| Cost From: | $3495 |
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| Length: | 11 days |
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| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Archaeology, Cultural Adventures |
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| Difficulty: |
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I loved the entire experience!D. Gaheen—Cista CA
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In the stunning Cyclades Islands, hike on craggy green Tinos, dramatic Naxos, and rugged Amorgos, a tranquil world of bougainvillea-draped villages above the gleaming Aegean. Enjoy picnics on wildflower-covered hills, swims in a marvelous blue sea, and meals al fresco in village tavernas.
The hidden world of traditional Greece lies in Zagoria, “the land beyond the mountains,” where exquisite walled villages are perched along the dramatic Vikos Gorge, part of the craggy Pindos range. On village-to-village hikes, we follow trails through silvery olive groves and across arched stone bridges, with a chance to encounter the friendly Greek villagers in their daily lives. We then head for the spectacular Meteora monasteries, built atop towering rock pinnacles between the 13th and 15th centuries, for a hike up to these airy sanctuaries. Our odyssey’s grand finale is a hike up Mt. Olympus (9,600'), storied home of the gods, where from the summit we can gaze out over the ancient world as Zeus once did.
$3495 (13-15 guests)
$3695 (8-12 guests)
$3995 (4-7 guests)
Single supplement: $300
Prices are for 2009 dates
Oct 1-11, 2009 Kostas Vasileiou
Nikos Koutsoupas
May 10-20, 2010 Kostas Vasileiou
Nikos Koutsoupas
Jun 21-Jul 1, 2010 Kostas Vasileiou
Nikos Koutsoupas
Sep 20-30, 2010 Kostas Vasileiou
Nikos Koutsoupas
Oct 4-14, 2010 Kostas Vasileiou
Nikos Koutsoupas
The US Dollar has strengthened against the Euro, and Wilderness Travel would like to pass the savings along to you! Here's how it works: we will purchase the Euros for your trip when you sign up, which lets us lock in the current exchange rate, and guarantee your savings. To receive the discount, the first deposit on the trip ($500 per person) is non-refundable. If you prefer to have your deposit be fully refundable up to 90 days before departure, you can sign up at the regular published rate for the trip.
To find out the current discount available at today’s rate, please call us at 1-800-368-2794 or send us an email.
Reading list, click here.
From Ioannina, we head north into the mountains to the picturesque village of Tsepélovo, a collection of 18th century stone-built houses. Our first hike brings us across a beautiful trail to the hilltop village of Vradeto (4,700'), the highest in Zagoria, and we continue on foot to Beloi, feasting our eyes on splendid views of the sheer Vikos Gorge. We descend the famous Vradeto Stairs, a 17th century stone staircase, to the village of Kapésovo. In Kapésovo, we sample the local cuisine, infused with herbs, and taste the regional wine.
Spectacular 10th century stone bridges of double and even triple arches span the upper reaches of the sheer Vikos Gorge. We cross them on our hike up to delightful Vitsa, with its cascade of stone houses and lovely village square shaded by a huge plane tree. The Paliogefiro bridge leads us to the handsome village of Kipi, with its folk museum of artifacts of life in Zagoria between the 16th and 18th centuries.
Hiking along the river in the Vikos Gorge, we enjoy a chance for a swim in a natural spring before we ascend to Pápingo, a truly spectacular village nestled beneath limestone towers and overlooking the entire length of the Vikos Gorge. The trail to Astraka Refuge (6,400') takes us past gleaming Dragon Lake (6,800'), set on one of the high peaks of the Pindos Mountains.
After we explore the sanctuary of Dodona, the oldest of Greek oracles, we head for magnificent Meteora, one of the great sights of mainland Greece. Meteora means “suspended in the air” in Greek, and here atop towering rock pinnacles are spectacular and seemingly inaccessible medieval monasteries. We enjoy an afternoon hike to savor this surreal landscape of sheer rock pedestals. The next day, we visit the airy monastic refuges on foot, following narrow ancient trails with striking views, then continue on to Litochoro, gateway for Olympus climbs.
We climb soaring Mount Olympus, ascending trails through the forest then above treeline to the Spilio Agapitos Refuge (7,200'). The next morning, we rise early to hike to the rocky summit at 9,600 feet, a fitting abode for the gods. After enjoying a moment at this spot where Zeus once hurled his thunderbolts, we descend to Prionia. Depart on Day 11 via Thessaloniki.
