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 June 6-15, 2011 Plan your arrival in Ioannina, Greece for June 5, 2011 Plan your departure from Thessaloniki, Greece for June 16, 2011 Printable version of itinerary Northern Greece Slide Show!   Join us on this journey to discover the mountains of northern Greece! In the "hidden" region of Zagori you'll discover a landscape filled with lovely mountain villages connected by a network of stone-tiled pathways and bridges. Here also you'll find high country meadows ablaze with crocus and ringed by towering limestone peaks along with one of the deepest gorges in the world. Thrill to the spectacle of the monasteries of Meteora perched precariously atop towering sandstone pinnacles. You'll also have an opportunity to climb to the summit of Mount Olympus, legendary home of the Greek gods and the highest point in Greece. |
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  Lamb with honey, almonds & apricots. Dodona (Photo by A. Marinov). |
Day 1: Begin the day with a walk in Ioannina's old town before traveling to visit the sanctuary of Dodona, the oldest Hellenic oracle, devoted to the god Zeus. The impressive amphitheater known as the Theatre of Pyrrhus dominates the site. Following the visit, continue into the Zagori region where stone-tiled paths and humpbacked bridges link isolated mountain villages filled unexpectedly with archontikons ("mansions") built in the 19th century during the region's heyday. Zagori (whose name comes from the Slavic words meaning "behind the mountain") is one of the least densely populated regions of Greece and boasts a "showstopper" landscape whose centerpiece is the Vikos Gorge, the jewel of Greece's Vikos-Aoos National Park and one of the deepest gorges in the world! This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner. You'll spend the next three nights in a lovely traditional inn in Kipi village, one of the prettiest in the Zagori region. | ||||||||||
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Day 2: A short transfer by vehicle will bring you to Tsepolovo village where today's hike begins. Descend the trail from Tsepolovo to the Paliogefira stone bridge. Cross the bridge and continue through pine and beech woodlands to return to Kipi where you'll enjoy lunch. After lunch there'll be time for a visit to the local historical and ethnographic museum. If you desire, an afternoon hiking option presents an opportunity to tackle the Koukouli Steps which will bring you to the peaceful village of the same name. Return to Kipi for the evening. | ||||||||||
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Day 3: Return by vehicle this morning to Tsepelovo village from where a trail leads to the Beloi viewpoint which offers an outstanding view over the Vikos Gorge. Continue to the village of Vradheto, the highest village in the Zagori region (4,400 feet above sea level). In the afternoon, descend the 17th century Vradheto Steps to the village of Kapésovo. The hike along the Vradheto Steps is one of the highlights of a visit to the Zagori region! Upon reaching Kapésovo, you'll have an opportunity to sample some local foods before returning to Kipi village for the evening. | ||||||||||
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 Vikos Gorge (Photo by A. Marinov) |
Day 4: Today you'll have the chance to hike the full length of the Vikos Gorge! In the morning, travel by vehicle from Kipi to the village of Monodendri. From Monodendri, a trail drops steeply into the spectacular Vikos Gorge descending all the way to the Voidhomatis River. A well-graded footpath then parallels the river through woodlands and leads to the Voidhomatis Spring, a great place for a picnic lunch! After lunch, ascend to the village of Vikos (Vitsiko) from where a vehicle transfer will bring you to a restored mansion in the village of Pápigo, your base for the next two nights. | ||||||||||
 Voidhomatis Spring, Vikos Gorge. |
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Day 5: From the village of Mikro Pápigo, hike up to the Astráka Refuge in the Pindos Mountains at an elevation of 6,400 feet above sea level. The refuge is situated in a broad "col" between the peaks of Astraka, Lapatos and Gamila. Energetic hikers can continue higher into the mountains to reach high country pasturelands and the Dragon Lake (Dhrakolimni) nestled on the flanks of the Gamila massif. Retrace your steps to return to Pápigo for dinner and overnight. | ||||||||||
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 The Agia Triada Monastery. |
Day 6: Depart Pápigo and the Zagori region bound for Meteora, well known for its monasteries built atop impressive sandstone rock pillars. (Meteora means "suspended in the air.") En route, pause at the village of Metsovo where you can visit the restored Tositsa Mansion, converted into a folk art museum featuring traditional paneled rooms, rugs, costumes and crafts. After lunch in Metsovo, continue to the town of Kastraki set at the foot of the rock towers of Meteora. A short hike will lead you past the sight of the ruined Saint George Monastery (built in a cleft of a sheer rock face above Kastraki) and introduce you to the spectacular World Heritage landscape of Meteora! | ||||||||||
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 A Greek salad awaits in Kastraki town! |
Day 7: Enjoy a full day at Meteora! From Kastraki, follow old paths to the dramatically-situated Monastery of St. Barbara. Continue to the Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) Monastery which crowns a massive rock pinnacle. Descend by footpath to the lively bustle of the town of Kalambaka for lunch. In the afternoon continue your exploration of Meteora with visits to the Grand Meteora and Varlaam Monasteries. Dine this evening in Kalambaka and overnight once again in quiet Kastraki. | ||||||||||
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| Day 8: In the morning, travel by vehicle to Prionia (3,600 feet above sea level), site of a former 15th century monastery on the slopes of Mount Olympus. The climb of Mount Olympus begins from here. Ascend steadily through a forest of hardwoods that eventually gives way to Bosnian pine woodlands to reach the Spilio Agapitos Refuge at 7,200 feet. Enjoy a tasty meal—which may include fasolatha (bean soup), Greek salad, feta, olives—and settle in for a two-night stay. | |||||||||||
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 Trail marker en route to Olympus. |
Day 9: An early morning start will be required for those choosing to attempt the summit of Mount Olympus. The round trip hike to Mount Olympus's summit (known is Greek as Mitikas, or "the nose") is long and challenging, particularly at the upper end. However, the thrill of reaching the "home of the gods" at 9,570 feet above sea level—not to mention the wide-ranging views—is compensation enough for the effort! For a less rigorous option, you can ascend to the high ridge at Skala and attempt the summit of Skolio, the second highest summit in Greece. At the end of the day, return to spend a second evening at the Spilio Agapitos Refuge. | ||||||||||
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 The
White Tower, Thessaloniki. |
Day 10: Hike from the Spilio Agapitos Refuge back down to Prionia. Travel by vehicle to Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, situated on the shores of the Aegean Sea. Enjoy a farewell dinner and celebrate the conclusion of your Grecian adventure! An after dinner walk along the Thessaloniki seafront, perhaps to the White Tower (a stone tower dating from the period of Ottoman rule), is a possibility. Tomorrow, your breakfast and a morning transfer to Thessaloniki airport for your onward connections is provided and included in the trip price. Or, connect with our Mountains of Bulgaria trip and continue your adventures on the Balkan Peninsula! | ||||||||||
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Other Details about this Trip Dates: June 6-15, 2011 Price: $3,695 Single room for entire trip: $320. Please note that single rooms are not available on the evenings of Days 8 and 9 at the Spilio Agapitos Refuge. Lodging: 11 nights in hotels and inns. Note: Your hotel in Ioannina on the evening of June 6 is included. Accommodations on Days 8 and 9 at the Spilios Agapitos Refuge are in shared rooms with shared bathing facilities (WC). Meals: 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners included Trip Begins at hotel in the northwestern Greek city of Ioannina on the morning of June 6. Convenient air connections are available to Ioannina from Athens. Your hotel in Ioannina for the evening of June 5 is included in the trip price. Trip Ends at a hotel in Thessaloniki on June 15, but a transfer to the Thessaloniki airport on the morning of June 16 is included in the trip price. |
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Printable version of itinerary Northern Greece Slide Show!
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Other Resources
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© Mountain
Hiking Holidays, Inc. |
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Read Ron Hall's account of his journeys in Greece
(including the Zagori region) in "Greek Secrets" in the March 2007
issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
