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A race that differs from all other races is about to start in the Peloponnese. Two teams with entirely different vehicles will start going around the Peloponnese, after a modest ceremony at Ancient Olympia. The first team (Team Discover-Peloponnese.com)  has a catamaran racing boat and the second (Team Artisan Travel) is comprised of six experienced bicyclists. Different route, different difficulties, but one goal. To showcase the beautiful Peloponnese as one of the top tourist destinations in Greece and especially in the alternative tourism sector.

The idea was born in Tripoli by Mr. Christos Panagiotopoulos, owner of a business that specializes in alternative tourism. AKS Porto Heli Hotel is a proud sponsor of this effort and, furthermore, on September 14, during this very demanding race, it will host a meeting with the protagonists of the race. This race, known as the Peloponnesian Challenge Race, will be an endurance test for the bikers and the sailors alike. The bicyclists will start from Olympia and head west first. They will cover 1500 kilometers through some of the most majestic forests, mountains and coasts of the Peloponnese. The route will take them to Old Epidaurus, Porto Heli, Monemvasia and elsewhere, in other words, to some of the most important sights in the Peloponnese, but also Greece itself. At the same time, the catamaran will start from the Katakolo harbor and follow a similar course (in parallel to the coast, of course) and in many harbors the crew might be able to meet the bicyclists. Their route will be 550 nautical miles (that is around 1020 kilometers, but as a seafaring people the Greeks should know that for sea routes only nautical miles are used). And if you’re wondering why there is such a difference, the secret lies in the elevation differences that the bikers will face, but also the fact that the boat will be mainly going straight; weather permitting, of course, since the sea winds in Greece are mercurial and can prove pretty harsh for the sailors. The race may be friendly and have as a goal to promote the Peloponnese, as well as some higher ideals, like athletic spirit, but this doesn’t mean that the teams don’t want to win. So, we’re expecting an exciting match and AKS Porto Heli Hotels feel proud that they can support such a noble goal that will help our beloved Peloponnese. Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Porto Heli

Argolida is famous for its ancient sites, since it’s been inhabited since the prehistoric years. This is what happened in the bay of Koilada in Argolida, a beautiful village just a few minutes away from Porto Heli, where a settlement was found that dates back to the Bronze Age and the third millennium BC.

The research was conducted by the Ministry of Culture and the University of Geneva, with the use of a state of the art solar boat, Planet Solar, and it first focused on the area around the prehistoric settlement in Frahthi cave (we have often written about both in the past).

The settlement that was found in the water of Koilada and Labayannas beach is very impressive for the archeologists both for its size and also for its fortifications, traces of which show that they had a size never before witnessed in Greece. Also found were traces of cobblestone streets.

Even though this research started in order to find traces of the oldest settlement in Europe, which they estimate to be around 8000 years old, the archeologists welcome such a discovery since it will shed light on the life and the commercial activities of the people of the era.

Porto Heli also has an underwater town, the ancient Alieis. Beautiful Argolida never seizes to amaze us!

Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Porto Heli – Hinitsa Bay

Let’s just admit it from the beginning: Mycenae in Argolida is the most beautiful archeological site in Greece. Few others combine modern facilities with a trip to the past and a sense of awe. If you’re en route from Porto Heli to Athens, or vice versa, one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself is a detour towards Mycenae (the extra drive will be about half an hour). The other great gift is a detour to Epidaurus, even though it is hard to combine both, but not impossible. What is it that makes Mycenae so special? Besides how ancient the space is, since even for the Greeks of the classical era, this area would be considered inhabited in their own distant past, the grandeur and the myth of Mycenae become obvious on your every step. After you leave your car at the base of the site (though you have already driven past Agamemnon’s tomb – more on that in a while), you’ll start climbing the hill. The tombs, the palaces, the cyclopean walls, the lions’ gate, and the paths you can follow, all will show you the genius that went into constructing Mycenae. The greatest impression was made by the choice of location by the Greeks of the time. On one side, the view is kilometers long, towards the valley, so the invaders can be spotted immediately and from afar. On the other side, there’s a ravine and inaccessible cliffs, so the palace cannot be surrounded. If you go at a time with fewer visitors and find yourselves at a forking path, don’t hesitate. Take the one less traveled by. You won’t get lost, but you’ll find yourselves circling around the ruins, thus being offered a different viewpoint of the space. The highlight of the hill, however, are the waterworks and the cistern. A dark tunnel leads deeper and deeper into the ground and scares away those who have gone in unprepared. If you don’t have a good flashlight (and we don’t mean the flashlight on your cellphone), don’t try it; at some point, you’ll have to get back. After you climb down the hill and see the museum, that’s when you should visit Agamemnon’s tomb, a bit down the road. It is impossible to realize how impressive the construction is just by looking at the pictures. The stones are enormous, the beehive tomb very tall and we can only imagine how imposing it would be with all its decorations when it was first built. For all these reasons, Mycenae might as well be the most beautiful archeological site in Greece. When you’re at Porto Heli, try to make the time and visit it. Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Hinitsa Bay

Saturday, September 12, 2015 will be the highlight of the celebrations for the Spetses Armata, a phantasmagoric spectacle that every year grabs the interest of thousands of people who want to watch the reenactment of the naval battle that took place on September 8, 1822. The celebrations will last all week with various cultural events, like theater and traditional dances, as well as events of historical interest, but, without doubt, the most appealing part of Spetses Armata is the reenactment itself, since it’s a spectacle that sets the water on fire! Dozens of small and big boats are used for the Armata, while the residents use as many fireworks as possible, fireworks that will be launched from these boats in order to show the setting on fire of the Turkish fleet. You can watch the Armata from the Spetses coast, but that is not the best way to do it. If you’re at Porto Heli, we would suggest you get a hydrotaxi or get on a boat with a group of people. They will take you to open waters, a bit farther away from where the people of Spetses have prepared the reenactment. In the total darkness of the sea, with thousands of stars hanging above you, you’ll see that all of a sudden everything is illuminated, the water is glowing. Now that is the proper way to enjoy the Armata! Of course, there is an emotional weight to the event, since it refers to the titanic effort of the Greeks during the Revolution to win against the Turkish fleet, which was much superior in numbers. A week of amazing spectacles can definitely instill in people’s minds the sacrifices that the Greeks of the past had to make so the country can now be free. The second Saturday of September is a time when many people go to Spetses and Porto Heli. The weather still belongs in the summer and the vacations can be combined with the celebrations. The Spetses Armata is an experience that you’ll keep for life.

AKS Hotels will show once more their love for culture and will become sponsors of the Second Theater Festival “Performances at Ermionida”. The festival will take place from August 21 until September 20, under the artistic guidance of Kostas Georgousopoulos. AKS Hotels are synonymous to Porto Heli, Ermionida and Argolida and that is the reason they will take under their wing this important event in a place that has loved theater since the antiquity – let us not forget that Epidaurus is very close. The event is being organized by the Ermionida Theater Club and will take place at multispace ARTiki “Maraike Iliou de Konig” at Kranidi, the main town of the area, just a few minutes away from Porto Heli. The program is expected to be magnificent, since it consists exclusively of female monologues that will be interpreted by nine of the top actresses of Greek theater: Lena Papaligoura, Katerina Didaskalou, Tatou Dede, Iro Mane, Mina Cheimona, Aglaia Papa, Pemi Zouni, Elina Rizou, Anna Vaghena. According to Mr. Georgousopoulos, the festival aims at introducing people to good theater and that is a goal that AKS hotels are proud to support. The festival plans to become a top cultural institution that will help culture grow and spread in Ermionida. The festival “Performances at Ermionida” isn’t just about theater, however. The program opens with a musical performance, a concert dedicated to the great Manos Hadjidakis, where Elli Paspala and Tasos Christogiannopoulos will be singing. The program of the theatrical performances is as follows: 23/8 “Caterina”, by August Corteau, with Lena Papaligoura 26/8 “Upstairs Whore”, by Antonis Tsipanitis, with Katerina Didaskalou 2/9 “Lilith, a string of ancient drama monologues, with Tatou Dede 4/9 “Notary”, by Nikos Vasileiadis with Iro Mane 6/9 “The Invisible Chain”, by Carlos Ferrera, with Mina Cheimona 11/9 “Julius”, by Constantinos Hatzis, with Aglaia Papa 13/9 “Centuries away from Alaska”, by Akis Dimou, with Pemi Zouni 18/9 “Βitch boxer”, by Charlotte Josephine, with Elina Rizou 20/9 “The Wedding”, by Vasia Solomou-Xanthaki, with Anna Vaghena Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Porto Heli

Porto Heli might be in continental Greece, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t have island vacations in it. Yes, it’s very easy to get to it by car from Athens and, sure, within ten minutes you can be in the mountains and forests of Argolida, but one of the greatest advantages of Porto Heli as a vacation destination is that it gives you a sense that you’re on an island, as well as makes it all too easy to visit some of the most famous Saronikos islands for a daily trip. Spetses From the pier of AKS Hinitsa Bay you can hire a hydrotaxi that will take you across to Spetses in just a few minutes. Alternatively, from the Porto Heli harbor and Costa coast, a 10-minute drive away, there are regular routes that can take you to the majestic and aristocratic island of Spetses. The island is not only historical for its role in the Greek revolution of 1821, it also belongs to one of the oldest island vacation destinations, since people have preferred it for decades, long before other Greek islands became famous. Good, but few, beaches will be waiting for you, along with good food and, mainly, a beautiful town that invites you to walk around in it. Hydra Hydra is another gem of the Saronikos gulf and also very easy to visit from Porto Heli. You’ll take the ferry (conventional or fast) from the harbor or you’ll head to Metohi where other options are available. Hydra is an experience you can’t miss. Cars are prohibited on the island and you’ll go everywhere on donkeys, hydrotaxis or even bikes. Of course, what we would suggest is simply to enjoy the town of Hydra on foot, wander in its narrow streets and next to its little houses. Hydra has its share of beaches, though this is not what it is famous for. If you’re looking for a beautiful trip during your stay at Porto Heli, then Hydra should be high up in your list. Poros The same ferry that will take you to Spetses and Hydra can reach all the way to Poros (just check the routes to make sure). The other option would be to go to Galatas by car and then swim to Poros. OK, we weren’t really serious about that last detail, but the distance is so short that you’ll think you can easily do it. Just in case, however, take a hydrotaxi. Poros is full of sights and beautiful beaches, but don’t forget to have lunch in one of its amazing little taverns. You won’t regret it. A boat trip If you want something more than the obvious islands of the area, the seas around Porto Heli are filled with smaller islands that hide beautiful areas and amazing beaches. To the south of Spetses, there is Spetsopoula, that has some basic infrastructure. An especially interesting trip is Dokos, northwest of Hydra. Just like Spetsopoula, it has very few permanent residents, but it is famous for the wonderful vistas it offers and the free camping that so many people do at the north beach of the island. If you’re interested in fishing, you may be able to go into deeper waters and head to Psili in the Argolic Gulf or Trikeri, between Spetses and Hydra. If you don’t own a boat, try to strike a deal with the hydrotaxis in the area, so you can take a little trip to the less famous waters around Porto Heli. Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Porto Heli

The AKS Hotels are among the first that brought all-inclusive offers to Greece. They now have the tradition, the quality and the experience in hospitality to be able to offer excellent all-inclusive services, so their guests can enjoy without any worries their vacation. At Porto Heli, Paros and Crete, AKS Hotels will let you enjoy the landscapes and beauty of Greece, while they are taking care of every little detail of your stay. But what are these all-inclusive services and what do they mean? What are all-inclusive services? They are exactly what you imagine. During your stay at the hotel, you don’t have to arrange anything. All your meals, all your needs in beverages, soft drinks, beer and wine between the meals (during the room-service hours) are covered by our hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available at our hotel and are included in the room price, if you have made an all-inclusive booking. This way you will be able to enjoy:

• American style buffet breakfast
• Rich buffet lunch with “show cooking” (self-service)
• Rich buffet dinner with “show cooking” (self-service)

Also included are:

• Beer from the tap, white wine, red wine
• Soft drinks, juice, water
• Filter coffee, Greek coffee Nescafe, Frappe
• Beverages
• Ice cream

Our all-inclusive services don’t end with your meals, but you can enjoy its advantages even among the meals. From 10.00 to 23.00 you can make the best of our hotels’ services and order, without extra charges, everything that is already offered with the meals, that is:

• Beer from the tap, white wine, red wine
• Soft drinks, juice, water
• Filter coffee, Greek coffee Nescafe, Frappe
• Beverages
• Ice cream

Why choose an all-inclusive stay at AKS Hotels? You will choose an all-inclusive stay

• because you want to have your peace of mind
• because you want to explore the areas around the hotel, without being stressed about where to eat and if you’re going to find a decent place for your meal
• because you want to enjoy the beach and our pool knowing that you can have anything you need at any given moment
• because out staff’s experience will satisfy your every need
• because AKS Hotels know how to offer only the best to their guests.

So, do not hesitate at all; book now an all-inclusive stay at AKS Hotels and enjoy your summer. Peloponnese All Inclusive Hotels – AKS Porto Heli

Porto Heli is a village that combines everything. Majestic beaches, impressive mountains, ancient sights and nearby trips to villages and monuments that belong to the most beautiful ones in Greece.

And yet, Porto Heli itself is a nearby trip, since it’s so close to Athens; to get there you only need a bit more than a two-hour drive, which is how long it’ll take to cover about 160 kilometers. Of course, we would suggest a small detour to see the ancient theater of Epidaurus.

The cost in tolls and gas will be small, since the route after Corinthia is along country (and amazing) routes, and a full tank is more than enough to get there and come back, as well as make short trips to the wonderful towns around Porto Heli, like Ermioni, Aghios Aimilanos and Koilada and so many others.
And if you book an all-inclusive package, you will have complete control of your expenses, since AKS Hotels will make sure that you and your family will have unlimited snacks and beverages during your stay.

Once more the rich and famous of the globe rush to Porto Heli for their vacations. This time, the beaches of this beautiful town of Argolida are hosting one of the most beloved couples in sports and show business. Gerard Piqué, the Barcelona FC football player, and Shakira, the singer from Colombia and one of the biggest names in the world of music today, chose Porto Heli and its amazing beaches for a few days of happiness and relaxation. The news might have not become known if Piqué hadn’t uploaded on instagram a distant picture of the two spending some time of peace and quiet at a secluded beach, which many of their followers in the particular social medium recognized as one that can be found very close to magical Porto Heli. Unfortunately, Piqué and Shakira are very busy people, as it always happens with those that are at the top of their professions, and it seems that their vacation will be very short. This might deprive us of the opportunity to see them somewhere or even run into them, say at the central beach of Porto Heli or the bars of the town. We definitely wish, however, that they have a grand time and, at some point, return to the Riviera of Greece, as Porto Heli is also known.

If you take a look at the map, Aghios Aimilianos is just off the main road that connects Porto Heli and Ermioni. A small peninsula juts off the coast of Argolida, a street separates from the central artery and goes down to it and another, a bit farther ahead, returns to it and leads straight to Ermioni. Sounds pretty simple, right? We decided to make it a bit more difficult and go to Aghios Aimilianos from Costa Coast (where you can take the ferry to Spetses, although you can do the same by taking a hydrotaxi at AKS Hotels). Our plan was simple; we will follow the beach road and at some point we’ll get to Aghios Aimilianos. If only things were so easy. What we hadn’t kept in mind was that Argolida is, in many places, like a seaside mountain. The roads don’t go everywhere, the towns and the villages are built in the small valleys strewn around the area and going from one place to the next doesn’t always include the shortest route. We won’t say that we regretted our decision, however. While going there, we saw some amazing places, wonderful beaches that had no name, little taverns just where the wave breaks, but the greatest gift of all is Aghios Aimilianos itself. And we’re talking both about the church and the commune. If we were simply lost going to Aghios Aimilianos, when we reached the commune, one could say that we entered a different, labyrinthine world. Cement streets took turns without intersecting, one hill came after the other, each greener than the one before, just when you thought you had reached the sea, the road would take you away from it, dirt roads would appear without warning. After a while, we finally reached the church of Aghios Aimilianos, a beautiful chapel that stands tall, defiant of the waves. We’re not sure which side has the better view. Towards the sea and the Saronikos islands or towards the commune with the huge trees and the imposing houses? Getting out proved an even bigger adventure. The horizon and the GPS weren’t of much help and when we finally found another car to ask for directions, it turned out that the driver also wanted to ask us a question. But Aghios Aimilianos is immensely beautiful and it holds a certain mystery, especially when you’re driving next to tall fences for hundreds of meters. And so that you’re not left wondering, we came out safe and sound and went on our journey to Ermioni. Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Porto Heli