Athina Trip Overview
Unknown to most of the world, yet so beautiful and unspoiled, Zagori is the ultimate hiking destination in Greece! Traditional stone made villages, arch stone bridges and pristine natural landscapes will offer you an unforgettable week-long hiking adventure in Zagori! Plus, do not miss the chance to visit the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage Site of Meteora and follow the hiking trails of the ancient monks!
Hike through Vikos gorge, one of the deepest canyons in the world, explore picturesque mountain villages untouched by time, hike to the alpine Dragon lake at 2.050m altitude, observe the rich flora & fauna of Vikos – Aoos National Park and visit the top-cliff monasteries of Meteora!
Additional Info
Duration: 7 days
Starts: Athina, Greece
Trip Category: Outdoor Activities >> 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours
Explore Athina Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Athina, Greece, Greece
Unknown to most of the world, yet so beautiful and unspoiled, Zagori is the ultimate hiking destination in Greece! Traditional stone made villages, arch stone bridges and pristine natural landscapes will offer you an unforgettable week-long hiking adventure in Zagori! Plus, do not miss the chance to visit the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage Site of Meteora and follow the hiking trails of the ancient monks!
Hike through Vikos gorge, one of the deepest canyons in the world, explore picturesque mountain villages untouched by time, hike to the alpine Dragon lake at 2.050m altitude, observe the rich flora & fauna of Vikos – Aoos National Park and visit the top-cliff monasteries of Meteora!
Itinerary
Day 1: Athens – Monodendri – Vitsa
Stop At: Trails Beyond, Ilia Iliou 57, Athens 11744 Greece
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.
Note: 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 Zagoria villages.
Duration: 1 day
Stop At: Monodendri, Monodendri, Ioannina Region, Epirus
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]
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: Snack lunch
• Dinner: Homemade dinner
Accommodation included: Traditional guesthouse in Vitsa
Day 2: Vradeto steps – Beloi viewpoint & Zagoria stone bridges
Stop At: Vradeto 440 10, Greece
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 (1340m). From there, following a beautiful path at the rims of Vikos Gorge, we arrive at Beloi viewpoint (1450m), where we can enjoy panoramic views over the gorge. We return to Vradeto village and from there back to Kapesovo village.
[Hike duration: 3.5-4 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate]
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Kipoi, Kipoi, Zagorohoria, Ioannina Region, Epirus
After a quick snack outdoors, we will visit some of the most important and beautiful arch stone bridges of Zagoria, dating back to the 16 – 18th centuries.The tour of the arch stone bridges can be done in many different ways, it depends on the travelers’ fitness level and willingness.
[Hike duration: 2-3.5 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate]
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the guesthouse
• Lunch: Snack lunch
• Dinner: Homemade dinner
Accommodation included: Traditional guesthouse in Vitsa
Day 3: Crossing Vikos Gorge
Stop At: Vikos Gorge, Zagoria Greece
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 down to Vikos gorge, said to be one of the deepest gorges in the world. Walking parallel to the river, 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.
[Total Hike duration: 6 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging]
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the guesthouse
• Lunch: Snack lunch
Accommodation included: Traditional guesthouse in Papigko
Day 4: Hike to the Alpine Dragon lake
Stop At: Αστράκα, Astráka, Tymphaea 440 10, Greece
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 2100m 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, after we enjoy a homemade dinner.
[Hike duration: 6 – 6.5 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging]
Duration: 9 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the guesthouse
• Lunch: Snack lunch
• Dinner: Homemade dinner
Accommodation included: Astraka mountain refuge
Day 5: Astraka descend – Papigko – Meteora
Stop At: ΡΟΓΚΟΒΟ -ΟΒΙΡΕΣ, Κολυμπήθρες μονοπ., Papigko 440 16, Greece
After breakfast at the mountain refuge, we will start our descending way back to Papigo village.
[Total Hike duration: 2.5 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate].
This is our last day in the Zagori area, so we cannot leave without making a stop at the natural swimming pools in Ovires. During the summer months, you can also enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters of the river!
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Meteora, Meteora, Trikala Region, Thessaly
We’ll enjoy a delicious pick nick lunch by the riverside, before we depart with destination the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage site of Meteora. Upon arrival in Meteora, we’ll enjoy a sunset tour for beautiful views and photo shooting, before we check in to our hotel.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the refuge
• Lunch: Snack lunch or pick-nick lunch
• Dinner: In traditional tavern
Accommodation included: 3* hotel in Meteora
Day 6: Hiking Meteora – Athens
Stop At: Meteora, Meteora, Trikala Region, Thessaly
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.
[Total Hike duration: 3 – 3.5 hours / Total Distance: 6km / Level of difficulty: easy]
In the afternoon, we will return back to Athens (4 hours drive) and you will be transferred at your hotel (drop off around 6-7 pm)
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the hotel
• Lunch: Light lunch
Accommodation included: 3* hotel in Athens (close to Syntagma Square)
Day 7: Departures
Stop At: Athens, Athens, Attica
This is the last day of our weekly hiking adventure. Depending on your flight schedule, you are free to explore Athens, continue your holidays in Greece or make your way to the airport.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the hotel
No accommodation included on this day.
