12 Days Thessaly and Northern Greece
DAY 1
Arrival in Athens and transfer to Kastraki village, at the foothill of Meteora rocks (4 hours drive). During a
welcome dinner the guide in charge will inform the participants about the details of the program they are
going to follow the next days. (o/n Kastraki village)
DAY 2
Today we walk around western Meteora, following the same old paths the monks used to find their way
among the tall rock-towers. These paths go up the rocks and take us to the clifftop monasteries, the high
places of the Greek Orthodox spirituality. We have enough time to visit two of the most important ones:
Megalo Meteoro, and Varlaam. In the afternoon we’ll be transferred to Tsagarada in Pilio area. (o/n
Tsagarada)
DAY 3
In the morning, we hike across the mountain westwards, along a mule path and through leafy forests and
ravines, up to the charming village of Milies. There we can visit the famous St Ioannis the Baptist
Church. The path continues to the 19th century train station. Through a spectacular route we arrive at Ano
Lehonia village. Transfer to Vizitsa village. (o/n Vizitsa village)
DAY 4
We descent the ravine on the east of the village, through small water lakes and then up to the water springs.
The return to the village follows a path through a ravine with an impressive 30 m rappel and a few smaller
ones! Later we’ll be transferred to Karitsa Village at Kissavos Mountain. (o/n Karitsa village)
DAY 5
A unique experience for natural beauty and canyoning lovers. A canyon with small waterfalls, natural lakes
and an amazing 50 m waterfall that we are going to descend with rappel! Afterwards, we’ll rest at our
settlement and enjoy the amazing view of the Aegean Sea from our balcony. (o/n Karitsa village)
DAY 6
The morning is free until our departure (12:00) to Litohoro village at the foothill of Mt. Olympus. We’ll be
transferred to the old monastery of Saint Dionisios, from where we’ll start our hike in the Enipeas river gorge.
The route is following the E4 European path, passing through small waterfalls, very small nature lakes with
crystal waters and wooden bridges. We’ll make a stop at Prionia, at altitude of 3500 ft (1.000 metres) to see
the small waterfall and then continue hiking through beech and fir forests. On our way up to 6,000 ft alt.
(2.100m) we can admire a variety of woodland birds and flowers. After 3.5 hours of hiking we reach the
"Spilios Agapitos" refuge. The rest of the day is free to relax for the next day climbing to the top of the
mountain. (o/n "Spilios Agapitos" refuge, total trekking hours: 4.5-5)
DAY 7
Today we leave the refuge and head to the second higher peak of Mt. Olympus. We take a path up the cliffs,
first reaching the peak "Skala" at 8,280 ft (2.882m) high and later the peak "Skolios" at 8,365 ft
(2.911m). We then follow the path through Zonaria, that will lead us to the Muses Plateau and Yiossos
Apostolidis refuge at 7,760 ft (2,700m) high. The refuge affords a panoramic view of the dramatic Stefani
peak, the “Zeus' throne” that dominates the plateau. (o/n at Christos Kakalos refuge, total trekking
hours: 6)
DAY 8
Early in the morning we begin the descent to the site of Gortsia (5 hours), where the bus will be waiting to
transfer us to Litohoro and then to the Zagoria region and Papigo village (5 hours drive).
DAY 9
After breakfast we set on a two-day trekking to the refuge of Gamila and the Drakolimnes Lakes. Our way
to the mountain hut under the Astraka Peak involves a three-hour ascent through forested terrain and
alpine pasture land. The hut is situated on the exposed ridge that is midway between Astraka and Gamila. En
route we can admire the stunning view of Aoos river, Mount Smolikas and the impressive serrated crest of
Gamila peak. We camp there for the night. (o/n at Gamila refuge)
DAY 10
Today we continue our trekking on to the starkly beautiful Drakolimnes Lakes and to the peak of Astraka.
We stop here before returning to the refuge and then head back to Papingo village. In the afternoon, we
walk to kolimpithres for a swim in its crystal clear waters! (o/n Papigo village)
DAY 11
Transfer to Athens city.
DAY 12
Transfer to the airport for your flight
