Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
AIR
Xanthi shares
Alexander the Great Airport
(40km southwest, near Hrysoupoli) with
coastal Kavala.
BUS
Komotini (€5, one hour, 14 daily), Thessaloniki (€19, 2½ hours, 10 daily) and Athens
(€61, nine hours, one daily). Thessaloniki buses go via Kavala (€6, one hour). For Alex-
androupoli (€8, one hour, every 45 minutes), change at Komotini. Buses also serve north-
ern Pomakohoria villages (€3.80, 1½ hours, two daily) and Stavroupoli to the west.
For Bulgaria, buses leave daily at 9.30am and 5.30pm, for Svilengrad, Harmanli,
Haskovo and Plovdiv (Philippopouli in Greek).
TRAIN
Xanthi's
train station
( 25410 22581; Terma Kondyli)
connects Alexandroupoli and Ko-
motini with Thessaloniki twice daily.
Getting Around
Only
taxis
(€35)
serve the airport. Alternatively, Kavala-bound buses serve Hrysoupoli
(from there, take a taxi 12km to the airport).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Xanthi
North of Xanthi, the fascinating
Pomakohoria
(Pomak villages) lies tucked into the for-
ested Rhodopi Mountains, near Bulgaria. These 25-or-so villages are inhabited by
Muslims speaking Greek, Bulgarian and Turkish. Spread across the borders, their ethnic
identity is a subject of some uncertainty (even to themselves). In Greece, they are offi-
cially classified as 'Greek Muslims.' During the Cold War, this border area was off-lim-
its, and tourists are still rare.
Along with unspoiled nature, some Pomak villages offer activities, such as the
hot
mineral baths
of
Thermes
, 43km north of Xanthi. The main bath, in a building opposite
the church, costs money; the outdoor bath (100m to the right-hand side of the village
shop, and below the entry road) is free. The baths are relaxing and therapeutic, so enjoy,
