Chalkidiki, or Halkidiki as its also known, is a lush, fertile region in the north of Greece. Famed for jagged peninsulas, lined with sheltered bays and sandy beaches and backdropped by vast Mediterranean forests, the peninsulas of Kassandra, Sithonia, and Mount Athos form Chalkidiki. Mount Athos is home to almost mystical monasteries, while Kassandra is all about beautiful beaches and sun-bronzed bodies. Explore the castaway islets of Vourvourou Bay, stroll the cobbled old town streets of the traditional Sithonian hilltop village of Nikiti, or head to the pine-tree shaded Paliouri, a village acclaimed for its fresh fish tavernas and the crystal clear bay and beautiful beach of Chrouso.