Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Ioannina – Monodendri

Arrival at Ioannina airport. Meet our staff at the airport, welcome Drive to Monodendri village, 40 min from Ioannina and hotel check in. Later walk to the Monastery of Ag Paraskevi (1,5km) a vantage point of Vikos gorge. Dinner at the hotel or a local tavern (B,_,D).

Day 2: Monodendri – Vista – Koukouli – Kipi – Dilofo (B,L,D)

We hike from Monodendri south to Vitsa, down hilling the Vitsa steps in the heart of Vikos Gorge. We cross the arched bridge and up hilling we arrive to Koukouli. We continue to kipi village with its wonderful single and triple arch stone bridges where we have a rest. Through dense forest we hike to Dilofo, a village protected as a monument of local architecture. We rest at the square and walk back to Monodendri. Dinner at a local tavern.

Distance: 20km  Duration: 7 hours  Trekking altitude 1060 – 760 – 1060  Grade : 3

Day 3: Monodendri – Vikos Gorge – Vikos Village (B,L,D)

This hike will lead us through one of the most beautiful parts of the gorge (12,6 km). The gorge with walls of up to 1 km height is listed as the deepest gorge in the world in Guinness records. The hike starts from Monodendri with a 45 minute descend until we reach the river bed. The trail crosses the river bed and back and leads us into the heart of the National Park with loads of wildlife, dense forests of deciduous trees and 1800 plant species. The hike finishes at Vikos village with 1-hour ascend walk in the last part. Dinner at the hotel or a local tavern.

Distance: 12km  Duration: 6-7hours  Ascent: 791m  Descent: 1091m  Grade: 4

Day 4: Vikos village – Voidomatis springs – Papingo

We start from Vikos village walking down to Voidomatis springs. Greece’s cleanest and coldest river, with an average all year temperature of 8,5°. After a small rest we start climbing the north-west face of Vikos Gorge towards Mikro Papingo. The views get more and more impressive as we hike up. We walk through forest and under the impressive towers of Papingo and soon we reach the village. In the afternoon you can be enjoyed swimming in the natural pools near the village.

Distance: 5,7km  Duration: 4hours  Ascent: 811m   Descent: 600m   Grade: 2

Day 5: Papingo – Astraka refuge – Dragonlake (B,L,D)

We start our hike early in the morning, following an uphill path to high plateaus of Mt. Timfi reaching the Astraka refuge and then the alpine lake Drakolimni at 2050m. We walk to the grassy uplands studded with flowers and at some points we often meet pack snow, towards Astraka mountain refuge. On the way up we will meet a lot of water springs so there is no need to carry a lot of water. After a small stop at the refuge for a light lunch we continue our hike up for 1.5hrs more to the “Drakolimni”, an alpine lake at 2050m. From there our eyes won’t get enough of the breath taking views up to Olympus mountain and Aegean sea. We walk back to Astraka refuge for dinner and dormitory style overnight. (B,L,D).

Distance: 12km  Duration: 6-7hours   Ascent: 1368m   Descent: 425m   Grade: 3

Day 6: Astraka refuge – Tsepelovo (B,L,D)

Today we cross Tymfi mountain range, a long and beautiful walk. We start down hilling from the refuge reaching the big plains of the mountain. Under the impressive cliffs of Astraka we followed the path to Rompozi Loutsa, a small water reservoir, a place for the shepards to water the animals in summer. We continue to Arvanitis sheepfold and Mega Lakos, an impressive canyon which ends at Vikos. As we cross a water spring we continue to the lands of Tsepelovo our final destination. Dinner at the hotel or a local tavern.

Distance: 12,5km   Duration: 7hours   Ascent: 383m   Descent: 1222m   Grade : 3

Day 7: Tsepelovo – Beloi – Vradeto- Skala Vradedou – kapesovo – Kalambaka/Meteora (B,L,D)

Hiking starts from Tsepelovo and lead us to Beloi through the plains of Vradeto, the “balcony”(highest village) of Zagorochoria with the gorgeous view to the surrounding landscape. Beloi, is a natural balcony overlooking the Vikos gorge, as we walk towards the edges of the gorge. We continue to Vradeto village for a short stop and afterwards hike down the impressive Vradeto steps, an old and historic path, will reach Kapesovo village. Then we drive to Kalambaka / Meteora with a short stop at Metsovo traditional village. Dinner at a local tavern.

Distance: 14,5km   Duration: 7 hours  Ascent: 816m  Descent: 744m  Grade:3

Day 8: Meteora monasteries – Departure. (B,L._)

Morning short drive to Meteora. Guided visit to 2 monasteries, standing at top of huge rocks between earth and sky.Then drive to Thessaloniki or Athens airport for your flight back home.

Alternatively Hiking 3 hrs. Follow the old paths used by the monks, through the steep rocks, visit one of the monasteries and enjoy the beautiful views.