15 Days hiking tour Pelion - Olympus - Meteora

Itinerary

• Day 1: Airport – Kala Nera

Meeting with the guide at the airport. He/She accompanies you to the hotel which is located in the village of Kala Nera, 30 km away from Volos. Once you have checked in, you can walk around, enjoy the sea and visit the local shops in Kala Nera.  Overnight stay in Kala Nera.

• Day 2: Kala Nera – Milies – Ksourichti – Tsangarada – Damouchari

On today’s hike we cross Mount Pelion from West to East and from the Pagasetik Gulf to the Aegean Sea. After a 5-minute walk, we reach the traditional path heading to the village of Milies, where we can visit the train station, the old library and the church with magnificent paintings, in the square of the village. We then head to Ksourichti via the forest road (at the beginning of the path) passing through the chestnut trees. Before we continue our hike to Tsangarada village and learn the stories about the oldest plane tree in Greece (more than 1200 years old), we will have lunch in a traditional tavern, in one of the three squares of the village. Later, we will descend to the white-rocky beach of Damouchari, following one of the most beautiful old stone paths. Overnight stay in traditional hotel at Damouchari.

Day 3: Damouchari – Agios Ioannis – Kissos – Chania

We start from Damouchari, in the opposite direction, towards Agios Ioannis village, following the path along the shore. Agios Ioannis’s famous beach, Papa Nero, is on our way. On our route we pass Mouresi village and we will enjoy a coffee there. Next stop – Kissos village, where we will have our lunch in a traditional tavern. Refreshed and full of experiences, we climb up to Chania, where our hard, but rewarding day comes to an end. Overnight in a hotel in Chania.

Day 4: Chania – Makrinitsa

Today we will follow the path that in the Centaurs used according to Greek mythology, who were half men half horses. This leads us to the village of Portaria and then we continue along the road to graphical Makrinitsa, where the local people call the Balcony of Pelion. Here we’ll see the old traditional houses and the best view of the Pagasetic Gulf lying in front of the city of Volos. Overnight in a traditional hotel in Makrinitsa.

• Day 5: Makrinitsa- Litoxoro

Transfer from Makrinitsa to Litoxoro (2 hours). Once we have checked in, we walk around and enjoy the highest mountain of Greece, Olympus (2918m). Overnight in hotel at Litoxoro.

• Day 6: Walk from Prionia (1100m) to Refuge – Spilios Agapitos (2.100 m)

Transfer to Prionia where our hike begins, at an altitude of 1.100 meters. The route from Prionia to Spilios Agapitos Refuge is the most famous hiking path on Mount Olympus (part of the E4). Prionia is the highest point, which can be reached by car. Most of the hike route is through a thick forest of pine, beech and fir trees and the path is in a good condition. We reach the refuge (2.100m alt).  Overnight in the refuge.

• Day 7: Peak ascents Skala (2.882 m) Skolio (2.911m) Mytikas (2.917m)

From the refuge, a zig-zagging path will bring us just under the mountain’s main summits.  It’s time to choose, according to group’s fitness and weather conditions, whether we will climb first Skala at 2.882 meters and then cross a narrow ridge climb to the summit of Skolio at 2.911meters, or, if weather permits and there is no snow, we ascend to the main summit – Mytikas (2.917meters), Greece’s highest peak, following a narrow gorge (it involves about 150 m of scrambling)! (4-5 hrs. walking on narrow paths – some scrambling involved – altitude gain of 800m). After reaching the summit we descend by the same way to our refuge. Overnight in the refuge.

• Day 8: Refuge A – Spilios Agapitos, (2.100 m)- Prionia (1.100m)-Litochoro-Kastraki

An easier day begins. Following the same path, we walked two days ago, we finish our walk in our starting point in Prionia. Transfer in Litochoro by mini bus or taxi. Lunch time. Finally, we continue the transfer to Kastraki, the small village under the huge rocks of Meteora. Overnight in guest house at Kastraki.

Day 9: (Kastraki) Walk and Monastery visit:

Walk around the western Meteora, following the same old paths the monks used to follow. These paths head up to the rocks of Meteora and lead us to the cliff top monasteries, the high places of the Greek-orthodox spirituality. We will have enough time to visit two of the most important ones: Megalo Meteoro and Varlaam. Overnight stay in traditional rooms in Kastraki. (4 hours).

• Day 10: Kastraki -Tsepelovo

Transfer to Tsepelovo, where we spend the night.

• Day 11: Tsepelovo-Kipi-Koukouli-Vitsa

We descend to the trailhead of the Vikos Gorge, marked by a stone bridge built in the year 980 A.D., called “Paliogefyra”. We continue through a forest of beech and pine trees, where we will have the opportunity to observe traces of bears passing on our path. We will end our walk in the village of Kipi and have lunch at the local taverna. From Kipi we will walk up the stairs of Koukouli (stone steps like in Vradeto) and visit the center of this picturesque village. We walk down into the Vikos Gorge, crossing the “Misiou” bridge and we take the old Vitsa steps up, in order to reach the villages of Vitsa and Monodendri, build right on the edge of the gorge wall. Overnight stay in a traditional pension in Vitsa. (5 hours)

• Day 12: Vitsa village - Vikos village

Early in the morning, we descend the old Vitsa stairs into the Vikos Gorge. Walking on the river bed we will admire the rare varieties of wild birds and flowers, that have found shelter in the gorge. Right above our heads stand the impressive walls of the gorge, rising steeply and majestically to 1.000 or more vertical meters. After about 4 hours of walking, we will reach the Voidomatis river springs. Early in the afternoon we will arrive in Vikos where we will spend the night in a hotel. (7 hours)

• Day 13: Vikos - Papigo

Following the old ascending path, we will be able to view the beautiful ravines around Papigo, in the distance. Above us the “Towers of Papigo” are rising abruptly to treacherous heights. At the natural swimming pool of the village, we will have the chance to swim and then have a rest. Overnight stay in a traditional pension. (4 hours)

• Day 14: Papigo-Refuge-Dragon Lake-Papigo

We follow the mule trail, through juniper scrubs, above the tree line, to some flat countryside, continuing from there up to the hut on the Astraka Col (3 hours). Northward lie the Albanian mountains. After having lunch at the refuge, an optional walk will take place to the Tsoumani (Sarakatsani) sheepfolds and pastures up to the scenic Dragon Lake (2100m), perched on the edge of the northern escarpment of Mount Gamila (2497 m), one of the great peaks of the Pindos mountain range (narrow, rough, uphill stone paths) or/and return back to Papigo. Dinner at a local taverna. Overnight stay in a traditional pension.

• Day 15: Papigo-Ioannina

Transfer from Papigo to Ioannina. Free day in Ioannina city to visit the unique island, which “floats” in the lake of Pamvotida. The lake features small fishing ports and a boating port. There is a regular boat service to Ioannina island. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the museums. Overnight stay in a hotel in Ioannina.

The end of Trekking Pelion – Olympus – Meteora

Insurance

Participants should be covered by their own personal travel-health insurance prior to the trip. The personal insurance must at least cover medical expenses as well as air rescue and the cost of repatriation. We are not responsible for any accidents or mishaps directly or indirectly related to the tour.