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Discover the famous home of the gods - a unique trekking experience on Greece's highest and most famous mountain plus the World Heritage Site of Meteora.
START / FINISH - Thessaloniki (other gateway airports are possible)
Activity code: GR-TR-OLYMPUS (MO1)
Difficulty: Moderate. [Participants should be in good physical condition with some relevant experience and have no fear of heights.]
Duration: 8 Days/7 nights
Mount Olympus is the famous home of the 12 Olympian gods from Greek Mythology. It forms a natural border between the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia and is only 100 kilometres from Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki. Its highest peak, Mytikas, rises to 2,917 metres (9,570 ft.) - this is also one of the highest peaks in Europe. Mount Olympus is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna with several endemic plants. It is also an important nesting area for birds of prey.
In 1938 Mount Olympus was established as Greece's first National Park and in 1981, UNESCO included Olympus National Park in an international network of regions named Biosphere Reserves. The European Community has included Olympus in the list of "The Most Important Bird areas of the European Community". In 2011 the Ecologist ranked Mount Olympus among the top ten National Parks in Europe.
This walking holiday is available as part of a Small Group or Private Journey. The itinerary includes the peaks of Mount Olympus, the Enipeas Gorge, the Muses Plateau and is combined with a hike in the World Heritage Site of Meteora. The route is a well-planned circular trek utilising two separate mountain huts so you get to see much more than the usual treks on offer. Our guides are officially qualified Mountain Guides and have many years of experience. This tour, combined with a hike at the World Heritage Site of Meteora, is a hiking lover's dream and has something for everyone.
Extra Information
Please note that this tour is subject to change at the discretion of the tour leader, according to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
Suggested equipment for your trekking holiday:
Available as a small group tour on the dates below or as a private booking.
Itinerary
On arrival at Thessaloniki International Airport you will be met by your guide & taken to your guesthouse in Kastraki (around 3.5 hours), a village lying beneath the spectacular rocks of Meteora. After check in there will be a short walk to explore the area. Dinner this evening will be in a nearby local taverna.
After breakfast you'll head off with your guide on your first hike between the rocky pinnacles of the Meteora monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the traditional (and the best) way to explore this beautiful area; you'll be walking the same trails as the monks did hundreds of years ago. Along the way you'll spot some of the earliest stages of occupation by the monks, simple cave dwellings and more elaborate "monasteries" hundreds of feet up the side of the rocks.
After breakfast you'll visit one of the six inhabited monasteries which are open to the public. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular views of the towering rocks and monasteries and to take plenty of photos. Then you'll drive to your guesthouse in Litochoro (around 2 hours' journey), a town on the slopes of Mount Olympus.
Today’s 5 hour hike begins from the Monastery of Agios Dionysios and ends in the town of Litochoro. The hike will take you alongside the Enipeas River for almost the entire route and crosses over it several times. Even if you can't see the river, you can always hear it gurgling through the verdant valley smothered in black pines, beech trees and mediterranean shrub. Along this picturesque trail, which is part of the E4 European long distance path, you'll see waterfalls, wooden bridges and small lakes as well as having stunning views of the Aegean Sea as you get closer to Litochoro.
After breakfast a 20 minute drive will take you to Gortsia, today’s starting point. The path leads through a dense forest up to the Muses Plateau where your mountain hostel is located (at an altitude of 2650m). The final part of the today's hike takes you through alpine scenery which offers far-reaching views of the plains of Northern Greece, the Aegean Sea and the impressive peak “Stefani” (also known as the “Throne of Zeus”).
A bright and early start this morning as you start your walk along the foothills of “Mytikas” and “Stefani” peaks. You’ll later take the E4 European long distance path up to the peak of “Skala”, located at an altitude of 2866m. Continue your hike to Skolio peak (2912m), the second highest peak of Olympus, where you have your lunch break and enjoy the magnificent view towards the peak of Mytikas 2918 m. After lunch begin your descent to the mountain hostel (2100m altitude).
After breakfast today begin your descent towards the Monastery of Agios Dionisios. From there you’ll drive about 25 minutes to Litochoro.
This evening enjoy a memorable farewell dinner at a popular local taverna.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Thessaloniki Airport* for your return flight.
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