Mani is mainly mountains with only a narrow coastal plane. Here the mountains can be heavily wooded. In many places the woods go straight down to the sea. Villages in Mani are small quaint and traditional. Our closest one is Kardamyli (a Unesco World heritage site) and Stoupa. Kardamili is a sleepy fishing village for most of the year. The exception is in August, when it is host to the International Jazz Festival. The main street has a selection of cafes and tavernas mostly built of 300 year old stone. The traditional bakery and mini market still flourish. The magnificent Taygetos mountains rise 2,400 m. above sea level. The area is a paradise for walkers and hikers, with a network of footpaths leading out of the village.The two main resorts in Mani are Stoupa and Agios Nikolaos. Stoupa has has a large bay with an excellent sandy beach lined with beachfront cafes, bars and tavernas. This is family holiday Mani, albeit with a second smaller and quieter bay next to it. Slightly inland is the village of Neohori where much of the residential holiday development has taken place. These two beaches are the best Mani has to offer. Agios Nikolaos is a traditional fishing village with a harbour, lined with cafes and tavernas. A range of shopping facilities, include mini markets and just past the harbour is the sandy beach of Pantazi. For the energetic, a coastal footpath leads from Agios Nikolaos back to Stoupa.