Greece Mount Olympus – Meteora – Zagori – Mark Taylor group

Greece – Mount Olympus National Park – Meteora – Zagori – Itinerary

Sun. 13th Sep. : Start Thessaloniki
Pick up at Thessaloniki airport, welcome by our guide and transfer to your 4* Olympus Mediterranean Hotel in Litochoro town (2h30 min), at the foot of Monte Olympus mountain. Mount Olympus range offers plenty of walks options, with 52 peaks and its deep gorges. Mount Olympus itself summits at 2948m and is the highest mountain in Greece. It is the home of the Twelve Gods of antiquity and of course the most famous god, Zeus.
Dinner included in town.
Mon. 14th Sep.: Hike Pierian Mountains.
Transfer of about one hour near the village of Fteri. Enjoy a walk to Flampouro Peak (2,188 m). Super views of Techniti Limni Polifitou lake and on the other direction the sea. Easy terrain walk and a perfect way to acclimatise for the next two days when you will stay in huts.
Night in Litochoro town, 4* Olympus Mediterranean Hotel
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included
Tue. 15th Sep. : Walk to Petrostrouga hut (1920m).
Today you will leave you main luggage and will only take your day rucksack for the following two nights. Two routes will be available to the hut. The walk up to Petrostrouga hut following the direct classic route take 3 to 4 hours. A longer option will also be available and will take you along Epineas gorges first from the Old Monastery of Saint Dionysios of Olympus before climbing to the hut.
Breakfast and picnic lunch included. Dinner not included but available at the hut. You will sleep in a dormitory multisharing tonight.
Wed. 16th Sep. : Walk to Giosos Apostolidis Refuge (2697 m)
Giosos Apostolidis refuge was built during summer of 1961, by the Mountaineering Club of Thessaloniki, and is the only building in Greece and the Balkans at an altitude of (2697m). For those interested possible extension walk in the afternoon to see the sunset from Profitis Ilias (2788 m, 45 min walk). It will offer you the best views of plateau of Muses and at a distance you can see the mountains of Bulgaria.
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included but available at the hut. You will sleep in a dormitory multisharing tonight.
Thu. 17th Sep. : Climb or walk around Monte Olympus – transfer to Meteora
Both groups will walk from Giosos Apostolidis hut to Vrisopoules ski resort located on the west side of Monte Olympus mountain. One group will take the trail below Mitikas and will enjoy a full hiking day in a spectacular mountain environment. The other group will climb Mitikas, following Louki route (meaning couloir) to the top of Greece before going down by the scala route. This way you will enjoy a full traverse and the most spectacular route for climbing Mytikas. Please note that this option involves about 3 hours of scrambling, and is not suitable to people with fear of heights and requires good footwork on technical terrain.
Transfer to Kastraki near Kalambaka in the Meteora (1h45) at the end of the walk.
With 8500 inhabitants, this town is the ideal location to explore the Meteora UNESCO site that hosts the 6 orthodox Christian monasteries built on immense natural pillars and hill-like rounded boulders. You will stay in the 3* star family run Hotel Doupiani house BB in Kastrani.
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Fri. 18th Sep. : Hike Meteora – transfer to Aristi
Today you will explore the Meteora site, visiting some of the monasteries. Of the 24 Orthodox Christian monasteries built historically, most are now nothing more than ruins, and only 6 of them are still in use and accessible to tourists who come to explore them. Accessible by stone stairs, some have more steps than others! All offer stunning views. Two walks offered, the longer option is a larger loop giving a wider view of the site. Transfer (2h30) to Aristis in the evening, typical mountain village of the Zagori region and the Vikos mountains, you will stay in 3* Arhontiko Aristis Hotel.
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Sat. 19th Sep. : Vikos Gorge walk
Today after a short transfer of 45 min you will discover Vikos-Aoos National park and enjoy a walk in Vikos gorges, the deepest canyon in Europe and one of the best kept secrets in northern Greece (minimum 6 hours walking). Back to Arhontiko Aristis Hotel after the walk (15 min).
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Sun. 20th Sep. : Voidomatis River walk
Today you will discover another part of the Vidomatis river through this beautiful walk along the banks of its turquoise water.
Back to Arhontiko Aristis Hotel. Short transfers today.
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Mon. 21st Sep. : Astraka refuge walk
Today you will walk another UNESCO site, with imposing rock formations, known as the “Towers of Astraka”. Transfer to Papingo (20 min). You will join Astraka’s mountain hut that is located at an altitude of 1.950 meters.
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included (but dinner available at the hut).
Tue. 22nd Sep. : Dragon Lake walk
From the hut you will reach the legendary Dragon Lake at an altitude of 2.050 meters. The longer walk will take you in the direction of Gamila peak, long mountain walks.
Transfer after the walk to Ioannina (2h) – Stay in Grand Serai congress & spa Hotel.
Breakfast & Dinner included. Picnic lunch not included but available at the hut.
Wed. 23rd Sep: transfer to Thessaloniki
Transfer to Thessaloniki airport to catch your flight to Dublin (3h30min).
Breakfast included. Lunch not included.