The Hellenic-Indian Society for Culture and Development (ΕΛΙΝΕΠΑ), the Forest Village Cedar  and the Tzoumerka Art Festival  organize two programs of ecological and cultural holidays in the historic mountains of Tzoumerka in Ipiros  from 25/27 up to 31 July and from 1 up to 6 August 2008.

Participants – holidaymakers will combine unique summer vacation in a beautiful natural environment with attendance of ecological and art seminars, kiosks of biological products, mainland and forest tourism activities (walks, mountain biking, rafting, etc.), will put forward a healthy lifestyle creating an attractive package of alternative holiday.

The seminars offer acquaintance with systems of physical and mental exercise, meditation and therapy, most of which derived from ancient traditions of Greece, India and other countries. The aim is for participants to gain a knowledge which they can use in their daily lives to improve mental, spiritual and physical health.

The program is arranged in such a way that the holidaymakers are able to attend all seminars, should they wish so, and have free time for other activities.

All seminars will be held in «Cedar» Forest Village near the Cataracts village Tzoumerkon.  The evenings program will be enriched with projections and live music.

We present a brief description of two programs.

One or both programs can be chosen for participation 

A’ Program of Alternative – Cultural Holiday
Tzoumerka 25 / 27 – 31 July, 2008

Day 1 (25 or 27 July)
Departure from Athens or Thessalonica for Tzoumerka at 11.00.

Arrival in the guest houses and camping

 

Days 2 – 6 (26 to 31 July)
Include:
Accommodation in the forest village houses, the region’s hostels or the guests’ own camping tents / caravans.
Breakfast for those who stay in the village houses or hostels
Transportation by coach
Free seminars
Free evening events
Excursion to Syrrako and walk on the ancient path of Kouiasas
Trekking to the village of Mikrospilia
One-day excursion to Dodoni and Ioannina for Kathakali performance in the Frotzou open theatre.

Projection of the movie “The making of Mahatma”.

 

Seminars
1. Yoga under the guidance of Dr. Dimitris Vassiliadis
2. Introduction to the eastern music by Marcos Skoulios

3. Presentation of alternative therapies with Andreas Zarkadoulas
4. Kathakali Indian classical dance and make-up Workshop

5. Seminar of rhythmology and music therapy with the Indian musicians of  Kathakali.
6. Traditional cooking with Vassiliki Lampri
7.Workshop on Recycling Decoration with Dina Fasouli with a special program for children .
8. Therapy Environment Technologies – bioclimatic architecture with Vania Sideris and Michael Mestampeli.

Day 6 (31 July)
After the morning seminars departure to Athens or Thessalonica

Cost

Participation in the seminars: 120,00 Euro/ person.

Transportation by bus (Athens-Tzoumerka-Athens): 80 Euro/ person.

Accommodation in guesthouses between July 25-31: 25.00 euro / person /day /for at least 4 nights in a two-room house (a double room, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom) or a three-room house (two double rooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom) in the Forest village, or double rooms in the region’s hostels, breakfast included.

Extra charge is applied for single residence in houses between July 25-31: + 25.00 euros / day.

Accommodation in camping between July 25-31: 5.00 euro / person / day for at least 4 nights in your tent / caravan without breakfast.

Program extension
Those wishing to attend the second program of artistic events as well, may extend their stay until August 6.

 

B’ Alternative Program and Cultural Holidays
Tzoumerka, 1 to 6 August 2008

Includes:
Accommodation in the forest village houses, the region’s hostels or the guests’ own camping tents / caravans.
Breakfast for those who stay in houses or hostels
Transportation by coach
Free seminars
Free evening events
Transfer to the Kipinas Monastery for the concert to be held on 1 August

Friday, August 1
19.30 Jazz concert with Iristho en Parodo at the Kipinas monastery.
22.30 Projection of Elias Iosifidis’ documentary “The State of Birds”, venue: Forest Village

23.30  Projection of selected short films from the Big Bag online festival.

Saturday, August 2
19.00  Festival Presentation Ceremony.
20.00  Music of Anatolia concert by Baris Bal, Turkey, Marcos Skoulios and Giorgos Evangelou.
21.00  Concert performed by «Chrysodachtylous» brass band.

Sunday, August 3
20.00 Jazz concert with the trio Marina Fraseri (piano).
21.30  Concert by Mode Plagal.

Monday, August 4
Acquaintance with Folk Architecture of Tzoumerka. Architects Eleni Pagkratiou and John Michael will guide you at Syrrako village, the cobbled road of  Kouiasas (1 hour trek) and the Monastery of Kipinas.
21.00  Film-Projection and lecture on: «the art of dry masonry roads xerolithikon kalnterimion».
22.00  Projection of the awarded documentary of Christos Karakepeli «The House of Kain»

23.30  Projection of selected short films.

Tuesday, August 5
11.00  Visit of the Bridge of Plaka with Spyros Manta
20.00  Closing ceremony
20.30  Lecture and power-point show of «The Ipeirotika bridges, bridging the paths of Pindos» by Spyrou Manta
22.00  Projection of the 30- minutes documentary “The loneliness of stone bridges petrogefyron”
22.30  Projection of documentary «You speak much… you cry much» by Dimitris Kisikoudi.

Wednesday, August 6
Departure for Athens or Thessalonica.

Cost

Accommodation in guesthouses between August 1-6: 30.00 euro / person / day/for at least 5 nights in a two rooms house (a double room, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom) or a three room house (two double rooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom) in the Forest Village, or double rooms in the region’s hostels, breakfast included.

Extra charge is applied for single residence in houses between August 1-6: + 30.00 euros / day.

Accommodation in camping between: 6.00 euro / person / day for at least 5 nights in your tent / caravan without breakfast.

Tickets for all cultural events: 30.00 euro / person.

 Additional activities

Descent of Arachthos with inflatable boats rafting: 40 € / traveler
Archery near Forest Village: 10 € / traveler
Rapel at the top of Agia Paraskevi: 20 € / traveler
Mountain biking: 25 € / person.

 Restaurant

The restaurant of KEDROS is situated in a beautiful wooden building named “Agriofraoules” which means “Wild Strawberries”. There is a spacious indoor dinning area (up to 120 persons) and during the summer a beautiful outdoor area is also open (up to 300 persons).

You can taste a variety of freshly cooked traditional Greek dishes such as home made bread, pies, and other vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Cooks, Vania and Kyra Koula, make sure that all food is prepared of pure, natural, top quality ingredients (meat, eggs, vegetables, etc.) brought to us by local farmers and producers and carefully selected suppliers form the towns of Ioannina and Arta. Extra virgin olive oil is used both in cooking and salads. A rich buffet breakfast is also served daily at the restaurant (included in price).

Please note that, since KEDROS lies in a mountainous and rather remote area, fresh food supplies need planning in advance and your cooperation in this respect will be highly appreciated. If you wish to have lunch or dinner at the  restaurant, please let the restaurant know in good time in order to arrange fresh meals for you.

Moreover, if you wish to have any other kind of food please advise the restaurant in advance for a list of suggested menus to choose from.

 Accommodation

Following accommodation facilities are available:

1. «Cedar» Forest Village:  two- or three-room houses (tel. 2685031791, www.guesthousekedros.com)
2. «Katafygi» Hostel, the cataracts at a distance of 3.5 km, tel. 2685051323, www.epirus.com / katafigi
3. «Bridge Platform» Hostel in MONOLITHI (Plaka) at a distance of 15 km, tel. 2685031220, www.gefiriplakas.gr
4. «Mansion Tzoumerkon» Hotel in AGNANTA, at a distance of 11 km, tel. 2685031777, www.hotelagnanta.gr
5. «Theasis» Hostel in  Ktistades, at a distance of 15 km, tel. 6948682910, www.tzoumerka-theasis.gr
6. Camping, organized just beside the Forest Village

  

Reservation

ELINEPA and CEDAR undertake the reservation. Accommodation telephones  and sites are given “for information only” 

ELINEPA: tel. 210-3806964. Fax: 210-3846757. mob. 6977874652. e-mail: info@elinepa.org

CEDAR: tel. 26850-31791. fax: 26850-31790. mob.  6972694620 e–mail: info@guesthousekedros.com 

Note: The programme is still under finalization: the time and / or date of some events are likely to change and new events will be announced once confirmed.