Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Megalo Papingo
After you arrive at Ioannina airport or bus station, a transfer will take you to Megalo Papingo. Depending on your timing, you may walk to the nearby Rock Pools for an afternoon swim. You will spend the overnight in a traditional local mansion in the village centre. We highly recommend booking an additional night in Megalo Papingo, allowing a good warm-up walk to the viewpoints of Kokkino Lithari, Mikro Papingo and the Kolymbithres.
Today you depart on a 2-day trek across the high Astrakas plateau. Passing through Mikro Papingo, you gain about 1,000m on an excellent path to the Astrakas Hut. Once you are there, you can stop for lunch and walk further up through captivating alpine scenery until the Dragon Lake, situated at 2,050m. The “dragon” in the name refers to the many alpine newts living in the lake. On the opposite side of the lake, you will enjoy a breathtaking view over the Aoos Valley, deep down below.
Day 2: Dragon Lake and Astrakas Hut | 8-14km
Your walk today takes you along the east side of Loch Lomond, clinging to the water’s edge along much of the way. This is a lovely, low level and relaxed stage as it meanders past pebbly beaches and giving you plenty of time to take in the surrounding scenery and wildlife.
- Walking for the day (standard route): 8km, 4h, ↑1,000m ↓ 20m
- Walking for the day (additional route): 6km, 2h, ↑400m ↓400m
- Accommodation: Astrakas Hut or similar
Day 3: Crossing the Astrakas Plateau | 13km
You leave the Astrakas Hut behind and walk across alpine meadows between the peaks Astraka and Gamila. This area is home to chamois. Further south, you descend to the gorge Megas Lakos (‘great pit’) that ends up in the Vikos Gorge and measures more than 600m in depth. A final descent takes you to Tsepelovo, where your luggage is waiting for you. Time to relax at the charming village square.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5h, ↑400m ↓1,250m
- Accommodation: Villa Paroraia or similar
Day 4: Beloi Viewpoint and the Vradeto Steps | 13km
Today you will make a great and beautiful hike along some of the highlights of this region. You first ascend to a higher plain and then follow an old cobbled footpath to the viewpoint Beloi, said to offer the best views over the Vikos Gorge. In the small village of Vradeto, you find a small square with a traditional café. The village is well-known for its ‘Vradeto steps’, a steep zigzagging paved path between Vradeto and Kapesovo. In Kapesovo your walk ends at the village square where you will be picked up and transferred back to Tsepelovo.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5,5h, ↑550m ↓520m
- Accommodation: Villa Paroraia or similar
Tour info
Destination
Language
Icon
Departure
2024-04-18
Physicality
2/10
Duration
3 days
Tour Type
Best time to travel
Jan-Mar
Age
12+
About This Tour
Greece is mostly known for endless beaches and islands but mainland Greece’s northern Pindos Mountains boast some spectacular landscapes, offering great opportunities for a hiking adventure away from the crowds. This itinerary covers the top hiking regions of Northern Greece: the Astrakas plain in the Pindos mountains, the pinnacles of Meteora topped with ancient monasteries and the magic Olympus, the mountain of the Ancient Greek gods with the highest summits of Greece reaching almost 3000 m.Highlights
- The Old Man of Storr
- The abandoned village of Boreraig
- The Cuillin Mountains
- Quiraing (Meall na Suiramach)
- Portree, the capital of the Isle of Sky
Tour Map
The last part of the trip involves a three-day hiking challenge to the summits of the Olympus mountain range. From the village Litochoro, the route follows the Enipeas gorge to the old monastery Agios Dionysios. Through the thick forest of pine, eventually, the alpine zone is reached where the mountain huts are located. The goal is to reach the Skolio summit at 2911 m, whereafter the route continues along the ‘Zonaria’ to the Mousson plain. The descent is via the less trodden paths on the eastern slopes.
