Greece: Zagoria and Mt. Olympus

A hidden world of traditional Greece is found in Zagoria, “the land beyond the mountains,” where thousand-year-old stone villages perch above the dramatic Vikos Gorge in the craggy Pindos Mountains. In this quiet realm, little touched by the 21st century, we hike village to village on trails that lead above and into the gorge following soaring arched bridges, crystal-clear springs, and 17th century stone staircases. We then head to the spectacular monasteries of Meteora for a hike up to these airy sanctuaries, built atop towering rock peaks. Our grand finale is a climb of Mt. Olympus (9,600'), storied home of the Greek gods, where we can gaze out over the ancient world from the abode of Zeus, ruler of the sky.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

Days 1-2
Ioánnina / Zagoria

We meet in Ioánnina and head north into the mountains, where our introduction to Zagoria begins with a hike to the hilltop village of Vradeto (4,700'), the highest in Zagoria. We continue on foot to Beloi, feasting our eyes on our first splendid views of the Vikos Gorge. We have the opportunity for some local wine tasting, then descend the picturesque Vradeto Stairs, an 18th century stone staircase that until 1973 provided the only access to Vradeto. The staircase trail brings us down to the lovely village of Kapesovo, a great place to taste the local herb-infused cuisine and regional wine.

Days 3-4
Vitsa / Kipi

Spectacular stone bridges of double and even triple arches span the upper reaches of the sheer Vikos Gorge, and we cross our first one, the Paliogefiro, constructed in 980 AD, then hike through beech forests to arrive at the handsome village of Kipi. After lunch in a taverna, we descend cobbled trails to the floor of the gorge and ascend to delightful Vitsa, with its cascade of stone houses and lovely village square shaded by a huge plane tree. The next day we continue on stone steps to atmospheric Koukouli, where the absence of motor traffic evokes a past era.

Days 5-6
Voidhomatis Springs / Pápingo / Dragon Lake

Hiking along the river, we can stop for a swim in a gorgeous natural spring before we ascend to Pápingo, a truly spectacular village overlooking the entire length of the Vikos Gorge. Our hike through juniper scrub brings us above treeline to the Astraka Refuge, (6,400') and onward to gleaming Dragon Lake (6,800'), perched on the edge of the northern escarpment of one of the high peaks of the Pindos.

Days 7-8
Dodóna / Meteora Monasteries / Litochoro

We bid farewell to Zagoria to explore the sanctuary of Dodóna, the oldest of Greek oracles, then head for magnificent Meteora, where medieval Greek Orthodox monasteries are perched atop towering rock pinnacles. We hike in this surreal landscape, a World Heritage Site and one of the great sights of mainland Greece, using the same paths the monks use, then continue on to Litochoro, gateway for Olympus climbs.

Days 9-11
Spilio Agapitos Refuge / Mt. Olympus

Epic Mount Olympus is a fitting abode for the gods. We ascend good trails through the forest, then continue above treeline to the Spilio Agapitos Refuge (7,200'). The next morning, we rise early to hike to the rocky summit of Skala (9,403'), one of the mountain’s five main peaks. After enjoying views from this perch where Zeus once hurled his thunderbolts, we descend and depart on Day 11 via Thessaloniki.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 4+, Moderate to Strenuous. It features daily hikes, with accommodations in hotels and simple pensions. Hikes vary from 3-5 hours a day at altitudes of 3,000 to 9,403 feet (the summit of Skala peak on Olympus). Although you carry only a daypack on the hikes, there are many steep ascents and descents and there are some sections that cross rough or rocky trails. For your own enjoyment, we recommend that you make a special effort to be in good physical condition for the trip. Regular hiking or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym are excellent preparatory exercises. You should wear sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots for maximum comfort on the trail. Please note that in Greece, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 8:00 PM.

The hotels we use are often traditional family-run pensions, full of ambiance and colorful local history. Although the rooms in these pensions are not always of uniform or international size, our leaders always try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole.

Explanation of Trip Levels