Overview
Itinerary
Location
Gallery
Dates
Difficulty
Duration
Group
A journey to the hidden treasures of the mountains of Northern Greece. On this tour you will hike through the emblematic giant rocks of Meteora with a cluster of old Orthodox monasteries nestled on top.
You will explore the villages of Zagori and the surrounding nature, walking from village to village through the maze of paths and stone bridges of the area. And you'll feel the relaxed and earthly aura of the Prespa lakes.
Meteora Rocks – the “columns of the sky”
The impressive Vikos Gorge
Dragon Lake – an alpine treasure
Famous stone arched bridges
Zagori – a traditional settlement, part of the Unesco Cultural Landscape
Orthodox churches and monasteries
Askitaria, the monks caves
Herb pies and tsipouro
The Prespes Lakes
7 nights accommodation (double occupancy)
All Transfers From Day1 to Day8
Luggage Transfer
1 hiking guide (english speaking)
Meals as per the Itinerary
International airfares
Drinks and beverages
Meals not stated in the itinerary
Personal insurance
Entrance fees
On arrival at SKG a private bus will transfer you at your hotel. Early in the afternoon a short city tour (3h) is arranged for you. This way you will have the chance to catch a glimpse of the history and mix of cultures of Thessaloniki. After the city tour, a welcome meze-dinner is waiting for you at a small neighborhood tavern, where you can taste local delicacies and have a detailed explanation of the week ahead.
Thessaloniki
D
Early in the morning we depart for Meteora, a 3- hour drive to the south-west of Greece. After some rest and lunch we will explore on foot the unique area of Meteora monasteries. We are going to hike to the top of the Rocks and visit the monasteries of Varlaam and Great Meteoron through a forest of birches.
Kastraki
B, L, D
Hike Distance
12,5km
Duration
4h
Ascend
430m
Descend
430m
After breakfast we hop on the van, our destination being Zagori area and the village of Kipoi. On this day we’ll have a short hike of about 3 hours through the traditional stone bridges of Zagori. During our short pause for rest we will have the chance to taste some local products, at a picnic next to an old mill. Last stop of the day is the village of Vitsa, where we overnight at the convention center The Land Beyond.
Vitsa-Land Beyond
B, L, D
Hike Distance
7,5km
Duration
3h
Ascend
452m
Descend
193m
After breakfast we hop on the van, our destination being Zagori area and the village of Kipoi. On this day we’ll have a short hike of about 3 hours through the traditional stone bridges of Zagori. During our short pause for rest we will have the chance to taste some local products, at a picnic next to an old mill. Last stop of the day is the village of Vitsa, where we overnight at the convention center The Land Beyond.
Papigko-Pantheon Guesthouse
B, L, D
Hike Distance
7,5km
Duration
3h
Ascend
452m
Descend
193m
Today we wake up early as this day is the most demanding yet the most exciting of our entire trip. We will visit the emblematic Drakolimni (Dragon Lake). After a half -hour hike from Megalo Papigko to Mikro Papigko, we start walking uphill for the next 3 hours, towards the Astraka Refuge. At the refuge we can get some rest and have lunch. From that point Drakolimni is just 1.15’ away. Early in the afternoon we start walking downhill towards Papigko and back to our hotel.
Papigko-Pantheon Guesthouse
B, L, D
Hike Distance
18,5km
Duration
8-9h
Ascend
1450m
Descend
1450m
Following the two previous demanding days, this is a relaxed one. We wake up and have breakfast at our own pace. Before noon we depart for the Prespes Lakes area and the village of Agios Germanos, a three-hour drive . On arrival you are free to have lunch or take a nap, and during the afternoon we will visit the Askitaria, monk’s caves with frescoes from the 15th century.
Agios Germanos
B, L, D
Hike Distance
5km
Duration
1,5h
Today we will hike to Mount Varnountas and the Potistres viewpoint (5 hours in total), which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the two lakes of Prespa and the tri-border. For those who prefer to relax this can be a leisurely day and we can recommend some local activities. In the afternoon we will visit the small island of Agios Achillios, where we can walk around the island and visit the old Orthodox churches that have been standing there since the 10th century. Agios Achillios offers a fantastic sunset view to conclude our excursion
Agios Germanos
B, L, D
Hike Distance
14km
Duration
6h
Ascend
1080m
Descend
1080m
We wake up without haste and after breakfast we take the road back to Thessaloniki. We will be at the city around midday. Free for the rest of the day.
THESSALONIKI
B,
Depending on your departure time, you will be transferred to the SKG international airport
1299€ / Person