Hiking Zagori and Meteora

Our hiking adventure starts from Athens (or from Thessaloniki, upon request), from where we transfer to Zagori area by car (around 5 hrs from Athens). You are met and welcomed by our team and your group leader explains briefly the trip details. We then set off for the village of Monodendri, where we will visit the Rizarios School of Handicrafts and learn how women make handmade textiles and weavings. We will also visit the Rizarios Photo Exhibition, where temporary photography collections are exhibited, as well as the original stereoscopic cameras that British photographers used to capture the first modern Olympic Games in Greece in 1896! We will then take the short hiking path to Agia Paraskevi church and enjoy the impressive views over Vikos gorge! Oxya viewpoint and the stone forest come next. Total Hike duration: 1 hrs / level of difficulty: easy You can optionally fly from Athens to Ioannina national airport (1hr flight), from where our team will pick you up and head to Zagori villages by car (around 50 min driving distance). In case you wish to fly to another Greek airport, please contact us, so we can arrange your transfer to the Zagori villages.

After a good breakfast, we start our hiking day from the village of Kapesovo down to Vikos gorge and then upwards, through the beautiful Vradeto steps (stone path built in the 16th century at the slopes of Vikos Gorge) towards the highest village of Zagori, Vradeto (1450m). From there, following a beautiful path at the rims of Vikos Gorge, we arrive at Beloi viewpoint (1650m), where we can enjoy panoramic views over the gorge. We return to Vradeto village and from there back to Kapesovo. After a quick snack outdoors, we will visit some of the most important and beautiful arch stone bridges of Zagori, dating back to the 16 – 18th centuries. 1) Kapesovo - Vradeto- Mpeloi (return trail) (Hike duration: 3.5-4 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate) waypoint altitude elapsed time total distance Kapesovo village 1.150 m 0’ 0 m Vradeto steps 1.060 m 20' 1.100 m Vradeto village 1.340 m 1:15' 3.300 m Mpeloi viewpoint 1.450 m 2:00' 5.300 m return reverse (r/f) 3:50' 10.600 m 2) Arch stone Bridges tour (o/w or r/w) (Hike duration: 1.5-3 hours / Level of difficulty: easy) waypoint altitude elapsed time total distance Kokori Bridge 700 m 0 m Plakida Bridge 730 m 20' 1.500 m Milou Bridge 740 m 50' 3.500 m Pitsioni Bridge 740 m 1:20' 5.000 m Kontodima Bridge 750 m 1:40' 6.000 m Koukouli village (optional) 870 m 2:30' 7.800 m Missiou Bridge (optional) 690 m 3:10' 10.000 m The tour of the arch stone bridges can be done in many different ways, we may hike to all the bridges or do parts by car (it depends on the travelers’ fitness level and willingness to do parts or all of it, it is a quite flexible trail). (Total Hike duration: 6-7.5 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate)

Today we will hike in one of the most beautiful, impressive and rewarding hiking paths in the area! We will transfer to Monodendri village, from where we will descend to Vikos gorge, said to be one of the deepest gorges in the world. Walking parallel to the river (with several ascents and descents on uneven terrain), it will take us about 6 hours to cross the canyon. Traversing the ravine, we can admire the rare varieties of wild birds and flowers that have found their habitat in Vikos-Aoos National park. We will make a stop at the river springs to relax and eat our snacks. Depending on the season, you can also swim in the river! Early in the afternoon we arrive at Vikos village where we are picked up by our mini bus and transferred to Papigo village for dinner and overnight stay. 3) Monodendri - Vikos Gorge - Vikos (o/w) (Total Hike duration: 6 – 6.5 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging) waypoint altitude elapsed time total distance Monodendri village 1.050 m 0 m Vikos Gorge 680 m 45' 2.000 m Klima fountain 610 m 2:45' 5.300 m Voidomatis river springs 480 m 5:15' 10.400 m Vikos village 750 m 6:00' 12.500 m

Our hiking exploration for today is quite demanding, yet truly fulfilling! Early in the morning, after breakfast, we start from Papigo village our ascending hiking route towards the Astraka refuge. The surrounding alpine scenery will captivate you for sure! After a short break for coffee and relaxation, we continue until the beautiful “Dragon Lake”, situated at 2050m altitude. The view of this magical landscape will definitely reward you after a long hiking day. Tonight we will stay overnight at the mountain refuge of Astraka, where we will also enjoy a homemade dinner. 4) Mikro Papigo – Astrafa refuge – Dragon Lake – Astraka refuge (r/w) waypoint altitude elapsed time total distance Mikro Papigo village 980 m 0 m Astraka refuge 1.950 m 3:00’ 6.000 m Dragon Lake 2.050 m 4:20' 8.800 m return to Astraka refuge (f/r) 1.950 m 5:40' 11.600 m (Hike duration: 6 – 6.5 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging)

After breakfast at the mountain refuge, we will start our descending way back to Papigo village. This is our last day in the Zagori area, so we cannot leave without making a stop at the natural pools in Ovires. During the summer months, you can also enjoy swimming in the cold waters of the river! We’ll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch by the riverside, before we depart with destination, the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage site of Meteora. Upon arrival in Meteora, we’ll enjoy a short tour (by car) to a couple of nice viewpoints, so you can enjoy the striking views and take postcard-like photos, before we check in to our hotel. 5) Astrafa refuge – Mikro Papigo (o/w) (Total Hike duration: 2.5 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate) waypoint altitude elapsed time total distance Astraka refuge 1.950m 0’ 0 m Mikro Papigo village 980m 3:00’ 6.000 m

What a better way to start your day than admiring the spectacular rock pillars of Meteora stone forest? After breakfast, we will explore this unique landscape on foot, following the hiking paths of the ancient monks, and we’ll visit some of the top-cliff monasteries of the area. In the afternoon, we will return to Athens and you will be transferred to your hotel. (Total Hike duration: 3 – 3.5 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate/ Total Distance: 5 - 6km / Altitude difference: 280m)

This is the last day of our weekly hiking adventure. Depending on your flight schedule, you are free to explore Athens or Thessaloniki cities, continue your holidays in Greece or make your way to the airport.