Hiking Northern Greece
7 days, Thessaloníki to Préveza
When arranging your transportation, such as flights, please take into consideration the below time restrictions for joining and departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration.
Itinerary
Day 1Thessaloníki/Litóchoro
Arrive in Thessaloniki by 3pm to meet your fellow travellers. From our meeting point, hop in a private transfer to Litochoro. Meet your CEO, an experienced local hiking guide, at tonight's welcome meeting. Opt to head out for dinner with the group.
Please note that if you wish to opt-out of the included group transfer, you may travel to Litochoro independently and join your CEO and fellow travellers at tonight's welcome meeting. Litochoro is accessible by train from Athens or from Thessaloniki.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Guesthouse Papanikolaou (or similar)
Day 2Litóchoro/Mount Olympus
Transfer to Priónia, where our Mount Olympus ascent begins. On today's half-day hike, travel along a section of the famous E4 path. Trek through lush forests of pine, beech and fir trees on one of the mountain's most well-travelled routes. Enjoy dinner at the refuge and prepare for tomorrow's summit hikes.
Please note: you must bring a daypack for tonight's overnight trek on Mt. Olympus. Your main luggage will be left at the guest house in Litochoro, where we will return to stay the following night.
Mount Olympus Hike Day 1
Begin the hike in Prionia, at an altitude of 1,100m. Today's route will take us through a part the E4 path that connects multiple long-distance trails from Spain to Greece. Hike along winding paths and sloped trails surrounded by thick forests until we reach the Spilios Agapitos mountain refuge at 2,100m.
Elevation change: + 1,000m
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Spilios Agapitos Refuge (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 3Mount Olympus/Litóchoro
With an early morning start, head out to climb the Skala and Skolio summits — two of the highest among Mount Olympus' many peaks. En route back to the refuge, cross under the "Throne of Zeus" and over the Muses plateau. After a short rest, descend via the E4 and end the day in Litochoro.
Trek to Skala and Skolio Summits
Begin today's first hike as the sun rises. Set out to reach the summits of Skala (at 2,882m) and Skolio (at 2,911m), the second-highest of Mount Olympus' peaks. Some scrambling will be required as we hike along narrow paths to the top.
Elevation change: +/- 800m
Mount Olympus Hike Day 2
From the mountain refuge, take same route along the E4 back to Prionia.
Elevation change: - 1,000m
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Guesthouse Papanikolaou (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Litóchoro/Zagori
Travel to Meteora and see its famous clifftop monasteries. Learn about the area's history and unique geological features as you hike along local trails with unparalleled views. Pass by the ruins of Pantokrator and the "hidden" monastery of Ypapanti to reach the magnificent Varlaam and Great Meteoron towering over the valley. Transfer to Zagori.
Please note that if you wish to enter the Great Meteoron monastery, you must pack suitable clothing (i.e. an additional shawl, long pants) with you on this day. Entrance is €3.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Hiking in Meteora
Today's hike starts and ends in the village of Kastraki, and follows a lot of the same paths local monks have used since the 15th century. From the monastery of St. Nicolas, wind your way through tall rock towers to reach the Pantokrator ruins. Continue into the heart of the forest to Ypapanti, seemingly wedged into the cliffs. Hike up to an elevated viewpoint to see the monasteries of Varlaam and Great Meteoron - the oldest and grandest in Meteora.
Elevation change: +/- 472m
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Archontiko Zarkada (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Zagori
Explore the quaint stone villages of Zagori, a region of made up of over 45 remote villages and hamlets tucked into the Pindus mountain range. Discover the area's beautiful arched stone bridges and cobbled paths, built to link dozens of mountainous communities together — centuries before roads! Today, it's a hiker's paradise.
Zagori Mountain Villages and Bridges Hike
Our trek follows a circular route through some of the best-preserved traditional villages of central Zagori. From Vitsa we follow a downhill path to the Misios bridge and continue to Koukouli, then onto the village of Kipi with its triple-arched Plakidas bridge. Get a glimpse into Vickaki Gorge before hiking through dense forest to reach Dilofo. The Zagori region is famous for its local stone craftsmanship and traditional architecture, offering a true window into the past.
Elevation change: +/- 538m
Accommodation
Archontiko Zarkada (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Zagori
Trek through the stunning Vikos Gorge, known as the "Greek Grand Canyon" and part of the Vikos-Aoos National Park. Carved by the Voïdomatis River over millions of years, the Vikos Gorge is the world's deepest canyon in proportion to its width, according to the Guinness records. Hike to some excellent viewpoints framed by striking limestone and dolomite formations. Later, enjoy dinner at a taverna that specializes in locally-foraged ingredients.
Hiking Vikos Gorge
Hike through one of Europe's most impressive gorges at 12km long and 900m deep, with vertical cliffs that rise up to 1,700m high. From the village of Monodendri, follow the trail into the canyon as it ascends and descends through the rocks and forest, filled with deciduous trees and over 1800 plant species. Stop by the Voidomati Springs and opt to dip into its extremely cold waters before ending at the village of Vikos.
Elevation change: +/- 300m
Your Foodie Moment: Locally-Foraged Dinner at Taverna
Visit a local restaurant, regarded as one of the best in the Zagori region, for a dinner that features foraged ingredients like wild mushrooms and other seasonal ingredients. Learn about the history and variety of foods picked by local farmers, including more than 30 types of mushrooms sourced from the forests of Zagori.
Accommodation
Archontiko Zarkada (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 7Zagori/Préveza
After breakfast, take an included group transfer to the port of Igoumenitsa (for the Corfu ferry) or Preveza (for Aktion Airport).
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.