Hiking Adventure in Zagori and Meteora: Explore Greece's Hidden Gems

Our hiking adventure starts from Athens (or from Thessaloniki, upon request), from where we transfer to Zagori area by car* (around 5 hrs from Athens). You are met and welcomed by our team and your group leader explains briefly the trip details.
We then set off for the village of Monodendri, where we will visit the Rizarios School of Handicrafts and learn how women make handmade textiles and weavings. We will also visit the Rizarios Photo Exhibition, where temporary photography collections are exhibited, as well as the original stereoscopic cameras that British photographers used to capture the first modern Olympic Games in Greece in 1896! We will then take the short hiking path to Agia Paraskevi church and enjoy the impressive views over Vikos gorge! Oxya viewpoint and the stone forest come next.
(Total Hike duration: 1 hrs / level of difficulty: easy)
* You can optionally fly from Athens to Ioannina national airport (1hr flight), from where our team will pick you up and head to Zagori villages by car (around 50 min driving distance).  In case you wish to fly to another Greek airport, please contact us, so we can arrange your transfer to Zagoria villages.
meals included : snack lunch, dinner
accommodation : traditional guesthouse in Vitsa

After a good breakfast, we start our hiking day from the village of Kapesovo down to Vikos gorge and then upwards, through the beautiful Vradeto steps (stone path built in the 16th century at the slopes of Vikos Gorge) towards the highest village of Zagori, Vradeto (1340m). From there, following a beautiful path at the rims of Vikos Gorge, we arrive at Beloi viewpoint (1450m), where we can enjoy panoramic views over the gorge. We return to Vradeto village and from there back to Kapesovo village.
After a quick snack outdoors, we will visit some of the most important and beautiful arch stone bridges of Zagoria, dating back to the 16 – 18th centuries.
Kapesovo – Vradeto- Mpeloi (return trail)
(Hike duration: 3.5-4 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate)
Arch stone Bridges tour (o/w or r/w)
*The tour of the arch stone bridges can be done in many different ways, we may hike to all of the bridges or do parts by car (it depends on the travelers’ fitness level and willingness to do parts or all of it, it is a quite flexible trail)
(Hike duration: 2-3.5 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate)
(Total Hike duration: 6-7.5 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate)
meals : breakfast, snack lunch, dinner
accommodation : traditional guesthouse in Vitsa

Today we will hike in one of the most beautiful, impressive, and rewarding hiking paths in the area! We will transfer to Monodendri village, from where we will descend down to Vikos gorge, said to be one of the deepest gorges in the world.  Walking parallel to the river, it will take us about 6 hours to cross the canyon. Traversing the ravine, we can admire the rare varieties of wild birds and flowers that have found their habitat in Vikos-Aoos National park. We will make a stop at the river springs to relax and eat our snacks. Depending on the season, you can also swim in the river!
Early in the afternoon, we arrive at Vikos village where we are picked up by our minibus and transferred to Papigo village for dinner and overnight stay.
Monodendri – Vikos Gorge – Vikos (o/w)
(Total Hike duration: 6 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging)
meals: breakfast, snack lunch
accommodation: traditional guesthouse in Papigo

: Hike to the alpine Dragon Lake
Our hiking exploration for today is quite demanding, yet truly fulfilling!
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we start from Papigo village our ascending hiking route towards the Astraka refuge. The surrounding alpine scenery will captivate you for sure! After a short break for coffee and relaxation, we continue until the beautiful “Dragon Lake”, situated at 2100m altitude. The view of this magical landscape will definitely reward you after a long hiking day.
Tonight we will stay overnight at the mountain refuge of Astraka, after we enjoy a homemade dinner.
Mikro Papigo – Astrafa refuge – Dragon Lake – Astraka refuge (r/w)
(Hike duration: 6 – 6.5 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging).
meals: breakfast, snack lunch, dinner
accommodation: at the mountain refuge

After breakfast at the mountain refuge, we will start our descending way back to Papigo village. This is our last day in the Zagori area, so we cannot leave without making a stop at the natural swimming pools in Ovires. During the summer months, you can also enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters of the river!
We’ll enjoy a delicious pick nick lunch by the riverside, before we depart with destination the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage site of Meteora. Upon arrival in Meteora, we’ll enjoy a sunset tour for beautiful views and photo shooting, before we check in to our hotel.
Astrafa refuge – Mikro Papigo (o/w)
(Total Hike duration: 2.5 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate)
meals : breakfast, pick nick lunch, dinner
accommodation : 3* hotel in Meteora

What a better way to start your day than admiring the spectacular rock pillars of Meteora stone forest? After breakfast, we will explore this unique landscape on foot, following the hiking paths of the ancient monks and we’ll visit some of the top-cliff monasteries of the area.
In the afternoon, we will return back to Athens and you will be transferred at your hotel.
(Total Hike duration: 3 – 3.5 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate/ Total Distance: 6km / Altitude difference: 280m)
meals : breakfast, lunch
accommodation : 3* hotel in Athens

This is the last day of our weekly hiking adventure. Depending on your flight schedule, you are free to explore Athens, continue your holidays in Greece or make your way to the airport.
meals: breakfast