Sports and Activities
Time passes pleasantly in Pieria for those who love sport.
The sea is ideal for a wide range of water sports. The golden sandy beaches combine with mountainous landscapes, gorges, rivers and the remarkable ski center.
Water sports
Extreme Sports
Rock climbing and skiing
Water sports
Pieria has a wide range of beaches, each with visible differences from the others. Various activities are on offer to sports lovers depending on the features of the landscape and what’s more all can be enjoyed in one day due to the short distances involved. Why not try swimming, windsurfing, water skiing, jet skiing, pedaloes, canoeing, yachting, and scuba diving with the assistance of experienced divers.
Activities utilizing altitudinal differences
Near Profitis Ilias Church in the village of Paleos Panteleimonas there is a take off strip used for para-gliding and hang-gliding. Athletes are greeted with a sublime view. Touch down is on the beach.
Extreme Sports
Traveling along quiet forest roads, along isolated paths where only the sound of nature can be heard, lovers of adventure can engage in mountain biking or horse riding. At the river delta why not enjoy the enchanting routes with an all terrain vehicle and meet up with lovers of waterways on their inflatable dinghies. In addition to the natural slopes of Mount Olympus and the Pieria Mountain Range there are also artificial climbing rock faces at the Litochoro Sports Center and the Katerini Mountaineering Club.
Rock climbing and skiing
At Elatohori there is an organized ski center with a central piste of 2.300 meters, a peripheral piste 4.800 m long and a beginner’s one 250 m long.
Elatochori Ski Center
The ski resort of Pieria
The Ski Center of Elatochori is located in the Pieria Mountains, at an altitude of 1,450 meters and reaches up to 1,974 meters. It is located at “Papa Chorafi”, on the northeast side of the mountain, 8 km from Elatochori and 36 from Katerini. There, one can find, chalet and ski equipment stores, while the Center also has a doctor’s office.
The Ski Center of Elatochori offers all kinds of related activities, having ten slopes, with a total length, along with the routes that connect them, of about 12 kilometers. The slopes vary in altitude and degree of difficulty, accommodating beginners and advanced skiers, while there are separate slopes for snowboarding and sledding. Nearby are taverns and restaurants, with the main attraction being the traditional settlement in Elatochori, which is an impressive example of architectural integration of the houses with the beautiful nature of the mountain of Muses, while the whole surrounding area is famous for its mountaineering and hiking trails.
Paragliding in Palaios Panteleimonas
An Exceptional Location with Spacious Takeoff Points
Palaios Panteleimonas, a picturesque village on the slopes of Mount Olympus, is renowned not only for its traditional architecture and stunning views but also for the excellent conditions it offers for paragliding. Situated at an altitude of approximately 700 meters, it provides an ideal location for this exhilarating sport.
The area features spacious takeoff points, particularly from the “Kastro” site, where paragliders can enjoy breathtaking views of the Thermaic Gulf, the coastline of Pieria, and the surrounding Olympus region. During the flight, paragliders are treated to a panoramic view of the natural landscape, including forests, traditional villages, and the sea. The favorable aerodynamic conditions of Mount Olympus allow pilots to experience long and enjoyable flights.
Palaios Panteleimonas is a popular destination for paragliding enthusiasts from across Greece and abroad. Additionally, courses and training programs are organized for beginners who wish to learn the sport. The paragliding experience can be combined with exploring the village, which offers traditional accommodations, taverns serving local delicacies, and hiking trails.
For sports enthusiasts!
