Camping Drepanos

It's less than 15 minutes' drive from here to the busy port city of Igoumenitsa, for ferries to Corfu and Paxous in Greece; Avlona in Albania; and Brindisi, Bari, Ancona, Venice and Trieste in Italy. For a peaceful and scenic day trip, drive to the long sheltered beaches and secret coves of Sivota (31 kilometres), or rent a boat to get out to the green islands and islets scattered around its coastline, such as Mavro Oros, Agios Nikolaos and Mourtemeno. Within 50 kilometres, you should also make time for a stroll around the cobblestone streets and arches of Parga's colourful Old Town, with its Venetian castle and walls, or hit the waterfront's restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. Parga also has several beaches, such as Krioneri, Piso-Krioneri, Valtos, Lychnos, Agios Giannakis and Sarakiniko, where you can explore sea caves, go island hopping and try out watersports such as sailing, swimming, diving, waterskiing and windsurfing. Further afield, go hiking and wildlife spotting in Pindus National Park or Valia-Kalda, a beaut land covered by dense forests of European black pine and common beech, rocky ridges, mountain streams and freshwater lakes – and inhabited by around 350 brown bears.