Costa Navarino Archives - Insights Greece

New World-Class Golf Courses Opening at Costa Navarino

Costa Navarino, in the heart of Messinia, is ready to kick start the new 2022 season with two new signature golf courses- the world’s first International Olympic Academy Golf Course and The Hills Course- both set to open on February 20.

Offering panoramic views of the Bay of Navarino, the new Olympic Academy Golf Course has been designed by José Mariá Olazábal – boasting stunning sea, mountain, and river views as a backdrop to your tee shots.

Situated over 125 hectares overlooking the historical bay of Navarino and the Ionian Sea, the International Olympic Academy measures 6,366m in length. The 18 holes hills course, par 72 has been designed to challenge the best golfers in an enchanting environment with dramatic views and memorable sunsets.

Insights Greece - New World-Class Golf Courses Opening at Costa Navarino

The Hills Course is the second golf course at Navarino Hills and overlooks the rural landscape of Messinia, with rugged mountains and small villages. Measuring 6,280 yards, this 18-hole course par 72 completes the challenging experience designed to challenge the most experienced golfers in a different landscape setting.

They will be joining The Dunes and The Bay Course, which are 18-hole signature courses surrounded by Costa Navarino’s five-star hotels and resorts – making it a prime location for golf connoisseurs with four signature golf courses within a 13km radius.

Costa Navarino is steadily raising its profile as a prime, sustainable destination in the Mediterranean by offering a world-class golf experience on the four signature golf courses in Greece. Each course bears the signature of a different world-renowned designer and offers a unique combination of challenges and rewards for golfers of all levels.

A series of international tournaments are hosted each year, including Messinia Pro-Am, Aegean Pro attracting professionals, amateurs, and golf lovers while also creating a vibrant intercultural golf hub.

Costa Navarino Golf Resort

Image by Gerrit Kleinfeld | Costa Navarino

Mandarin Oriental to Open at Costa Navarino

The first Mandarin Oriental resort will open its doors in Greece at Navarino Bay, an integrated resort area at Costa Navarino, in the region of Messinia, southwest Peloponnese, amidst a breathtaking 140-hectare natural landscape, overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino.

Insights Greece - Mandarin Oriental to Open at Costa Navarino — Greece’s first Mandarin Oriental to open at Navarino Bay

Set to open in 2023, the beachfront luxury resort will feature 99 guest rooms, including 48 spacious earth-sheltered pool villas, all with outdoor terraces and stunning sea views, along with five restaurants and bars. Crafted by renowned Greek architects, Tombazis & Associates Architects and K-Studio, the unique design is aligned with Costa Navarino’s sustainable principles, featuring planted roofs blending into the natural topography of the land and the use of local materials.

Additionally, this ultra-premium resort is set to feature a 1,500 m2 spa and fitness centre with a stunning 25 m indoor-outdoor pool and sweeping sea views, complemented by state-of-the-art heat experiences and Mandarin Oriental’s signature wellness therapies in specially designed indoor treatment rooms and outdoor pavilions.

The project is owned and developed by TEMES, a leading developer and operator of high-end tourism and real estate destinations in Greece.

“We are delighted to be opening our first property in Greece in Costa Navarino and look forward to sharing this striking combination of unspoiled landscape, olive groves, pristine beaches, and authentic Greek culture in the region with our guests,” said James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental. “We are pleased to partner with TEMES, the group that has been responsible for the creation of Costa Navarino as a bourgeoning tourism destination.”

“Mandarin Oriental is renowned for delivering exemplary service and exclusive experiences in some of the most noted properties around the world,” said Achilles V. Constantakopoulos, Chairman of TEMES. “We are proud to have the Group bring their hospitality expertise for the first time to Greece, signifying the further growth of Costa Navarino, which is becoming a top international destination to visit and to live”.

Guests of Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino will also benefit from the destination’s other resort areas, and experience a vast range of outdoor activities, from biking and hiking to rock-climbing, tennis, and water sports, as well as three more signature golf courses. Additionally, a variety of dining venues and leisure activities are available across Navarino Dunes and Navarino Waterfront.

Moreover, Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino will be adjacent to Navarino Agora, an open marketplace with retail, artisanal street food, open-air cinema, and authentic local experiences by day and night.

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino

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New W Escape to Open at Costa Navarino this Summer

The new W Escape Costa Navarino resort featuring 246 stylish rooms, suites and villas, as well as private pools, restaurants, a sunset bar and a beach club is set to open on the Navarino Waterfront in Messinia, this summer 2022.

Marriott International, Inc. on Thursday announced it has signed an agreement with TEMES S.A., a leading developer and operator in high-end tourism and real estate, to debut the W Hotels Worldwide brand in Greece with the opening of W Costa Navarino. Expected to open in summer 2022, W Costa Navarino is anticipated to mark the latest addition to the expanding W Escapes portfolio in Europe following locations in Spain, Switzerland and Portugal.

Insights Greece - New W Escape to Open at Costa Navarino this Summer

The new W Escape in Greece will be located on the Navarino Waterfront, the newest integrated resort of Costa Navarino. The 13-hectare beachfront destination is designed by renowned Greek architects, Tombazis and Associates Architects. W Costa Navarino’s design is inspired by the region’s traditional residential areas and is set to use local, natural materials such as stone, wood and reed. The distinctive interiors will be led by London-based MKV Design.

The Escape is expected to feature 246 stylish rooms, suites, and villas, many with private
pools staged in the Bay of Navarino with stunning Ionian Sea views.

‘‘We are thrilled to build on our fantastic relationship with TEMES S.A. to open W Costa Navarino, strengthening MarriottInternational’s presence in this Mediterranean paradise,” said Candice D’Cruz, Vice President Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “Joining our portfolio of coveted W Escapes around the world, W Costa Navarino will add a distinct take on modern luxury to Navarino Waterfront. We look forward to welcoming free-spirited travelers to this new luxury playground.”

The new resort will also feature five dining venues including a destination beach club overlooking a long sandy shore, designed by Athens-based K-Studio. The ‘Culinary Square’ is the hotel’s playful take on a deli food market- with individual outlets offering guests all-day dining options. Other planned amenities include a sunset bar and the signature W Living Room. Guests will also be able to enjoy experiences and dining at neighbouring venues in Costa Navarino; including the new Navarino Agora, an open marketplace with retail, street food, open-air cinema and exciting events throughout the day and night.

Tennis courts and a water sports hub are part of the vision for guests to enjoy at W Costa Navarino, along with access to the destination’s four signature golf courses and an array of outdoor programming including biking, hiking, rock-climbing and sailing.

W Escape Costa Navarino

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Messinia’s Annual Navarino Challenge to Take Place in October

Greece’s award-winning sports tourism event the Navarino Challenge will return in October 2021 for its 9th consecutive year.

Through its global message “sports unite people”, the event, which will take place between 15-17 October, will offer international and local visitors the opportunity of discovering the beauty of the Messinian landscape and the history highlighted by sporting events for people of all ages.

Insights Greece - Messinia’s Annual Navarino Challenge to Take Place in October — Kayaking in Messinia

According to organisers, the event follows the ideals of the Olympic Movement, contributing towards the development of a peaceful and better world without any discrimination, and through sports, promoting the benefits of exercise. Navarino Challenge is said to promote the Olympic ideal- highlighting that the important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete.

More than 30 sporting activities will take place at Costa Navarino and Pylos, with the presence of elite Olympic athletes alongside amateur athletes of all ages and abilities. Among the more than 30 sports activities and 10 Olympic sports, there will be competitions in hurdles, taekwondo, basketball, long jump, kayaking, cycling, beach volleyball and more.

Participants from Greece and abroad will also have a chance of running in the Greek Half Marathon, in Voidokoilia along the picturesque coastline to Pylos. This is the only running route that combines sand, soil, and asphalt. For those who prefer something less challenging, there is also a 10km and 5km trail runs.

Stay At Costa Navarino

The famous resort has designed a special accommodation package which includes rooms, sports/wellbeing activities, delicious local dishes, and delicacies, plus access to Costa Navarino’s facilities. For more information on accommodation packages check out costanavarino.

*For more information on the sporting events head to navarinochallenge.

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Golf Enthusiasts Head for the Greens in Greece

It might come as a surprise to some, but Greece is now considered an ideal destination for golf enthusiasts.

Imagine perfect weather conditions, luxurious accommodations with magical views, and a superb golf course only a few steps away. If that sounds like a dream read on to discover three exceptional golfing experiences around the Aegean that will leave you wanting to head for the Greens!

Insights Greece - Golf Enthusiasts Head for the Greens in Greece — Costa Navarino

Costa Navarino

In the heart of Messinia, Costa Navarino offers not one but two world-class golf courses with the stunning sea, mountain, and river as a backdrop to your tee shots. The Dunes and The Bay Course are 18-hole signature courses surrounded by five-star hotels and resorts, making it a prime location for golf connoisseurs. Here you will find everything from shoes and buggies to full sets of golf clubs for hire and you can test your skills while enjoying uninterrupted views of lush olive groves on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. This spot has become so popular with golfers from around the world that Costa Navarino is scheduled to open two new José Mariá Olazábal-designed golf courses in 2021.

Porto Carras

Set on the spectacular coast of Sithonia, Porto Carras is home to the one and only golf course in Northern Greece, which is now considered a leading golf destination in the Mediterranean. Here you can enjoy a luxurious golf experience on its 18-hole and par 72 signature course, which hosts international tournaments all year round (pre-COVID). With breathtaking views of the Aegean, nearby mountains, vineyards, and the overall landscape of Halkidiki have made Olive Grove Golf Course one of the most admired in the globe. There are also private and group lessons, which are designed for every golfer level, including kids’ classes. The course is close to Porto Carras two 5-star hotels, a world-class villa, a casino, one of the biggest thalassotherapy and spa centers in Europe, a private 315-berth marina, a horse riding academy, a tennis club with nine courts, a diving center, a nautical club, plus Greece’s largest organic vineyard, making it a real treat for all.

Crete Golf Club

On Greece’s largest island, you will find an 18-hole Championship course that meticulously maintains the distinctive elements of Crete’s natural landscape. The mountainous course at Hersonissos, about 25km east of Heraklion, features a desert-style layout and each hole has been individually sculptured to blend into the authentic surroundings. The course is said to test every aspect of a golfer’s repertoire and the popular 11th hole offers an unrivaled view of the Lasithi Mountains and the unique Cretan countryside. Open all year round (prior to COVID) the course is only footsteps away from its 5-star hotel that consists of 25 suites, which all include large balconies with mountain/ sea views, plus a serene restaurant overlooking the course.

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