Trail running & sunny beaches in the land of the Gods
Where: Greece, Thassos Island (arrival and departure: Thessaloniki Airport)
When: 30 April - 04 May 2020
What: A trail running experience mixed with sun, sea, boat trips, and great local food
Why: Best time of the year to enjoy both the mountains and the sea in Greece. Warm enough to have a swim in the sea, but cool enough to run without suffering from the summer heat.
BOOK NOWWhy Greece?
From this peak it’s obvious why even the Gods camped here: dramatic rocky ridges, evergreen pine tree forests, turquoise waters, secluded beaches, little traditional villages.
This is why we chose this green island in the North of Greece to host our first Trail Running Camp of 2020.
Join us on this active holiday where we’ll enjoy the best Greece has to offer. We’ll enjoy 5 days on this Greek island, out of which 3 days will be spent running from sea level all the way up to the highest peaks of the island, discovering new trails. But we’ll save enough time for the lovely beaches, savouring local delicacies, getting a taste of the small traditional village lifestyle, and simply living the warm early spring days to the fullest.
Imagine running on trails early in the morning, when the sun is mild, climbing high enough to see the beaches and sea from above, then finishing our run with a refreshing swim in the clear blue waters.
We believe that this mix of experiences that includes running, exploring nature, learning, but also being pampered, is the best way to start the new running season with top motivation.
LEARN
Running technique Nutrition workshops
RUN
Explore new trails with people sharing the same passion
RELAX
Sunny beaches and blue waters
taste
Local delicacies like honey and olives
enjoy
The Greek hospitality
disconnect
Favorite Secret Spots
We just love running in Greece. It’s a place where we’ve spent some of our best vacations (although some would call them serious training camps instead of holidays). But you know how it goes: sometimes running feels like the most natural thing to do when your soul feeds on adventure and joy.
Our accommodation
When choosing the hotels, we always pick the best mix between top features and the traditional air with a local twist, for our camps. Comfortable rooms with beach view terraces, spas, massage therapists, and top rated restaurants – they’re part of the recovery we need after our runs.
In Greece, our host will be a 4 star hotel with cosy rooms, a beautiful swimming pool area, and an incredible sea view.
Bonus: the family owned hotel has the best restaurant on the island, with fresh locally sourced food.
Price
- Private transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to the hotel (+ roundtrip ride)
- 4 nights accommodation in double rooms with sea view in a 4 star hotel
- Guided group runs
- Breakfasts and Dinners with delicious local food
- Snacks and drinks on the trails
- Ferry fees
- Running & nutrition workshops
- Surprise welcome package
- Flights to Greece
- Sports travel insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
*The early bird price for this all-inclusive camp is €849, available only for bookings made until 15.02.2020. The late booking price is €949.
In order to secure your spot, you only need to make a deposit of €250.
Gallery
A glimpse of our Greek running vacation
Schedule
Our meeting point is at Thessaloniki Airport. From there we’ll drive straight to Keramoti, then ferry boat to Thassos Island, where our hotel is located. After dinner, it’s time to meet the other runners, and then have a briefing about the adventure that awaits us.
Our second day starts with breakfast at our hotel, and then debrief the route of the day. Our trail run will take us through some of the most beautiful peaks around, and we’ll end it on the beach. After lunch, it’s time for a sports nutrition workshop. Afterwards, we’ll have free time to relax and get ready for another delicious dinner.
After breakfast, we’ll have a short briefing about the route of the day. Then, it’s time to tie our shoelaces and go run. Challenge of the day: climbing the highest peak of the island. When we return, we’ll have lunch, followed by a running technique session. The rest of the day will be for free time – beach, beers on the terrace, and then a dinner at the best rated restaurant on the island.
A day with stunning views. We’ll start running early, so that witness the sun rising from a beautiful peak. The afternoon is reserved for a private boat trip, swimming and “fixing” those running tan lines. We’ll end the last running day of the camp with a dinner party, reliving the most fun moments of our adventure.
After breakfast, we’ll have our last briefing and conclusions about our week of adventure in the Camp Closing Meeting. Then, we’ll head towards Thessaloniki Airport in our private van, to make sure we’re all on time for the departure flights. If you wish to extend your vacation and have booked extra nights in Greece, you can choose to stay on the island or be dropped off in Keramoti or Thessaloniki.
About us
We’re those enthusiastic trail runners who left the big cities and moved to the mountains just to get to do what they love more often.
If you also forget the time when you’re in nature, love to spend quiet time on the mountains, days of adventure and running on trails, then you’re in the right spot.
Trails and Tales is the place we created to share stories from beautiful trails with you and others who share the same passion. The trail running camps we organize are also a way of sharing our favourite trails, the lessons that we’ve learned, and the passion that we have for the mountains.
Greece holds a special place in our hearts. It’s also the place where Andrei won the island’s Trail Marathon in 2014 and then the Virgin Forest 110k Ultra race in 2016, as well as the place where we spent some of of our favourite running holidays.
We can’t wait to show you around these wonderful undiscovered trails.
Carmen Albisteanu
Certified Nutrition Coach // Trail Runner
My two passions are trail running and traveling. By running and hiking in the mountains, I get to see so much more than the regular tourist attractions. I lived in Barcelona for a few years and the Pyrenees were one of the reasons why I chose Spain. Mountains are where I feel at home, and nature is my playground, my constant source of joy.
Andrei Tale
Mountain Runner // Adventurer
Competing and maybe even winning a race makes it a good day out there on the trails. But what makes it perfect? Living a memorable adventure that lasts forever, spending as much time you can get in nature with your friends or watching the sunset high up in the mountains late in the evening. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
What do runners say?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Greece Island Camp is for runners of all levels. Those who are faster can challenge themselves on different segments or cover a longer distance, but we’ll always regroup and nobody will be left to run alone. Just remember that this is rather a camp for active holidays, exploring, having fun, and not a performance training camp. We have other events for that.
The price of this 5 day camp is 849 € until February 15th 2020, or 949 € between February 15th and 31st of March. Your booking is secured by first making a deposit of 250 €, after which you have time until the 31st of March to pay the remaining balance. Read more about our booking confirmation and refund policy HERE.
You can contact us if you want to extend your stay after the camp is finished or if you want to arrive a few days earlier. We can help with accommodation extension, as well as with ideas of fun activities and places to visit.
We’ll focus less on distance and pace, and more on important milestones such as climbing the highest peak of the island or reaching a beautiful viewpoint in the morning to watch the sunrise. But be prepared to run between 10-25 km per day, on our running days.
Most restaurants in Greece offer vegetarian and vegan options. But if you have any special requests or intolerances please let us know in advance.
This camp is mainly dedicated to runners. However, we can offer two spots for non running friends, with a 10% discount from the regular price (either early bird or full price, depending on the booking date). First booked, first served.
