Discover the rocky pinnacles and cliff-top monasteries of the Meteora and the spell-binding mountain landscapes of the Pindos National Park in this walking tour in the north of Greece.

Where?

The Meteora and Pindos mountains adventure begins in the shadows of the Meteora rocks in Kastraki, a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the spectacular landscapes of immense monolithic pillars and hills that look like huge rounded boulders. Set upon these pinnacles of rock are 6 Eastern Orthodox monasteries built between the 14th and 16th centuries. The walking follows the same paths that the monks used to use centuries ago, winding their way through tall rocktowers and past huge rock faces. 2 days are spent exploring the monasteries and the Meteora views before transferring to the Zagori region in the heart of the Pindos mountains.

The village of Vitsa

From your base in the village of Vitsa there are a number of walks in the Pindos mountains. Follow the old kalderimia (old cobbled mule trail) before crossing the plains of Vradeto to a viewpoint over the gorge to Kapesovo. Hike through the villages of Zagori from Vitsa to Koukouli and on to Kipi and Dilofo, beautifully unspoilt villages that are connected by ancient bridges. When it is time to return to Vitsa, drag yourself away from the outdoor table of the cafe in Difolo square, where in the shade of the large sycamore tree you can enjoy artisan cheeses and a thirst quenching drink after the day's walking. Another of the Zagori's beautiful villages is Monodendri from where you begin your crossing of the impressive Vikos Gorge. This final day of walking is the most challenging in terms of distance but the scenery and abundance of wildlife, such as birds of prey and wild boars, in the Pindos National Park brings on an excitement that makes the walking much easier. This Greek epic finishes with views up the world's deepest gorge from Vikos village.

Vikos gorge, the deepest in the world in proportion to its width.

Distance?

50 km over the course of 5 days with a minimum daily distance of 6 km and a maximum of 12 km.

Grade?

This tour is graded moderate to strenuous overall primarily due to the walks in the Pindos mountains where there are more elevation gains and losses.

The Meteora

Why walk here?

Follow pristine hiking trails through the unspoilt Zagori region in northern Greece which includes walks in the Pindos mountains and the impressive Vikos Gorge.

Wildflowers in the Pindos mountains.

Enjoy the Greek cuisine under the warmth of the Mediterranean sun; feta and cheeses, olives, plenty of oil and wine at lunch or try local cuisine such as 'batsaria'.

Misios Bridge in the untouched Zagori region

Discover the real Greece as you walk through the picturesque villages of Zagori. Lined with cyprus trees and built of stone with village squares where the locals spend most of their time in the open air enjoying each others company and watching life go by.

Planning and preparation

In order to get to Kastraki, the best airport to fly into is Thessaloniki Airport. This airport is served by numerous airlines including, Ryanair, Easyjet, Aegean Airlines and many more. Macs Adventure can provide a private transfer from the airport to the first hotel and from Vitsa at the end of the tour back to the airport should you wish to take this option (at an extra cost). Previous customers have rented a car or taken a train from Thessalonika to Kalambaka (we would then provide the transfers to and from Kalambaka to Kastraki and Vitsa as part of this option, which is the most inexpensive choice). There are several trains per day (but only one direct train). The journey takes from 2.45H to 3.30H depending on the schedule. Please check the TrainOSE website for schedules.

A self-guided walking holiday is the perfect way to discover the real Greece, get off the beaten path and explore this wonderful area of Greece on a Macs Adventure walking holiday. If you have questions about this tour get in touch with a member of our team on info@macsadventure.com. For travel advice and tips as well as the best of the Macs Adventure blog straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter!