Camping Semeli A New Campsite at Plaka Beach near Leonidio in Arcadia, Greece
Margaret Williamson December 2015
In
mid-November 2015 we spent a few nights at the delightful Camping Semeli, a newly
opened campsite well signposted at Plaka Beach near Leonidio, on the east coast of the
Peloponnese (see map below).
Officially
open from 1 April to 30 November, the campsite may be open outside these dates
according to demand. For example, it is now open over Christmas and New Year
until at least 4 January 2016 because of an international climbing event. Our
helpful young host Panagiotis, one of the family who built, own and run the
campsite, is a keen climber and the limestone gorge above Leonidio has become a
popular climbing centre. We met French and Austrian climbers on the site whilst
we were there.
The
low-season price of €15 included hook-up, good free WiFi and hot water. The
facilities are excellent, clean and modern with hot showers. The several kitchens
have plentiful sinks, fridges and dining areas (and electric cookers to use for
a small fee). There are two washing machines (€3 per load) and lines for drying
clothes. The mini-market was open and bread could be ordered. The summer café
was closed.
The site is
surrounded by lemon and mandarin trees (pick-your-own) and has direct access to
Plaka Beach. Plaka village with a couple of tavernas and a small shop is a
5-minute walk from the site. We can recommend the moussaka at 'Margaret's Fish
Restaurant' overlooking the harbour. And the lovely town of Leonidio with
shops, post office, bank, hairdresser etc, is an easy 5-km cycle ride away (or
there is plenty of parking space by the river there).
The 30-km
drive or cycle ride up through the gorge past the cliff-hugging Elonis
Monastery, then climbing to 1250m (4,125 ft) to the mountain village of Kosmas
is truly one of life's great experiences!
A new
campsite is a rare find in Greece (in fact unique in our recent experience) and
we can thoroughly recommend this one.
The location of Camping Semeli on the beach just south of Leonidio
The Town of Leonidio
Our Carado Motorhome at Camping Semeli
Margaret at the Entrance to the Beach from Camping Semeli
One of the Kitchens at Camping Semeli
The Laundry at Camping Semeli
What it Says on the Tin
The Elonis Monastery above the Gorge beyond Leonidio