On the picturesque Chalkidiki peninsula, the Sani Resort stands as Greece's first certified CO2-neutral resort. Sani is far more than a resort; it is a holiday destination made up of five five-star hotels spread across the entire bay, offering guests an exceptional degree of privacy. Added to this are a private marina with berths for up to 215 yachts, along with world-class academies such as the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center, the Bear Grylls Survival Academy and the Chelsea FC Football Academy. The ultra-luxury retreat sits within a 1,000-hectare eco-reserve whose landscape, wildlife and flora are being preserved through a range of new initiatives. This sophisticated hideaway has set itself the triple-zero goal of becoming free of single-use plastic and landfill waste by the end of 2024, and carbon-free by 2030.
Impressive Flora and Fauna
Thanks to its 400 hectares of woodland, shaped by the Aleppo pine so typical of the region, the two wetlands of Lake Stavronikita and Lake Gerani, the cultivation of olives and several sand dunes, the Sani Resort enjoys its own Mediterranean microclimate. This microclimate is a refuge for more than 200 bird species, among them creatures found on the Red List of endangered species such as the white-tailed eagle, glossy ibis, Mediterranean gull, bittern and purple heron. The rare species living in the Sani Wetlands also include the marsh harrier, black-winged stilt, ferruginous duck, shelduck and spoonbill. Alongside birds, the nature reserve is also home to turtles, among other creatures.
Guests of the Sani Resort can experience the flora and fauna during their stay on four different tours. On the Forest View Walk, participants get to know the native wildlife and plant life as well as the ecosystem behind it. The tour follows a woodland path through Bousoulas.
On the two-hour Bird Watching Tour, guests explore the Sani Wetlands from Sani Beach all the way to Lake Stavronikita. Equipped with binoculars, they can observe many of the threatened species from a distance. The longest of the five tours is the Wetlands Experience - a three-hour walk through the wetlands surrounding the luxury retreat, taking in both Lake Stavronikita and Lake Gerani. The Sani Resort tends its own olive groves, which guests are invited to explore. Along the way, they learn more about the significance of the olive for the region - from the history of the first olive groves and their role in Greek mythology to the various products that can be made from the harvest. The excursions are free of charge for Sani guests.
A Destination of Superlatives
The five five-star hotels - Sani Beach, Sani Dunes, Sani Club, Porto Sani and Sani Asterias - are connected to one another and to the Sani Marina. Golf carts and a fleet of Volvos whisk guests comfortably and swiftly from A to B, whether the destination is the marina from the Sani Club, the exclusive spa at Sani Dunes, one of the pools or one of the restaurants and bars.
In 2024, Sani Asterias unveiled new Beachfront Residential Suites, some with a private pool and all in prime positions by the sea. The villas open onto views of the azure waters of the Aegean. They offer the utmost privacy and the very essence of elegance, with indoor and outdoor spaces flowing seamlessly into one another. They are distinguished by their use of natural materials, such as wood and stone surfaces, artful lighting and earthy, soft furnishings.
Cuisine at the Highest Level
With a total of 40 restaurants and bars, guests at the Sani Resort are spoilt for choice at every meal. They are spread across the five hotels and the Sani Marina. Thanks to the Dine Around programme, guests on a half- or full-board basis can enjoy special menus at no extra cost in twelve of the 26 restaurants. Those who prefer to put together their own menu receive a discount on their final bill.
Behind every restaurant stands an independent team. Guests can savour menus by Michelin-starred chefs such as Stephanie Le Quellec and David Ibarboure in restaurants like the Overwater Restaurant or El Puerto, Greek fine dining at the Ouzerie, South American specialities at Lima, or nature-conscious cooking at the farm-to-table restaurant Pines.
A particular culinary highlight every year is the Sani Gourmet Festival, where over several weeks guests can indulge in the finest cuisine from renowned guest chefs. In 2024, the Sani Resort welcomed Ana Ros (three Michelin stars), Massimo Bottura (three Michelin stars), Clare Smyth (three Michelin stars), Paco Morales (two Michelin stars) and Andoni Aduriz (two Michelin stars).
The Sani Green Programme
Since they were launched ten years ago, more than 23,000 guests have taken part in the eco-tours. In 2023 alone, around 3,500 people joined in. In doing so, the Sani Resort underlines its position as a pioneer of sustainable tourism. Thanks to a variety of Sani Green measures, the resort was able to recycle 323 tonnes of materials in 2023, compost 100 per cent of the green waste it produced and eliminate all plastics in front of the buildings, as well as remove single-use plastic from every area. One hundred per cent of its electricity comes from renewable energy. All wastewater is recycled and used for irrigation purposes, too. In this way, Sani significantly increases its on-site renewable energy capacity while reducing carbon emissions. In addition, more than 60 per cent of Sani's produce comes from within a 60-kilometre radius of the resort. "Land of Grace" is a range from a number of renowned regional producers. Each of the products, available only in limited quantities, has been carefully selected for its regional roots and its quality. All profits from the sales of this range are donated to local food banks for community members in need, as part of Sani's ongoing programme supporting local communities.
In collaboration with the NGO "The Bee Camp", which focuses on protecting pollinators, the Sani Resort runs the largest Bee Spot in Greece. Across its seven stations, guests learn more about biodiversity and the importance of bees for our ecosystem.
