Axladitsa Avatakia (Αχλαδιτσα Αβατακια) is located in the southern region of the peninsula of Pelion, Thessaly, Greece.  Axladitsa is in a very rural location and travel from Volos, Thessaloniki and Athens airports takes are 2.5, 4.5 and 6 hours respectively.

Travelling to Axladitsa involves several steps and we invite you to see your pathway of arriving and departing as part of your overall journey/pilgrimage, and as a way of getting to know Greece/Hellas (Ηελλασ) a little more!

In general, our visitors fly in to one of the main airports, take the bus to Volos which is closest big city to us, then a second bus to the village of Platania where will will come and pick you up and take you to your Kastri accommodation or to Axladitsa!

From overseas you will fly into:
Thessaloniki http://www.thessalonikiairport.gr the closest in the north
Athens http://www.athensairport-2001.gr in the south
Volos http://www.volosairport.gr/en/flights-en-menu.html
Skiathos http://www.greeka.com/sporades/skiathos/island/skiathos-airport.htm, one of the Sporades islands just off the coast.  You can either catch the care ferry that goes to Volos, and come down the pelion peninsula by bus, or come by pre-ordered ‘water taxi’ to Kato Georgi or Platania, bays close to Axladitsa. 

When you get to your airport of choice, there are different possibilities about your onward travel to Axladitsa.  Whichever choice you make, you need to allow plenty of time.  If you wish to arrive at Axladitsa on the evening of your day of travel, you will need to arrive no later than 11.00am in Thessaloniki or 8.00am in Athens.  Alternatively you may wish to arrive in Greece one or two days early and visit other places. There are two good youth hostels that we would recommend as well – The Student and Travellers Inn http://www.studenttravellersinn.com and Athens Backpackers http://www.backpackers.gr/

The choices for transport to Axladitsa are:
Public Transport – By bus - The bus system is very efficient.  You will travel from Thessaloniki or Athens to Volos, and then you will transfer to a bus from Volos to Platania, where we will come to meet you.  Bus timetables are listed overleaf.  For rail travel - check the website here – www.ose.gr
Taxi – we can book a taxi to collect you at Volos which will cost about  70 – let us know if you would like us to arrange this.  A taxi from Volos will be approximately €110.  (For those of you who have travelled this way before – yes it is more expensive than before, but this is due to the fuel price and VAT increases).

By car from Thessaloniki or Athens – details and directions are listed overleaf.  If you are happy to share transport with others who are gathering at the same time at Axladitsa, please let us know your flight details and we will connect you, to share both travel and cost.

Kalo Tαxiδι/Good trip!!

Public Transport from Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη)

Bus Travel – see timetables below for details of buses from Thessaloniki to Volos, our nearest city. In Volos you will then catch the local bus to Platania (a 2-hour journey), our nearest fishing port, where we will greet you. 

1.  Take link bus from Airport to the Ktel Macedonia Bus Terminal: Karakasi 68, Harilaou.  There is a ticket office just outside the airport building.  This will cost around €6.55, or take a taxi for around €20.  The journey takes about an hour.

2.  From the Bus Terminal, take the bus to Volos (Βόλου).  This will cost €18 one-way and €32 return.

ê Not Sundays

3.  Take the local bus from Volos (Βόλου) to Platania (Πλατανιά).  This will cost €6 each-way.

• Greeted in Platania JJ – and taken either to Kastri accommodation or to Axladitsa.

Public Transport from Athens (Αθήνα)

Bus Travel – see timetables below for details of buses from Athens to Volos which is our nearest city. In Volos you will then catch the local bus to Platania (a 2-hour journey), our nearest fishing port, where we will greet you. 

1. Take the Metro from Athens Airport to ΣΥΝΤΑΓΜΑ – Syntagma (Central Athens) - €8 one-way, then catch a taxi to Liosion 260 Coach Station; or take the X95 bus (€3.20 one-way) From the Athens Airport to Syntagma, (€5) then a taxi to the Coach Station (10 one-way).

2.  From the Coach Station, take the bus to Volos (Βόλου).  This will cost €27.40 one-way and €47.00 return.

ê Sunday & Holidays
c Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

3. Take the local bus from Volos (Βόλου) to Platania (Πλατανιά). Website:  http://www.ktelvolou.gr/

Greeted in Platania  – and taken either to your Kastri accommodation or to Axladitsa.

Directions by road from Thessaloniki to Axladitsa-Avatakia

If you are planning to rent a car at one of the airports, it’s probably best to book this with your flight. Some airlines have deals with car rental companies.  Alternatively, Economy Car Hire is a possible choice, as they do deals with all the car rental companies to get a good price.  Check out www.economycarhire.com

From Thessaloniki Airport:

• Take ‘all routes’ out of the airport.  Look out for Green highway sign I-90, heading south towards Larissa, Lamia, Athens (any of these names take you in the right direction!!)
• Take the E-75 – towards Larissa, then to Volos.
• Follow signs to the Volos centre: This takes you into the main shopping district – just keep going straight until the road bends sharp left and then right – you will now be leaving the centre of town.  You will come to a set of lights – turn right towards Pelion – here you will find the sea on your right.  You are now leaving Volos.
• You are now approximately 1.5 hours from Axladitsa Avatakia
• Leaving Volos, you will see a large cement factory on your left – keep going straight – through the village of Agria and then a series of small villages: Kala Nero, Kato Lehonia, etc. – just keep going straight – do not turn left to Visitsa or Milies.  Stay on this road
• You will come to where there will be a large sign overhead – Tsangarada & other names – take the right turn to Argalasti.
• The road begins to get windy – eventually you go through the town of Argalasti.  Keep going straight.
• 5 minutes beyond Argalasti, you will come to a point where you can either go right towards Trikeri or left to Metoxi – go left.  You will go through Metoxi – the road narrows through the village so be careful.
• Once out of the village – just keep going straight – you will come to a village called Lafko with a large church tower – keep going straight
• Just as you come out of the village of Lafko – there is a turning to the left to Promyri, Kastri – do not go straight on to Milina.
• About 10 – 15 minutes of windy road – look out for a road to your right signposted Platania, Kastri.  Do not go straight into Promyri.  Then keep on this road, until you come to a sharp bend in the road with a turning to your left - Kastri – take this left turn.
• You are now very close to the land – 2 km – on your right hand side you will see some green garbage bins at a large intersection of three roads – opposite these green bins is a dirt road to Axladitsa – you pass a little stone house on your right – you will come to our gate – you have arrived!
• Keep taking the drive down until you come to the house – park – and come and give us big hugs!!!
  

Directions by road from Athens to Axladitsa-Avatakia

If you are planning to rent a car at one of the airports, it’s probably best to book this with your flight. Some airlines have deals with car rental companies.  Alternatively, Economy Car Hire is a possible choice, as they do deals with all the car rental companies to get a good price.  Check out www.economycarhire.com

From Athens Airport:

• Take ‘all routes’ out of the airport – this leads onto a motorway signposted Athens, etc.  Look out for Green highway sign saying Lamia – I-75 – take the turning to get onto the highway
• Stay on this highway for approximately 3.5 hours until the Volos exit is signposted on your right.  Take this exit – and stay on this road – following signs to Volos
• Follow signs to the Volos centre: This takes you into the main shopping district – just keep going straight until the road bends sharp left and then right – you will now be leaving the centre of town.  You will come to a set of lights – turn right towards Pelion – here you will find the sea on your right.  You are now leaving Volos.
• You are now approximately 1.5 hours from Axladitsa Avatakia
• Leaving Volos, you will see a large cement factory on your left – keep going straight – through the village of Agria and then a series of small villages: Kala Nero, Kato Lehonia, etc. – just keep going straight – do not turn left to Visitsa or Milies.  Stay on this road
• You will come to where there will be a large sign overhead – Tsangarada & other names – take the right turn to Argalasti.
• The road begins to get windy – eventually you go through the town of Argalasti.  Keep going straight.
• 5 minutes beyond Argalasti, you will come to a point where you can either go right towards Trikeri or left to Metoxi – go left.  You will go through Metoxi – the road narrows through the village so be careful.
• Once out of the village – just keep going straight – you will come to a village called Lafko with a large church tower – keep going straight
• Just as you come out of the village of Lafko – there is a turning to the left to Promyri, Kastri – do not go straight on to Milina.
• About 10 – 15 minutes of windy road – look out for a road to your right signposted Platania, Kastri.  Do not go straight into Promyri.  Then keep on this road, until you come to a sharp bend in the road with a turning to your left - Kastri – take this left turn.
• You are now very close to the land – 2 km – on your right hand side you will see some green garbage bins at a large intersection of three roads – opposite these green bins is a dirt road to Axladitsa – you pass a little stone house on your right – you will come to our gate – you have arrived!
• Keep taking the drive down until you come to the house –
• park – and come and give us big hugs!!!

Contact details, glossary of Greek names and further information

Contact details:

Axladitsa Landline: +30 2423071293
Maria’s mobile /cell phone: +30 6979112426

Glossary of Greek names:

Further information about Greece:

Check out these websites:

World Atlas.com – www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/gr.htm

The geography of the Pelion peninsula – www.pelion.org/geography/index.asp

Greek National Tourism Organisation – www.visitgreece.gr