region. It has beautiful hotels and restaurants and is famous for the local wineries.

   • Stop at Amyntaio, Florina Region, West Macedonia. Ride your BMWs to one of the most famous wineries in Greece. Alpha Estate will be your stop for a tour of the winery which boasts an excellent cellar and some of the best Greek wines! (Duration: 1 hour)

   • Stop at Nymfaio, Florina Region, West Macedonia. Explore this traditional settlement of Mount Vernon (Vitsi) at an altitude of 1.350 m. It has been singled out as one of the ten most picturesque villages of Europe, according to UNESCO. This fascinating village with stone-built houses and cobblestone paths, surrounded by breathtaking beech forest, looks like it just came out of a fairytale book. Nymfaio is a year-round charming destination as it combines the remarkable beauty of nature, a distinctive glorious past, unique traditional guesthouses and numerous cafes and restaurants. (Duration: 2 hours)

   • Proceed to Arcturos Brown Bear Sanctuary, Nymfaio. This sanctuary is located in a beautiful beech forest at 1,5 km from Nymfaio. Find out more about the wonderful ex-captive bears that live in 5 acres of fenced area imitating a natural habitat. Discover how hard it is to reintegrate them in their natural environment as they were removed from their mother before having the chance to learn basic survival skills. (Duration: 2 hours)

5. Day 5: Meteora via Siatista

   • Go to one of the most traditional towns in the prefecture of Kozani, Siatista,  Kozani Region, West Macedonia, which lies on the slopes of Mount Siniatsiko at 920 meters altitude. From the 17th to the 19th century, the town experienced prosperity, clearly recognizable by the mansions that are everywhere. Do not miss the incredible metropolis of Siatista with the fantastic frescos. (Duration: 2 hours)

   • Stop at Meteora (UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988), Trikala Region, Thessaly. They are built on the north-western edge of the Plain of Thessaly. Meteora is a complex of monasteries built 400 meters above the ground on massive stone pillars. It is one of Christianity’s holiest places and attracts thousands of visitors year after year. The visitors get mesmerized by the size of the rock formations and the spectacular beauty and serenity originating from the Monasteries for those who seek spiritual enlightenment. (Duration: 3 hours)

6. Day 6: Meteora to Athens

   • Stop at Trikala, Trikala Region, Thessaly. Τhe Prefecture's capital is a beautiful city built on ancient Trikki (according to mythology, the nymph Trikki was the daughter of Pinios). Asklipios, the most important doctor of antiquity, originated from here. Ride along the Lithaios river flows through the city distinguished by historical Monuments, excellent urban planning, spacious squares, parks and pedestrian streets. (Duration: 2 hours)