Drama (population around 50,000) is a thriving commercial center based on the tobacco trade. There are many green platias (squares) and nice old neighborhoods with shade trees. Treks can begin here to Mt. Falakro (2,232meters) with buses to the trailhead at Pirgi on the southwest flank of the mountain; other buses lead to the trailhead at the villages of Volakos on the mountain's north side. There are also possible treks to the interesting seaport of Kavala. There is fine wine produced in Drama, especially by the Lazaridhi brothers, who have experimented seriously with the local grapes, and who use very modern techniques for producing dry white, rose and red from a variety of grapes. You can arrange a visit by phoning: 25210 36 616; fax: 31 453.
By road from here one can visit the ruins at ancient Macedonian Philippi and its old seaport, Kavala, but the views of the latter are best from the sea . Kavala has a population of around 65,000, is situated against the lower slopes of Mt. Simvolon. As port of Phlippi it was known as Neapolis (New City), and in modern times is the principal port for northern Greece, as well as being the largest Greek city with no rail service.
Ferries leave from here to Thassos, Limnos, and Samothraki, with some continuing on to Alexandhroupoli. There are buses from here to Thessaloniki and to Xanthi in Thrace. For rail travellers interested in seeing the spectacular Nestos River gorge, the best thing is to return to Drama and continue east by rail.
This stretch covers a distance of 105km, with some of the most dramatic scenery in all of Greece, with its highest point at Platania. From this point on the views from the right side of the train are riveting, as the rail line runs along the banks of the Nestos River from Paranesti all the way to Xanthi. This river is also known as the Mesta and has its source in the forested Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria. From there it passes through 234km of wild gorges, mostly above Paranesti. 250 bird species live on its banks, close to half of them (such as the Dalmatian pelican, imperial eagle and peregrine falcon) are either rare or endangered. In the upper Bulgarian portion the river runs through Rila and Pirim national parks; in Greece, the Nestos delta is one of eleven Greek wetlands protected under the international Ramsar convention. There have been threats to the integrity of the river's flow, however, in the form of desired water diversions, and hydroelectric projects, so you might want to see it while it's still wild.
The first rail stop after Drama is at Nikiphoros, by which time the train has ascended into the mountains, after which it crosses a trestle bridge and the village of Platanovryssi becomes visible on the right and Mt. Lekani on the left (1298 meters), with its gorge on the right. The Platania station in the center of the village marks the watershed boundary between the Angitis and Nestos Rivers and also the highest point (322meters) on the entire Thessaloniki-Pithion rail line. From here the line descends through the Korpilon narrows via tunnels and galleries, and then crosses a 150meter iron bridge over the river torrent below, with raging water most of the year; here the train is entering the Nestos gorge. There's a brief stop at Paranesti, and the gorge continues with Mt. Koula (1827 meters) on the left and Mt. Lekani still visible on the right. The following station marks entry into Thrace province, with the first Thracian station at Paskhalia. More tunnels and galleries follow through tiny villages with amazing canyon scenery. The train leaves the river at Toxotes where the stream flows south into a widening valley while the rail line starts bearing slightly north into the Xanthi plain., and the main Thessaloniki-Alexandhroupoli highway rejoins the railway.
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