For those who love nature, an active vacation is exactly what they are looking for. Hiking and mountain biking on the beautiful trails, bird watching or skiing are only some of the activities which can be practiced within the protected areas which form the national parks.

The National Parks are protected areas due to rare indigenous flora and fauna and present special interest because of the water, atmosphere and geomorphologic formations. We can find three climates in Greece and a variety of ecosystems.

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In Greece there are 10 wooden areas which are designated as national parks. Within those parks (and outside them), there are 196 important bird areas. The first national park established in Greece was Olympus National Park, followed quickly (in the same year) by Parnassos National Park.

The second national park established in Greece is located in central Delphi. Mount Parnassos offers some of the most beautiful views of the Gulf of Corinth and the surrounding countryside with its olive groves.

Just like Mount Olympus, Mount Parnassos is linked to Greek mythology: it was Apollo’s sacred mountain, the home of Muses and the Corycian nymphs.

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Flora and Fauna

Parnassos national park contains Mediterranean vegetation and pine forests, forming quite a unique ecosystem. The park is at its best during autumn and spring, when the flowers are in bloom. The park is also home to a variety of birds, many residing here depending on the time of the year.

If you want to hike (or mountain bike) you can take the path which starts in Arachova. Alternatively, you can enter the park from the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth. Within the park there are two major hiking trails: the Ancient Footpath and E4 trail. Both are easy to negotiate but it’s recommended to carry a map with you.

Skiing

Parnassos is home to two ski centers: Parnassos Ski Centre – the largest ski center in Greece – and Gerontovrahos. Within the ski centers there are 25 ski slopes and 25 ski routes, making up a total length of 30 km. Sky lifts and cable car carry as many as 5,000 tourists per hour.

>>more information on Skiing in Greece

Lodging and Restaurants

Don’t worry about lodging if you plan to visit the park. There are plenty of hotels around or within the park. The majority of them are family run and get booked up quite quickly, no matter when you plan to travel, so it’s a good idea to email the hotels couple of months in advance.

Here’s a list of lodging options:

• Hotel “Ganimede”, Galaxidi
• Drymna
• Archontiko Xenofon –website only in Greek
• Charadra – website only in Greek
• Meterizi – website only in Greek

Please note that there are plenty more places to stay, but they can only be contacted by phone.