While your first thoughts about Greece might lead you towards the sunny, sandy seaside getaway, this stunning country has much more to offer. If you’re the adventurous type then look no further, for here are just a few of the many fantastic activities open to you on your trip to Greece.

Water Sports in Santorini

Depending on where you’re based, a trip to Santorini is an absolute must for anyone interested in getting their feet wet. There are some great places to check out here, including the Santorini Water Park, where visitors can enjoy the beautiful mountain surroundings as they while the day away on the exhilarating water slides that are open to both adults and children. This is the perfect spot for those who love fun in the water but aren’t in the mood for extreme water sports, and it’s also ideal for a family day out. Alternatively, for more advanced water sports fanatics, you should check out the Wave Club in Perissa, where the team of licensed professionals will guide you through activities like water skiing, wakeboarding, and parasailing from their specialist parasailing boat. For families with kids there’s the option of banana rides, tube ringos, and canoeing as well as fly fishing and sea bicycles. For a combination of these two, head for the FBI Water Sports Park at Kamari, where a range of fun activities are offered.

Diving around the Islands

The clear blue waters around the shores of Greece and its islands make for perfect diving conditions. Keen divers will be hard pressed not to find something they’re interested in here. Antiparos, in South Aegean, offers divers the chance to swim in the crystal clear waters and experience the stunning underwater world of drop-offs, canyons and caverns. You’ll swim through the habitat of octopi and moray eels, as well as colourful corals and sponges with a visibility of 30-40 metres. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a tuna or a turtle coast on through while you’re down there.

Hiking

With almost 80% of Greece covered by mountains, keen hikers will be hard-pressed to find anything to complain about. There are various hikes around the island, suitable to varying levels of experience. The Samaria Gorge offers a good challenge to practiced hikers, with the hike taking around 4 hours for sprinters and 6 for strollers. For those who are a little less familiar with long haul hikes, the Imbros Gorge is just as beautiful and exciting as the Samaria, with some great views and pleasant flora to make it all worthwhile.

Photo courtesy of flickr creative commons: flickr.com/photos/brucehh/7627194894