There are beautiful places in the world that are hidden, not in the news, and are rarely mentioned. This is a description of the Zagori region in Epirus, Greece. Traditional villages, stone paths, arched bridges, and natural beauty that has not been tainted…
Join us on this hike to discover the secret trails of Vikos, Aoos National Park, learn about local myths and stories, and observe the flora and fauna.
During the tour we will:
- Explore traditional stone villages untouched by time
- Walk through the Vikos Gorge, one of the world’s deepest canyons.
- Stone bridges with arched spans
- Walk along the Dragon’s alpine lake “Drakolimni”
- Observe the flora and fauna of the Vikos and Aoos National Park.
- Taste the delicious local cuisine and become acquainted with the locals’ hospitality.
Day 1: Thessaloniki
Arrival in Thessaloniki, transfer and accommodation at your hotel. Night in Thessaloniki.
Day 2: Thessaloniki – Monodendri
After breakfast, we drive about 3.5 – 4 hours from Thessaloniki to the Zagorohoria region.
Arrival in Monodendri.
From Monodendri, we will follow the path to the monastery of “Agia Paraskevi” which was built in 1412 on the edge of the Vikos Gorge and is one of the oldest in Epirus. It is a stone fortress-monastery that, along with the caves on its side, served as a refuge for locals during the Turkish occupation.
Today, the Monastery draws a large number of visitors due to the beauty of its surroundings and the views of the Vikos Gorge.
Walking time: 0.5 hour (30′)
* Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
* Accommodation in Monodendri
Day 3: Crossing Vikos Gorge
We go down the old stairs from Vitsa into the Vikos ravine early in the morning.
Vikos is one of the most impressive canyons/gorges in the world, and it is also the deepest in proportion to its width, measuring 900 meters deep and 1,100 meters wide.
This is one of the area’s most beautiful, impressive, and rewarding hiking trails.
We’ll need about 6 hours to cross the canyon. We can admire the strange varieties of wild birds and flowers that have found refuge in the ravine as we cross it.
We arrive in the Papingo village early in the afternoon, where we are met by a car and transferred to the village of Mikro Papingo for dinner and overnight.
Hiking time: 6 hours
* Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
* Accommodation in traditional hotel in Mikro Papigo
Day 4: Mikro Papigo – Dragon Lake
Today’s exploration is strenuous, but it is well worth it!
We begin our ascent towards the Astraka refuge shortly after breakfast. The scenery in the mountains will undoubtedly captivate you. We continue to the beautiful Dragon Lake at 2100m altitude after a short break for coffee and relaxation. After a long day of hiking, the sight of this magical landscape will reward you.
Hiking time: 6 hours
* Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
* Accommodation in Mountain cabin
Day 5: Astraka Refuge – Tsepelovo
After breakfast, we begin our descent, crossing Mount Tymfi until we reach Tsepelovo, the largest of Zagoria’s 47 villages. The scenery is breathtaking, with breathtaking views of the Pindos mountain range.
Hiking time: 8 hours
* Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
* Accommodation in Traditional Hotel in Tsepelovo
Day 6: Tsepelovo – Vradeto – Vitsa
After a hearty breakfast, we begin our day’s hike from Tsepelovo to Vradeto, Zagori’s highest town at 1450 meters. Our path takes us through the “Vradeto stairs,” a 16th-century stone path built on the slopes of the Vikos gorge.
Transfer to Vitsa, a charming traditional village perched on the edge of a ravine.
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
* Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
* Accommodation in Traditional Hotel in Vitsa
Day 7: Vitsa – Koukouli – Kipi
Breakfast and departure on the path that leads to the Misiou bridge, which we cross and continue to the picturesque town of Koukouli.
We walked down the Koukoulis stairs until we arrived in Kipi.
After lunch in Kipi, we depart for Thessaloniki.
Arrival in Thessaloniki and lodging.
Hiking time: 3 hours
* Breakfast, lunch
* Accommodation in Thessaloniki
Day 8: Thessaloniki. The end of the trip.
Breakfast and transfer to Thessaloniki airport at the indicated time to board your return flight.
*Breakfast
This trip can be tailored to your needs.
Fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page with the dates of your trip, your budget, the number of people, and anything else you think is important for us to take into account in order to send you a personalized proposal.
You can also reach us by phone at +30 210 512 3228 or by email at info@triptailorsgreece.com.
Price includes:
- Transfer airport – hotel – airport in Thessaloniki
- Travel by car or minibus according to the program
- Professional hiking guide
- Companion in English
- All meals during the Trekking days according to the program
- 2 nights in Thessaloniki in a 4 * hotel and breakfast
- 5 nights of accommodation in the Zagori region in traditional charming accommodations according to the program
Price does not include:
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Drinks during meals
- Optional activities
- Other expenses of a personal nature
- Tips
NOTES:
* The program can be modified to your liking, you can add, remove nights or combine with a stay on islands.
** The trip can also start from Athens
