PINDOS PEAKS & MOUNT OLYMPUS

Trekking Two Great Mountain Ranges

The Northern Pindos is one of the finest wilderness areas in the Balkans. The landscape is on a grand scale and provides some exhilarating trekking. Walk along the Vikos Gorge, climb to ancient Zagorian Villages, mountain lakes and peaks. The 15 day itinerary includes Mt. Olympus the highest mountain in Greece.

We commence the trek with a walk in the spectacular1620m-deep Vikos Gorge and explore forests of hornbeam, beech and pine. Above the tree line there are alpine meadows, a riot of flowers in spring. We walk under the stunning Papingo towers and up to the enchanting Dragon Lake, a reminder of the region’s glacial past. On the route we stay in the ancient villages of Zagoria, perched high above the Vikos Gorge or cradled beneath the mountains. The 15-day tour then crosses a high pass and climbs the slopes of Smolikas before heading east to the Olympus Massif with a visit to the famous monasteries of Meteora, perched on almost inaccessible pinnacles. The climax of the tour must be the ascent of the walkers summit of Mount Olympus, home of Zeus of course.

The mountainous Pindos region is thinly populated and much of the lower ground is still covered by dense forest within which live wolves, bears and lynx. Griffon vultures soar above the peaks, while Egyptian vultures haunt the gorges. The Pindos and Mount Olympus are botanically rich, with over 3000 plant species and many rarities, particularly on Olympus itself and on the unusual serpentine soils of Smolikas peak. The high summer pastures are grazed in by sheep, to produce the many excellent local cheeses such as kefalotiri.

Escorted Tour 8 or 15 days	Click here detailed dossier
Duration: 7 nights/8 days or 14 nights/15 days Tour Code: GPP Grade: 8 Day: Moderate 15 Day: Mod - Challenging Day Stages: Min 12km, max 25km	Click here detailed dossier
ESCORTED Dates 2010	Click here for latest ESCORTED prices
8 day GPP06 Sun 6 June - Sun 13 June GPP05 Sun 5 September - Sun 12 September 15 day GPP06 Sun 6 June - Sun 20 June GPP05 Sun 5 September - Sun 19 September

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Preveza, transfer to Vitsa near Monodendri. 2 Walk the Vikos Gorge to Vikos village. 3 Walk to Mikro Papingo. 4 Ascend to Dragon Lake, Overnight in Astraka Hut/Refuge. 5 Pass between the Astraka peak (2436m) and Gamilia Peak (2497m), descend to Tsepelovo. 6 Walk to the village of Kipi, and its beautiful bridges. Return to Tsepelevo. 7 Rest day in Tsepelovo or transfer to Ioannina (8 day itinerary). *8 Walk over the high Tsouka Rossa pass and descend through beech and pine forest to remote Vrisohori. 9 Across the Aoos valley to Pades. 10 Traverse of Smolikas peak and descend to Samarina, the highest village in Greece and summer home of the Vlach people. 11 Road transfer to Litochoro. En route stop off at Meteora for lunch and monastery visit. 12 Walk up to Spilios Agapitos Hut/Refuge. 13 Conditions permitting, ascend Skolio, the walkers summit of Mt Olympus: walk down to Litochoro. (No rock scrambling ability or special equipment is needed). 14 Road transfer via Metsovo (lunch) to Ioannina. 15 To Preveza airport.

* 8 day trip to Preveza airport.

Sherpa Notes

Max Altitude
2911m. No mountaineering experience is necessary. These walks should present no difficulties to anyone in reasonable condition, accustomed to hill walking. The walking is generally moderate with some strenuous sections, and long days.

Accommodation and Meals
Nights 4 and 12 use mountain refuges. Hotels are used for the nights in Litochoru, Pades and Ioannina. On the other nights in the pretty villages of Zagoria, we stay in traditional small lodging houses.

Support
Your baggage is transferred by local transport to minimise the need to carry. Overnight clothing has to be carried for the 2 nights spent at mountain refuges.

Trek Crew
Our team of locally-based English-speaking trek leaders are experienced mountaineers with first hand knowledge of the land, the people and their traditions.

Internal Travel
Minibus transfers between Preveza and start and end of the walk; also between Samarina and Litochoro on day 11, both transfers are included in the cost of the tour.

Walking self-guided in the Pindos Mountains more information