Agios Nikolaos Hotel

The Agios Nikolaos hotel is the jewel in the crown of the undiscovered Epiros Coast. Situated in its own beautiful gardens on a hillside overlooking the channel between the mainland and the offshore islets of Agios Nikolaos and Mourtos 1km from the small village of Sivota, this is a hotel where the quality of the setting is matched by the elegance of the suites and rooms, superb facilities and unobtrusive yet friendly and efficient service.

The design is contemporary, using the best of traditional materials and craftsmanship to create a unique ambience that is both refined yet totally relaxing. The 40 suites and rooms are set in two storey buildings, each with its own private balcony with views across the honey-coloured pantiled roofs down to its own virtually private beach. The rooms are beautifully furnished and well appointed, whilst at the heart of the complex is the spacious restaurant, with a reputation both for the quality of its traditional and international cuisine, and its wine list that includes the best of regional wines. One can enjoy all meals either al fresco on a terrace overlooking the sea or in the dining room.

Pathways from each terrace wind down through bougainvillaea and jasmine to a large fresh water swimming pool that couldn’t be closer to the shore. Immediately below is a private decked area with parasols and sun loungers and just beyond a secluded crescent of sand and the clear azure waters of the inner Ionian Sea. There is a lunchtime snack bar just above the pool as well as a beach bar.

It would be quite possible to spend every day relaxing in these immediate surroundings, but perhaps the best way to explore this fascinating coast would be to hire a boat from the hotel pontoon, and potter along to a dozen or more tree lined bays or make the short voyage across to the twin islands opposite. Regular caiques cross over to Paxos and Corfu from Parga, whilst Igoumenitsa to the north offers frequent car ferries to Corfu and Italy. The historic city of Ioannina, gateway to the magnificent Pindos and Zagori ranges is within easy reach. The Pargos mountains which seem to cut off this coast from the rest of the mainland are also well worth exploring. Virtually unvisited, the scattered agricultural communities in their green valleys give a fascinating glimpse into a way of life that has seen little change over the years. The hotel is a wonderful  base for exploring this facinating area.