The visitor can take a boat from Ouranoupolis to Daphne ( journey time 1.30-2 hrs. ). Information on boat schedules from tel.23770/71149, fax.79016, and the Ouranoupolis Harbor Police, tel.23770/71248. Occasional kayaks run from Ierissos to the monasteries of the north-eastern coast. For information, contact Ierissos Harbor Police, tel. 23770/22576.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE HOLY MOUNTAIN
A permit is required for a visit and stay on Mt. Athos and in its monasteries. This permit is issued following a telephone call by the interested party to the Office for Services to Pilgrims to the Holy Mountain, in Thessaloniki, tel.2310/942742 or 943181, fax.939440 ( 21 Kanari Street, GR-546 44 Thessaloniki ).
The permit states the dates of the visit and must be collected by the interested party from the Office for Services to Pilgrims at Ouranoupolis, tel.23770/71422, fax.71450. Non-Greek visitors may obtain a permit to visit the Holy Mountain from the D2 Directorate of Churches, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Athens ( 2 Zalokosta Street ), or from the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, Directorate of Civil Affairs, in Thessaloniki. Visitors are taken by bus from Daphne to Karyes, while from Karyes to the monasteries and sketes they may take a UNIMOC car, a kayak, or walk.
Women are not admitted into the territory. During their stay in the monasteries, the visitors must bear in mind the following: Photography is only allowed in the monasteries following a permit issued by the monasteries.
Filming and video-filming are prohibited. Underwater fishing is also prohibited.
Entry and exit from the monasteries are only permitted from sunrise to sunset. At night the monastery gates are closed.
ROAD NETWORK
Chalkidike’s road network is very good. Tarred roads lead to the towns and villages of the three peninsulas and into the interior.
Taxis are available in almost all the towns and villages, and there are car hire agencies, as well as tourist agencies which organize excursions to various places of interest.
Mount Athos is one of the most famous in the world, because there are more then twenty Eastern Orthodox monasteries, and therefor the name ”The Holy Mountain”. Tours all around the Europe go there to see beauty that isn’t describable, and some old frescoes that date more than three thousand years. Everyone should see those monasteries once in a life time.