Hello there,
Wonderful idea to visit Greece on April or Maty. I could suggest the following:
If you choose to fly to Thessaloniki (SKG) within a three-hour drive you will reach the
Agios Achillios lake island. An exceptional location that most Greek people have never visited, a true hidden gem!
Agios Achillios lake island is located in Mikri (Small) Prespa which is part of
Prespes National Park (PNP) and is well-known as a wetland of international importance.
In the Prespa National Park has been recorded over 2,000 species of flora, 271 bird species, 60 mammal species, 23 fish species, 22 reptile species, and 11 amphibian species!
Agios Achilios is the second inhabited lake island in Greece, after Ioannina`s lake island, has
23 permanent inhabitants, and is only reachable on foot via a
650m long floating bridge!
Agios Achillios & the
Prespes National Park are located at the Northern edge of Greece where three countries meet: Albania, Fyrom, and Greece.
You can sail for Free with the Green solar-powered boat along the Prespes National Park (please check
here) and enjoy being in the three-country point: Mikri (Small) Prespa is shared between Greece and Albania, and Megali (Great) Prespa between Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia (FYROM).
Agios Achillios has a wealth of
Βyzantine churches scattered across the island. The ruins of the three-aisled
Basilica of Saint Achillios are the most important archaeological site on the island and date from the 10th century A.D.
Archaeological research has discovered fragments of ancient inscriptions,
dated back to the 2nd and the first half of 3rd century A.D, and revealed the existence of the
ancient city ‘’Lyki’’.
Other archaeological finds are significant amounts of unpainted
Terra sigillata pottery and ceramics from daily valuable pottery items such as cooking utensils that date back to the 1st century A.D.
A narrow strip of land separates
Mikri (Small) Prespa from
Megali (
Great )Prespa, the second lake of the
Prespes valley where humans have lived for over
four thousand years!
In Agios Achillios a traditional accommodation and a magnificent restaurant across it, just in front of the lake operate all year round. Value for money and the friendly owners would love to provide you with any information needed. Highly recommend it!