Greece: Ionian Sea Rowing & Sport Resort

Europe
2

Greece: Ionian Sea Rowing & Sport Resort

Duration :   7 Days 7 Nights
Start Location:   Paleros, Greece

Date Expired !


Sold out? Prefer your own dates or a smaller group? Consider our Independent Rowing Experience in Thessaloniki.


A Mythical Trip in Northern Greece

This tour transports us to the Epirus region of northwestern Greece, hailed as a land of legends. Perhaps the Ionian Sea should be called the Sea of Myths. Its name is attributed by ancient Greek writers to the myth of Io. The stories are many and varied. Io was a beautiful woman who became the lover of Zeus, precipitating many adventures, including fleeing from Hera, Zeus’ wife, across the sea that now bears her name, to Egypt. Reading stories and history about this area, there are also appearances by Neoptolemus, who was the son of Achilles, Helios, Poseidon, Charon, Pyrrhus and even Antony and Cleopatra among others. Today the region has obtained mythical status as a tourism destination with just the right combination of Greek hospitality and culture with excellent hotels and tourism facilities.

A Sport Hotel and Resort

Our centre-based trips are increasingly popular. How nice to settle in for a week, with no need to repack and move on. This resort has the usual amenities like several pools, a choice of restaurants and bars, a spa plus a lovely white sand beach. But even better, it is a sport hotel. You have full and free access to bikes, both mountain and road, tennis, many different watersports and a range of fitness classes. Or head out on a local hiking trail. This resort caught our eye because it offers Liteboat coastal solo boats, giving you the option to go for a row on your own when it suits you.

Our Annual Women’s Only Trip

This 2024 trip is extra special, since it will be a women’s only trip. What better place to travel with a few of your favourite female friends, and to make new ones! Perfect for solo female travel. This is our fifth women only trip and we love the tradition. Read about how we started this lovely tradition in Italy in 2018 and our video trip report from Ireland in 2019. Our 2022 destination was Classic River Thames and in 2023 we rowed in Croatia on the Dalmatian Coast. This is a perfect trip for a non-rowing companion to travel with you – but females only please for this women’s only trip. Bring your non-rowing wife or a friend. There will be much for them to enjoy while you are rowing.

Trip Details

Price TypeUSDCADEUR
Regular$3,995$5,450€3.635
Single Supplement$495$675€450
Non-rower$2,455$3,345€2.230

EARLY BOOKING SPECIAL! Book before 10 February 2024 and receive a discount of 100 €, USD$125 or CAD$150. Applies to both rowers and non-rowers. AND SPECIAL FLIGHT OFFER – join a charter flight from London Gatwick return for only 50 £. Must be booked and fully paid for by 20 February.

Non-rowing companions (female) welcomed. Join the group for breakfast and dinner then plan your days exactly as you want them. You will have access to all the sport equipment and activities of the resort and the facilities.

Difficulty & Daily DistancesBoatsMax Group Size
10-25+ km/day

Varied
Coastal quad and double plus optional access to resort’s coastal solosMinimum is 8 rowers, maximum 13 rowers

!Important!: this trip is coastal rowing. We do not ask for prior coastal rowing experience, and this may be an opportunity to experience this growing form of rowing and learn new skills. However you must be very comfortable with variable water conditions

Included

  • Seven nights’ accommodation in a new resort custom built as a sport hotel
  • Five days of rowing
  • All breakfasts and dinners and three lunches. Beverages and alcohol not included, with the exception of the welcome drink.
  • Use of quality coastal rowing shells
  • Guide services and tour support. Trip guided by Ruth Marr and Apostolis Gkountoulas
  • Additional cultural visits and alternate activities for poor weather days

This is a test tour, the first time that we will be rowing in this location and staying at the resort although we have inspected it in 2023. Water conditions, especially as affected by the wind, as well as weather and tides will determine the exact time and location of the rows. Safety is a priority.

Schedule Details

Day 0

This might look odd. The rowing tour will begin on Day 1 (Monday 20 May) when the guides and boats arrive. The resort requires Sunday to Sunday bookings, so your room and dinner on the 19th are already paid for. Why not arrive, get settled in, and avail yourself of the many facilities and activities included in the resort package! The resort has Liteboat coastal solo shells available for use if you want a warmup row on your own.

Day 1

The official start! Breakfast is included but lunch is on your own. The boats and guides will arrive. We will meet to unload the trailer and get the boats ready for rowing. A coastal quad plus doubles will be provided. The resort also offers solo coastal boats, although we cannot guarantee their availability for all rows. In the evening we will gather together for a briefing and a first dinner together.

Day 2 through 6

Every day we will offer a varied rowing experience. Those plans will be announced at dinner the previous evening and will depend on wind, water and weather conditions. Some days we will head out for a morning row, returning to the resort for lunch. In the afternoon you could relax by the pool or on the beach, book a massage (at your cost) or enjoy the other many sports offered by the resort. On those days we will likely propose an afternoon row for those who want to log more kilometers. There could be coaching and training sessions. On at least one and maybe more days we will embark on a full day of rowing and exploration, enjoying lunch away from the resort. It will be a grand adventure of discovery and fun that we will create together.

Day 7

The day of departure! If we did not load the trailer last night, that will be your final task with the group before heading out for your next destination.

F.A.Q

Can I book a private tour?
What other trips will be run in 2024?

What's Included

  • Accommodation
  • Guide Services
  • Meals
  • Sightseeing
  • Transportation

Activities

  • Coastal
  • Point-to-point

Meet our guide

Apostolis Gkountoulas

Apostolis Gkountoulas is a Greek rower from Igoumenitsa.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he competed in the men's pair with his identical twin brother, Nikos Gkountoulas. Nikos is also a Rowing The World guide. They won men's lightweight pairs at the 2008 World Championship and the open weight pair at the 2009 and 2011 European Championship. ...

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