Everyone heads for the Greek coast, but some of the country's best water is a five-hour drive inland. Lake Kremasta, tucked into the Agrafa Mountains in the southern Pindus range, is Greece's largest artificial lake — and, by many accounts, its cleanest. It covers around 31 square miles and came into being when the Kremaston Dam was built for hydroelectric power in 1966, submerging several villages in the process. Fountains and an old church still lie beneath the surface, and in low water the 17th-century Manolis Bridge and a Byzantine monastery occasionally emerge above the waves.
The setting feels more Alpine than Mediterranean. Four rivers — the Acheloos, Agrafiotis, Tavropos and Trikeriotis — feed the lake, and the surrounding peaks are forested with oaks, maples and olive groves. Snowmelt keeps the water unusually clear, and the biodiversity is good enough that the area holds Natura 2000 protected status. Boaters and hikers share the space with golden eagles, herons, hawks, owls and cormorants overhead, otters along the shoreline, and wolves and wild boar in the mountains above.
Anglers have plenty of reason to make the trip. The rivers and lake hold sturgeon, chub, eels, catfish and several carp species, and there's a trout farm nearby. Local operator Lake Tours runs fishing excursions and boat trips with front-row views of the rocky, forested mountains. On land, the Episkopi Bridge — at 1,975 feet, Greece's fourth longest — is worth a stroll, and the winding roads around the basin deliver the kind of scenery that makes you pull over every few miles.
Base yourself at Lake Kremasta Hotel in the village of Neochori, which holds a perfect 5.0 rating on Tripadvisor. Guests rave about the modern rooms and the view — one five-star review calls the turquoise lake framed by mountains among the most beautiful sights they've ever seen.
Practically speaking, this is a road trip destination. Bus coverage in the region is thin, but the lake sits within a two-hour drive of towns like Karpenissi and Agrinio. From Athens it's roughly five hours by car, and you can string the trip together with Delphi to the south (four hours) or the clifftop monasteries of Meteora to the north (about three hours 45 minutes). If you'd rather fly, the nearest airport is Preveza International (PVK) at Aktion — handy if you want to tack on a few days at the quiet beaches of Lefkada, three and a half hours away.
For travellers who've ticked off the islands and want a different side of Greece — cold clean water, big mountains, wildlife and barely another tourist in sight — Kremasta is an easy case to make. Pack a rod if you fish, a camera if you don't.
