New and undiscovered experiences in Greece and Cyprus for 2018

With 48 years of experience, Sunvil is the leading Greece & Cyprus specialist, offering an unmatched collection of immersive holidays to more than 330 hand-picked properties across the Greek mainland, islands and Cyprus.

Expert independent specialist Sunvil’s new 2018 Greece & Cyprus brochure features an ever-increasing range of holidays to the more authentic, lesser-seen areas of both countries. New additions for 2018 reinforce Sunvil’s position as the most comprehensive and flexible Greece and Cyprus specialist in the UK.

New 2018 highlights include the little-known island of Kimolos, in the western Cyclades, with a wonderful twin-centre option with nearby Milos; beautiful new properties, from modern self-catering apartments to five-star luxury boutique hotels; an expanded range of itineraries in Greece including activity and cultural holidays for travellers who enjoy walking, cooking, painting and more; and the relatively unknown Macedonian region of Pieria, home to mysterious Mount Olympus, new to Sunvil’s 2018 collection.

Dudley der Parthog, Greece Director, comments: “Every year we extensively research and find the lesser-known, authentic spots and new ways to travel to destinations. Our new additions to the collection in 2018 mean that holiday-makers can explore unspoilt beaches, mix with the locals, relax in luxurious boutique hotels, enjoy time with the children in safe, family-friendly resorts, and see a more authentic side to the most popular destinations.

“All of our guests can enjoy not just the warmest of welcomes from our team out in resort, but also our expert back-up and the reassurance of our ABTA and ATOL protection should the unforeseen happen.”

UNDISCOVERED IDYLLS – NEW PROPERTIES – NEW INSIGHT WEEKS IN GREECE AND PRIVATE TOURS IN ATHENS

UNDISCOVERED IDYLLS

KIMOLOS, WESTERN CYCLADES ISLANDS – an unspoilt volcanic island
Classic whitewashed buildings, labyrinthine lanes and charming tavernas await visitors to the little-known island of Kimolos. This off-the-beaten track enclave offers a little piece of your own private paradise, with beautifully serene beaches, aquamarine waters and volcanic landscapes. A thirty-minute ferry ride from nearby Milos, combining the two islands, makes for an excellent twin-centre holiday option. The only of Milos’s three satellite islands to be inhabited, Kimolos is only just starting to see a growth in tourism, but remains a quiet, traditional destination, offering an authentically-Greek island escape.

Sunvil offers two accommodation options in Kimolos’s main town of Chorio. Both smart, modern properties are a short walk from the shallow, crystal waters of Psathi beach. Mikro Parisi is a newly-built residence with five sea-view rooms and a delicious breakfast featuring ingredients from the owner’s very own organic farm, while the brand new Echinousa Apartments offer spacious accommodation in stylishly-decorated two-floor maisonettes just 100 metres from Psathi’s beautiful shingled beach.
Stay at Mikro Parisi from £824 pp (two sharing) bed and breakfast, or at Echinousa Apartments from £797 pp (two sharing) self-catered, both including seven nights’ accommodation, return flights (Gatwick) and transfers.

PIERIA, GREEK MAINLAND – home of Mount Olympus
The Macedonian region of Pieria, in northern Greece, is relatively-unheard of other than by those who visit the area intending to climb Mount Olympus, but this stunning agricultural region has much to offer, from impressive prehistoric settlements and UNESCO World Heritage sites to mountain retreats and small-scale wineries. Pieria is characterised by its extensive plains, high mountains and 60km of coastline, boasting sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and charming fishing harbours, with Mount Olympus and its environs containing more flora than France, Holland and Belgium combined. A food-lover’s dream destination, Pieria’s local cuisine makes the most of the bounty from the sea and mountains, and one is never far from the nearest quaint fish taverna.

Sunvil offers a range of hotels on Pieria’s Litochoro Coast to suit a variety of requirements and budgets. The five-star Cavo Olympo Luxury Hotel is a chic and intimate property set in lush surroundings amongst ancient olive trees, with sea-view terraces, three luxurious swimming pools and spa facilities. The four-star Litochoro Olympus Resort is located on a stunning beach below Mount Olympus, with 43 rooms and a handful of suites, and accessibility to nearby outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, diving and hiking.
Stay at Cavo Olympo Luxury Hotel from £835 pp (two sharing), or Litochoro Olympus Resort from £760 pp (two sharing), both including seven nights’ B&B accommodation, return flights (Gatwick) and transfers. (Please note that overall transfer cost savings of £398 per booking are achieved with car hire from Thessalonika airport).

NEW PROPERTIES

IMARET HOTEL, KAVALA – unique hotel in new destination in Greek Macedonia
New to Sunvil’s programme, historic Kavala in northern Greece is a fascinating Macedonian city off the regular tourist trail and home to the impressive Imaret Hotel, justifiably one of Greece’s most famous. Built in 1817 within a preserved Islamic building, this unique hotel houses 26 beautifully-appointed rooms and suites surrounded by inner gardens, marble arcades, high-domed ceilings and water features, and boasts a rooftop terrace, an upmarket restaurant, and a serene spa and hammam. In the heart of the old town overlooking the historical port, Imaret is a peaceful oasis just a short taxi ride away from the nearest beach and 16 kilometres from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Philippi.  Sunvil also offers a delightful twin-centre option with Thassos or Olymbiada in Halkidiki.
Stay at Imaret Hotel from £1,458 pp (two sharing), including seven nights’ accommodation (room only), return flights (Gatwick) and transfers.

SERENISSIMA BOUTIQUE HOTEL, CHANIA – Venetian architecture and luxury comforts
Located within the quaint narrow alleys of the old Venetian town of Chania, on Crete’s north west coast, this luxury boutique hotel is a few minutes’ walk from the town’s buzzing restaurant-lined harbour. The lovingly-restored building contains original features including Venetian-period arches and an Ottoman Hammam, and houses seven luxurious rooms and open-plan suites, as well as a unique restaurant offering creative Mediterranean cuisine.
Stay at Serenissima Boutique Hotel from £1,127 pp (two sharing), including seven nights’ B&B accommodation, return flights (Gatwick) and transfers.

KASTRO HOUSES, KARDAMILI – contemporary designs, fragrant olive groves and azure seas
Tucked away in an olive grove, this collection of four detached stone-built houses is a delightful short stroll away from the azure blue seas of Kardamili’s white pebble beach. Boasting spacious and contemporary interiors, each house has its own peaceful private terrace and is equipped with all the conveniences for a self-sufficient stay. A warm welcome from the property’s owner awaits, with the option to relax with delicious meals hand-delivered to your door, or to indulge in home-cooked cuisine in the charming restaurant handily-located behind the residences.
Stay at Kastro Houses from £933 pp (two sharing) or £875 pp (four sharing), including seven nights’ self-catering accommodation, return flights (Gatwick) and transfers.

GRAND BRETAGNE HOTEL, NAFPLION – old-style glamour in historical Nafplion
An opulent residence in Nafplion’s old town, this four-star hotel overlooks the charming port area. Housed in a nineteenth-century neoclassical building, this palatial hotel is designed with rich décor and features friendly, traditional service. With its mix of Venetian, Turkish and neoclassical architecture, historic attractions and bustling waterfront, Nafplion is a fascinating place to base oneself for a week’s holiday. Nearby Tolon is a small but thriving family-friendly beach resort, where Blue Flag swimming and free bike and motor boat hire await.
Stay at Grand Bretagne Hotel from £1,099 pp (two sharing), including seven nights’ B&B accommodation, return flights (Gatwick) and transfers.

NEW ITINERARIES

INSIGHT WEEK ON WESTERN CRETE – take part in Cretan life and culture
Unspoiled western Crete, with its beautiful countryside, rich culinary heritage, traditional villages and ancient sites, is the perfect location for experiencing authentic Greece as the locals live it. Sunvil is pleased to be offering a one-week holiday with a mix of activities, visits and hands on demonstrations so you can truly immerse yourself in Cretan culture. Explore the island’s varied terrain by foot, take part in traditional dancing, boat to remote lagoons, visit archaeological museums, and learn about the island’s foodie traditions with visits to a winery, olive oil factory and cooking lessons in a village taverna.
Travelling in June or September, a seven-night insight holiday on western Crete with B&B accommodation, activities as described, and return flights (Gatwick) costs from £1,376 pp (two sharing).

PRIVATE TOURS FROM ATHENS – get to know authentic Greece
For visitors to Athens who want to explore a lesser-seen side to this well-trodden metropolis and its surrounding areas, Sunvil’s new private tours offer the perfect opportunity to ditch the organised coach trip and get under the skin of the area in your own privately-driven Mercedes minivan. The services of a locally-based official tour guide are an optional extra, and Sunvil’s carefully-appointed English-speaking guides are hospitable and friendly, showing travellers their authentic Greece. Popular day trips include Athens, Cape Sounion, Delphi, Marathon, Corinth and Argolis, with options for longer, bespoke trips which can also go further afield to, for example, the south Peloponnese and Monemvasia.
A sample bespoke package – a seven-night holiday for a group of four – including two nights in Athens, one night in Nafplion, two nights in Dimitsana, one night in Olympia and one night in Delphi, with three-to-four-star B&B accommodation, private minivan with driver, return flights (Gatwick) and transfers, costs from £1,409 pp (four sharing). Entrance fees and guiding on site not included.

To request Sunvil’s new 2018 Greece & Cyprus brochure, call 020 8758 4747 or visit www.sunvil.co.uk for a pdf copy downloadable by island/section. To speak to a Greece or Cyprus expert, call 020 8758 4758.