PELION MOUNTAIN HIKING ADVENTURE

Pelion mountain, the Centaurus mountain at the southeastern part of Thessaly in northern Greece, is the hikers paradise. It has 10ths of hikes combining forested mountain, rivers, water falls, ponds, fantastic beaches, amazing views. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been chosen by the Centaurs for trotting though its forests, by the nymphs for bathing in its running waters, by the 12 Olympian Gods to be their summer vacation place. Mount Pelion full of fir, chestnut, oak and beech trees with its 24 traditional villages is an all year round destination whether it’s in mid-winter when everything is covered in snow, or in spring or summer when colourful wild flowers cover its slopes, or in autumn when the colourful leaves of trees is a paint picture.

TOUR DETAILS

  • Tour Code: HIKpel_01
  • Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
  • Season: All the year round
  • Location: Greece, Thessaly, Magnesia, Mt. Pelion
  • Style: Hiking nature

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Hike in the mountain with its 24 traditional villages and amazing nature
  • Walk on the Centaurus path
  •  Ride the ‘moutzouris’ train on 60cm train rail
  • Relax at one traditional village of Makrinitsa, Portaria. Tsagkarada with the fantastic views.
  • Swim in one of the most beautiful beaches of Greece, Papa Nero, Fragista, Mylopotamos
  • Visit the places, Muressi and Damouchari where part of Mama mia move was filmed.

Included

  • All transfers with private luxury car or minivan
  • Hotels 3* or traditional quest houses
  • Private professional licensed guide in archeological sites
  • Private experienced En. speaking mountain guide
  • Meals  full board (B,L,D), lunch pic nick style
  • Meet & Greet on the arrival at the airport 
  • All entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums

Not Included

  • Flight tickets
  • Hotel accommodation tax (1.5€ for 3* hotels / 3€ for 4* hotels / 4€ for 5* hotels per room per night.)

*All packages are flexible and dynamic for any changes according to any personal needs and desires upon request.

Conduct us for more available packages in the area. 

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival. Thessaloniki – Pelion.
Arrive at Thessaliniki airport. Meet our staff and welcome. Drive to Pelion, Portaria village (2,5 hrs). Depending on the arrival time we can have a route through Vergina with a visit to King Philip tomb, father of Alexander the Great and Meteora monasteries (6 hrs).

Note: The tour can start also from Athens (6,5hrs).

Day 2: Round walk Portaria – Makrinitsa – Portaria (B,L,D)
Today we’ll make a circular walk from Portaria to traditional mountain village of Makrinitsa. The walk is through forest and marquis vegetation where you smell thyme and oregano and forest. We start with a short asphalt route and then we walk uphill crossing the course of Mana`s stream on several wooden pedestrian bridges. We continue uphill, following the plain red marks, cross a small stream and continue on a narrow path traversing a rocky slope. We cross the stream of Mega rema to a balcony offering truly magnificent view to Portaria, Makrinitsa, Volos and the Pagasitic Gulf. Continue to Makrinitsa where we have a rest and lunch. From Makrinitsa following a kalderimi downhill to Mega rema and then walking straight on an earth road we reach the village of Stagiates. From village square taking a kalderimi uphill we cross the village and walking mostly on forest area we return to Portaria. 

Trekking time: 5 hours, 13 km, ascent 550m, descent 550m

Day 3: Portaria to Hania Ski resort (B,_,D)
You depart from Portaria and follow a beautiful path among conifer trees under ‘Aidonaki’, the west peak of Pelion. After a while the scenery changes and you walk through a deep beech tree forest. Just before reaching the highest hamlet of Pelion, Hania, you pass by the ruins of an old sanatorium lost in the forest. Here starts Hania at an altitude of 1250 meters where it is usually fresh and cool.

Trekking time: 3 hours, 7 km, ascent 560m, descent 35m

Day 4: Hania to Ag. Ioannis (B,L,D)
After breakfast transfer with minibus to the start of the kalderimi (paved stone path). You descend via this great path through beech forest. The first section is via a kalderimi, later on sections on tarmac road and kalderimi alternate until you reach the picturesque village of Kissos with the chestnut tree forest. After a (lunch) break you continue on a beautiful track to Mouresi village and from Mouresi you descend to Agios Ioannis with the magnificent beach of Papa Nero.

Trekking time: 4 hours, 11km, ascent 300m, descent 1100m

Day 5: Ag. Ioannis via Damouchari & Fakistra beach to Tsangarada (B,L,D)
You walk along the coast and via a walk on a very pleasant cobbled path you reach the hamlet Damouchari, a tiny fishing village where part of Mama Mia filming took place. From Damouchari we continue along the coast to Fakistra beach where there is a possibility to visit the ‘Hidden School’ in a cave. From there you walk uphill on a path, now and then crossing the tarmac road, to Tsangarda, a village with numerous squares and churches and the 1000 year old plane tree with an incredible diameter.

Trekking time: 4 hours, 8 km, ascent 700m, descent 300m

Day 6: Walk from Tsangarada to Milies and Vizitsa (B,L,D)
On today’s hike you will cross Mount Pelion from West to East. We start our walk through the village of Tsangarada. Then you will ascend through forest and across the ridge. You walk via old mule tracks, pass the Xorychti bridge and through lime stone landscape covered with chestnut- and beech trees we arrive to the picturesque mountain village Milies whilst enjoying great views over the Pagasitic Gulf. Half an hour walk and we end at the beautiful village of Vizitsa.

Trekking time: 5,5 hours, 14 km, ascent 350m, descent 400m

Day 7: Departure day (B,_,_)
Morning drive to Volos and then Thessaloniki or Athens for your departure