“To Meli tis Arkoudas” (“The Bear’s Honey”) is a small family-owned apiary facility active since 1950, located at Paranesti village (Prinolofos area, near the town of Drama) in the Rodopi Mountains of Macedonia. The virgin forest of Fraktos — unique in Greece and perhaps the most balanced natural ecosystem in Europe — surrounds the area.
The facility sits 60 km from Fraktos forest and 80 km from the island of Thassos. Honey collection routes trace the Rhodopi mountains down to the pine forests of Thassos, passing through a landscape where more than 4,500 plant species thrive, from alpine meadows and spruce forests to the coasts of Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and Thassos.
Travelling by a robust 4×4 vehicle, you ascend from lush valleys at 300 metres to heights of 1,400 metres, reaching remote hive locations deep within the primeval Frakto forest. Expert guides reveal the fascinating honey production processes that unfold in this untouched ecosystem, explaining how the forest’s extraordinary biodiversity shapes the flavours and aromas of each harvest.
Honey Trail 4×4 Expedition in Frakto Forest
- Frakto Forest 4×4 Expedition: Travel deep into the virgin Frakto forest near Drama by 4×4 vehicle, reaching the remote hive locations where The Bear’s Honey is produced
- Wild Forest Beekeeping: Learn how bees are managed in one of Europe’s most untouched natural environments and how the forest’s extraordinary biodiversity creates honey of exceptional complexity
- Forest Honey Tasting: Taste The Bear’s Honey in the heart of the Frakto forest — an experience of extraordinary freshness and depth in a truly wild setting
Learn how the intricate balance of nature influences the honey produced in this extraordinary region of Macedonia, and allow the serenity of the forest to embrace you along the way.
