Paro Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Antiparos, Greece, one of the Cyclades islands, is located 100 mi/160 km southeast of Athens. It is often seen as a day trip from the island of Paros.

Known as the octopus capital of Greece, Antiparos offers good snorkeling, a nice little village and a cave filled with stalactites.

Overview

Introduction

The scenic, terraced town of Paro sits in the shadow of 24,000-ft/7,320-m Mount Chomolhari (divine mountain). Paro has Bhutan's only airport, so most travelers arrive there. Though it's really only a large village, three nights are recommended to get used to the altitude, as well as to see the many sights related to Paro's days as capital of the western region.

Among those sights are the 350-year-old Ta Dzong (now the National Museum), the Rinchen Pung or Paro Dzong (sacred scrolls, icons, and the like), where scenes from Bertolucci's Little Buddha were shot, the restored seventh-century Kyichu Lhakhang (holy temple) and the Dungtse Lhakhang (temple). Also worth seeing is the Drugyel Dzong, named after a famous victory of the Bhutanese over Tibetan invaders (about 9 mi/14 km northwest of town).

If you're in Paro on a Sunday morning, be sure to visit the colorful market, where grains, chilies, oranges, bananas and a host of other items are sold. The Paro Tsechu festival is held late March-April.

On a full-day trip, it's possible to visit the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), built on a rock ledge overlooking a sheer 2,600 ft/800 m drop to the Paro Valley. It is accessible only on foot or by pony as far as the viewpoint. According to legend, the monastery was founded by Guru Rimpoche, who landed there on the back of a flying tiger.

Overview

Introduction

The island of Paros has several nice beaches and a lively nightlife. Most visitors, however, will seek out the island's main town of the same name because it's the departure point of ferry boat service for the Cyclades and islands beyond. (Luggage depositories are available for travelers who might want to use Paros as a base for further exploration.) There is a pretty golden sand beach at Chryssi Akti (great for sailboarding) and a fishing village at Naoussa.

The island's main town, Parikia, is a colorful village with a 13th-century Venetian citadel and a slightly bizarre cathedral (called the Church of 100 Doors, the cathedral's belfry is a tall cypress tree). The island can become crowded and rooms scarce, so we advise that you prearrange accommodations.

If Paros gets too crowded, try the nearby island of Antiparos, Paros' alter ego. The island, served by excursion boats from Paros, has good snorkeling, a nice little village and a cave filled with stalactites (the cave is closed in the afternoons).