Agri-tourism

 The Agri-tourism connects the agriculture with the tourism with reciprocal utility and contributes in the maintenance of an economically active population in the countryside. Thus the farmer acquires income from other sources besides his main employment, while the tourist makes tourism of a familiar character, with low prices, participates in rural work, gets to know the life in the countryside and also takes part in nature activities such as mountaineering, walk, riding, horse riding, etc During the last years it is observed a turn in the interests of world and people turn into activities that are involved in the nature, as means of relaxation, amusement, entertainment and escape from stress and the trouble of cities. Naturalist activities as the walk, the kayak and rafting, the bicycle of mountain and the horse riding have begun to gain continuously more friends. The individuals that select this alternative form of tourism are individuals that seek in their vacations the "formula of Nature - Friendship - Hospitality)" and reject or do not feel that the "formula of Sun - Sea - Sand" express themselves.

The main characteristics of agro-touristic product are:

• The enjoyment of natural environment and the acquaintance with the natural characteristics and the fauna and the flora of each regions. Rural regions that include water biotopes can combine the agro-touristic activity with the so called "tourism of water biotopes" (observation of flora and fauna, creation of centres of environmental education e.t.c.).
• The contact and the acquaintance with the local rural cultural heritage, the culture and customs of the inhabitants, the attendance of local cultural events e.t.c.
• The differentiated offer, high quality of tourist products (eg offer of biological traditional products, products of protected name of origin, protected geographic clue).
• The observation of agricultural activities and probably the participation in them.
• The creation of tourist activities in the countryside (mountaineering, walk, glider e.t.c.).

Goods of agro-touristic lodgings

The goods of agro-touristic lodgings are following:
• Small hotel units - hostels.
• Rented rooms in the houses of rural families.
• Independent rural residences of traditional architecture (that are harmonised with the natural environment).
• Camping in farms, which are not widespread in Greece contrary to certain regions of Europe.

 As it is obvious, the required infrastructure of agri-tourism is of small scale, compairing that of mass tourism. The agri-tourism does not require evolved tourist infrastructure, at least in the first stages of his growth. At the same time, the offer of rural products is abundant, since these are mainly free goods (air, water, nature). Most agro-touristic units have privately-owned coltivations and farms, where they producing biological products of quality exempted from all kinds medicines and chemical with the certificated traditional method. Thus genuine products as cheese and honey, vegetables, olive oil, thyme, sage, rusks,origanum, wine and raki from local grapes and aromatic plants as well as plenty of other products will constitute the main components of your meal, which usually will be cooked from the householder or the owner of the restaurant based on traditional recipes.

 With the ecotourism it is pursued, at least temporarilly, the human need for contact with the natural environment, something that cannot become in the cities with the form of parks, museums, zoo's and spaces of recreation. The activities that can be practised in the frames of ecotourism, are the mountainous walk, the tour in low altitudes, the observation of plants and animals, the peripatetic ski and the cultural activities like as dancing, painting, photograph, cooking e.t.c. Also, are included activities that require special knowledge for the participation, that is often transmitted ad loc or in special meetings before the particular activity, such as wintry ascents of high danger, dives and speleology. In addition there many experts who agree that walking is one of the best ways of exercising because it is easy, it does not require expensive equipment and anybody can do it. It is also beneficial and for the spirit, since it increases the flow of blood to the brain, decreases the stress and stimulates the self-confidence. In the ecotourism all individuals of various ages and incomes can participate. The young individuals seek the adventure with a high degree of independence. The individuals of medium ages are organised in teams with less ambitious objectives and degree of difficulty, and finally, the individuals of higher ages participate in observations of plants and animals or other activities that in general do not require intensive walking.

 A new dimension in environmental tourism is Geotourism.A form of cultural-environmental tourism that can be develop in areas with important geological monuments which are exploited in order to attract visitors with special interests. Geotourism is based on the magic of discovery and the power of authenticity experienced through the contact with the natural heritage of our land.The Greek region constitutes one of the most significant environmental and cultural reserves on Earth, strewn with unique and significant natural geological monuments that are called Geotopes. The Geotopes are the meeting places of elements recording the geological history of each region. They are the irrefutable witnesses of an everlasting evolution of life on Earth, such as volcanoes, caves, gorges, fossilized areas, large geological rifts, ancient mines, geological formations or landscapes chiseled by natural forces throughout the geological ages.

 In the region there are certain characteristic points from which "are unfolded" impressive landscapes (geological shapings, impressive views, green meadows with streams etc). The visitor can enjoy the nature either walking in the paths or moved with car or motorcycle in the existing road network. It is certain that your eve in our Municipality will be a meeting with the absolute calm in an environment of absolute green, immense simplicity. Close to us exists a known world but simultaneously perfectly unknown, full of colours, curious forms and enchanting shading games of light. This beauty is everywhere: at the end of a small branch, in the pebbles of a rillet, over the mixing of two clouds, under a Stone, in each corner. The only thing we need is a photo camera in order to reveal and snapshoot it.

 Why not combine a good dinner with your love sport in the nature? You can also make a break and enjoy a beautiful dinner in the nature, instead of going to the tavern or to the cafe of the next village. There are many outdoor places that a visitor can choose for relaxation and for lunch. Such outdoor spaces can be found near forestal streets, with running water (tap or natural source), with car parking facilities and with wooden seats and tables. Therefore, program your excursion rightly, depending on the number of people that will be participating and their particular preferences, the locality and the duration of excursion, but also the means of transport.
• Leaving we leave the space absolutely clean.
• We gather the garbage and, if there are no waste bins, we take the garbage with us.
• We respect the environment - we do not cut flowers and do not take with us other souvenirs apart from photographs.

 Many visitors combine the visit in the Parnassos mountain with overnight stay in suitable camping places such as this of Lapathia, where they can enjoy the peacefulness of the night in the forest hearing simply the sounds of nature, the unique experience of watching the sunrise in the morning and then continue for other enjoyments which the mountain offers (walking,trekking, environmental education etc.). The visitor from here can admire the rich ecosystem of region, with the infrequent flora and her fauna. Those camping places accepting every year a lot of visitors, mainly during the summer months. There is also a very beautiful children's camp, running by the Holly Abbey of Jerusalim.