Mourtias, Pelion, Greece - Mourtias, Pilion, Greece

Mourtias is a fantastic beach that unfolds on the rugged shores of the Aegean Sea. The beach's southeastern edge is adorned by a number of reddish, statue-like rocks, which give the place an artsy aura. The northwestern edge of the beach is capped by a large mass of rather

lamellar green rock, probably Pelion schist, which contrasts sharply against the red boulders of the other side.

About two thirds of the beach are sheltered by an array of large rocks, which afford safe anchorage to small fishing boats and other miniscule craft. This natural breakwater also tames the large waves produced by the "meltemia", the prevailing northerly summer winds, thereby offering calm waters, ideal for non adventurous swimmers.

The beach itself consists of rather coarse grained sand and is very pleasant. The waters are greenish-blue and very clear, at least on calm days. To make a long story short, Mourtias is one of my favorite locales in the Pelion region.

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When I visited Mourtias, I was rather surprised to discover that there was nothing there; no restaurants, no tavernas, not even kiosk to purchase water or soft drinks. So, I asked William, a regular site visitor from the U.K., who frequently spends his vacation in Mourtias, whether I had missed something. Here's what he replied:

"To be honest the beauty of Mourtias is that there is nothing there...

We stayed in a privately rented villa just near the beach and had a car, so every evening we could choose where to go... The little village of Katigiorgis is lovely, and the first restaurant you get to when you reach the "village beach front" (that's all there really is) is run by a guy called Nicos. This is a great place to eat and I would recommend it to anyone...

In the area of Mourtias there are some lovely walks through hot, sleepy olive groves and if you feel brave you could trek around the cliffs... If you take a small boat around the cliffs (heading toward Skiathos) you will find a seal cave which is quite large.

I think Mourtias is such a beautiful place and for us the main attraction is the peace and solitude. At night it is so quiet, and in the day too come to think of it."

Come to think of it, I couldn't agree more with William!

Accommodation

As William said, there are a few private villas to rent in the vicinity. In fact, the only sign pointing to beach is one posted by a local entrepreneur, who rents furnished apartments. I have recently met Lefti, a retired Air Force pilot, who runs Villa Anastasia, a nice resort, with a private swimming pool, whose water is refreshed daily. Lefti is a great partier, so if you stay with him, you'll surely spend a terrific vacation.

Those brave enough to spend their entire vacation in Mourtias,though, had better rent a car or else they'll be stranded there for the duration.

Camping

I am not aware of any camping sites in the vicinity. If anyone knows of one, please let me know...

Directions

If you're in Volos or Argalasti, take the main road to Trikeri. About 2 km (1.3 miles) from Argalasti's main square, you'll reach a very distinctive intersection with two branches at 90-degree angles to the road you're on. Beware, because your brain will more than likely short-circuit owing to the sudden influx of information - there are over 30 signs posted right in front you, pointing to literally every apartment for rent within a radius of 20 km (12.5 miles) or more. Take a deep breath, concentrate, swing a left and head towards Metochi.

If you're in Horto, you'll need to reach the same intersection. It's approximately 5 km (3 miles) uphill, on the road to Argalasti. Alternatively, you can head towards Milina and follow the road adjoining the church, which leads to Lafkos. The drive is some 4 km (2.5 miles) shorter, but the road has many sharp bends and you'll miss the great view.

Drive through Metochi and Lafkos. Approx. 7.5 km (4.5 miles) from the intersection, the road bifurcates anew. Take the left branch, towards Promyri and Platanias. Keep going forward towards Promyri for about 5 km (3 miles). Just before you enter the village, take a left at the steeply ascending U-shaped turn and follow the road for another 8 km (5 miles). At this point, you should see a relatively small sign pointing to "Mortias", towards the left. The beach is located about 1.3 km (0.8 miles) from the intersection at the end of a very narrow concrete road.

To get a better understanding of the area, check out the associated map.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to William, from the U.K., for providing such useful information.