Parallel activities

Activities organized by the Conference Committee 

In the context of the Conference, the following social activities will be organized and participants are kindly requested to express their interest to join by filling in the attached registration form. Organizers reserve the right to postpone or cancel those activities, which have not enough registered participants:  

1.  ‘World Cup beers night’ to watch the World Cup 2^nd semi-final.  

   Wednesday, 7 July, 20:30, Hotel Epirus Palace

2. Official Conference Dinner

Thursday, 8 July, 21:00 (Hotel Epirus Palace)

3.  Rafting at Aracthos river

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       Saturday, 10 July, 10:00

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       Meeting: to be announced at the Conference

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Deadline for registration: Friday, 2 July 2010

Description: The Arachthos rafting trip from bridge Politsas to the historical Bridge Plakas (the bigger one arched Bridge in the Balkans) is an easy run for everyone without prior experience in Rafting. Duration is about two and a half hours, a total of nine kilometers. The passage of the Vicos Gorge (the deepest canyon of Europe) is a unique experience.

 
Programme: Within 25 minutes after the departure from Ioannina the participants arrive at the starting point, where the organizers will provide them with the necessary technical equipment (suit and neoprene shoes, helmet, life jacket, paddles) and following a 20 min briefing, the descent inside River Arachthos begins. The river is at level III of difficulty (easy, for all) and is characterized by waterfalls and caves. It crosses the Vicos canyon which offers a magnificent view "into the wild". Advanced registration is required: please fill in the attached registration form and send it to Mrs. Vassiliki Paroutiadou bicepirus@ioa.forthnet.gr

Contact Tel.: (0030) 2651 044447

Participants should bring: second underwear or a swimsuit and towel. 

Cost per person: €25

Other activities 

The area surrounding Ioannina is full of important archaeological, historical, natural and architectural sites. One has a great variety of activities to choose from, depending on his/her interests and budget. 

1.  Exploring natural beauty: Pindos - Ioanina Lake and Nhsos (Island) - Perama Cave

   The "Valia Kalda" (hot valley) National Park is the largest and richest preserved ecosystem of Greece.  It is a habitat which hosts unique species of flora and fauna, such as the famous brown bear.

The Park is shared between the perfecture of Ioannina and that of Grevena. Camping is generally forbidden, but trekking excursions are organized by tourist-companies from Ioannina.  

Apart from the national park, touring the lake Pamvotis on a boat and walking around at the small Lake Island is one option, highly prefered by visitors, while the Perama cave (3,5 km far from the center of Ioannina) is another exceptional site to visit. 

2. History and archaeology: ancient, medieval and modern times 

Ioannina and the surrounding area are also rich in sites of major historical and archaeological importance. The ancient theatre of Dodoni and the respective Oracle are two of the most well-known sites that have been existed since prehistoric times. The castle of Ioannina is one of the biggest of its type in Greece. It was constructed by Ottoman Turks to protect Ioannina from invaders from the medieval Italian city states.

Last but not least, the Vrellis wax museum, one of the few wax museums in Greece, displays major historical figures of Greece, predominantly from the Independence War (1821 - 1830).

For more information, please contact the Tourist Information office of Ioannina at: (+30)26510 41 142