Meteora, Pelion, and the Sporades Islands (2022)

In the summer of 2022, we spent 14 nights in Greece with an itinerary built around three hubs: - Skopelos (Sporades Islands): 5 nights at the Aperitton Hotel on Skopelos - Meteora: 2 nights at the Doupiani House Hotel in Kastraki - Pelion: 2 nights at Karavia Lux Inn in Afissos + 5 nights at Akro Rooms Hotel in Agios Ioannis and 1 night in Volos before taking the boat back

We traveled with Transavia (Paris/Skiathos). From there, we took a boat to Skopelos, then another to Volos, and a return boat to Skiathos.

Thoughts on our hotels: Aperitton: Not bad, well-located but a bit "dated" Doupiani: Amazing, top-notch staff, dreamy breakfasts with a view of Meteora Karavia: Luxury, peace, and bliss (plus a great-value dinner option on-site) Akro: Simple and nice, breakfast on the terrace just above the beach

Our highlights: - The magic of Meteora - Exploring Skopelos by scooter, beach to beach - Karavia - The villages of Pelion (Pinakates, Milies, Tsagkarada, Portaria, and Makrinitsa...) - The beaches around Agios Ioannis - Octopus and fish at the local fishermen’s restaurants

Car rental in Volos from Aegean Car Rent: a beat-up 207—avoid! For accommodation prices and restaurant picks, we followed the *Routard* guide’s advice.

And since a picture’s worth a thousand words, here’s Skopelos to start:

From Skopelos, we set off for Volos. And a few hours later, we were in Meteora—a place I’d wanted to visit for a very long time... and I wasn’t disappointed!

From Meteora, we head back to Volos before moving on to southern Pelion. A peninsula where tourism is rare, but it knows how to welcome visitors when you put in a little effort (after all, you only live once!). The fishing villages are very authentic...

Next, we cross the mountain from Afissos to Agios Ioannis. There are also authentic villages here, shaded by century-old trees.

At the end of the trip, 5 days of relaxation in Agios Ioannis...

In the end: a really beautiful trip that combines sea, mountains, and culture. It really complements our two stays in the Cyclades...

And the light in Greece is just stunning! !

Well, well, look who’s back... after all these years!!! Thanks for these photos and tips—I’ve jotted everything down for a future getaway... or my eventual round-the-world trip! See you around in other posts (I’ve got tons of trips to share)

I eagerly await posts that start with "We're off on an adventure..." ;)

On our end, we've also got a backlog of travel journals to catch up on. And unfortunately, when we "journal" a bit too late, we often forget some very practical aspects of the trip. That’s why our journal for Pelion—a region that complements the Cyclades perfectly, where you won’t run into many tourists in berets with baguettes—is a little light!

Great travel journal and thanks for the beautiful photos! Just a fun little anecdote—you can find land tortoises near the monasteries. This is on the way down from the site to the village below (I think it’s Kalambaka or something like that). Anyway, just a random fun fact 😛 It’s true—the place is magical