Global Adventure - Trek Northern Greece's Pindus Mountains, Vikos Gorge, Meteora, Mount Olympus and the Pelion Coast

Itinerary Highlights: 

It’s uncommon in the modern world to discover a place that combines remote, physically challenging hiking through unique, stunning landscapes, with rich history and biodiversity, and authentic village culture, and without the crowds….but all of this can be found far from the normal tourist track in the mountains of northern Greece. 

On this 16 day adventure[1], after our arrival day we’ll take a full day to tour some of the archaeological wonders of ancient Athens from a hotel near the historic center, and will enjoy a welcome dinner of local specialties.

Then on day 3 we’ll take a short domestic flight north to hike the best sections of the Pindus Trail for 7 days, through dramatic mountain landscapes, up the rock slopes on the side of Mount Tymfi to remote high ‘Dragon Lakes’ that have their own mythology[2], and down into the mile-deep Vikos Gorge, climbing back up on the historic Vradeto steps.[3].  Along the way we’ll dip in refreshing natural springs and stay in authentic quiet stone-built villages.  

On day 10 we’ll transfer 1.5 hours east to spend a day exploring the fabled monasteries of Meteora.  “The Meteora” is a rock formation in northwestern Greece that hosts one of the most prominent complexes of ancient Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the world.  Twenty-four monasteries were established in the second half of the 14^th century atop the giant natural pillars and hill-like rounded boulders that dominate the local area, mainly from the second half of the 14th century, and six of these are still active and open to visitors.  We’ll hike around and up to a number of these sites, and spend a night in the village of Kastraki below.

From Meteora we’ll have a free day on day 11 resting or enjoying a number of optional activities on our own[4] (from rafting to wine tasting to food touring), ending in the town of Litochoro near Mount Olympus.   On day 12, after transferring to the gateway "village" of Prionia (really just a cafe and trailhead!) we’ll trek to the Spilios Agapitos refuge, a magnificent stone building high on the mountainside from which we’ll stage our hike to the trekking summit(s) of Olympus.   We’ll start day 13 hiking steeply up from the hut to get to the top of Skala Peak at ~9500 feet elevation, one of the trekking summits[5] adjacent to the main peak of Olympus, where (if weather permits) we’ll enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, deep gorges, and the Aegean Sea. 

From the peak we’ll descend back to the refuge for one more night, and then hike on day 14 back to Prionia and our van and drive about 3.5 hours to the Pelion coast and the lovely coastal village of Damouchari.

We’ll end our adventure with a day and two nights of blissful relaxation in and around Damouchari, one of the most beautiful and peaceful villages and beaches on the country’s Pelion coast.   This schedule gives us a full day, for anyone who chooses, to enjoy Damouchari beach and even for an optional hike to Fakistra cove and beach, a remote cliff-surrounded cove with no facilities but exceptional turquoise water and seclusion.

On our last morning (day 16) we’ll have breakfast and then load our van for the ride back to Athens for flights home (about a 5 hour ride).

An expert local guide will accompany us throughout the itinerary, keeping us safe and on track, connecting us to the culture, and filling us in on the ancient history of this part of Greece where the legends of the Greek gods and monsters are still alive!  We’ll need to carry only daypacks, and a van with driver will shuttle us and our luggage between locations as needed.   

Our hiking days range from moderate to very strenuous, the longest being 9.1 miles with 2600 feet of gain (on day 4), and the most strenuous being 6.8 miles and a bit over 4500 feet of gain (on day 7).  There are four days in a row with over 2500 feet of elevation gain, and two later days in a row with over 2900.  Many of the trails are built from crumbly dolomitic rock or scree and can be quite steep.  A few routes will be across very steep side slopes or along ridges with steep drop-offs.   In addition to being in shape to hike strenuous trails for multiple successive days, participants will need to be confident descending steep scree, will need good balance (plus poles and sturdy footwear) to walk over rugged bouldery trail surfaces for multiple days, and will need to have good tolerance for moderate exposure and heights.  Photos of typical terrain from the trip can be found at this link.

[1] 2 days for arrival and departure, a full day touring Athens, 11 days trekking, and 2 days for rest, transfers and an optional wine and food tour!

[2] The myths tell of two huge dragons – one black and one white – who were living on each of two mountain tops, Tympfi and Smolikas. The dragons started fighting by throwing enormous rocks at each other, and that’s how not only the lakes were made – at Tymfi and Smolikas peaks where the two most wonderful of the dragon lakes exist – and shaping the dramatic rocky scenery around these mountains too. 

[3] The Vikos is listed as the world's "deepest relative to its width" gorge by the Guinness Book of Records.  The Vradeto steps, consisting of 1,100-1,200 stone steps with 39 hairpin turns, were the only link to the outside world for the village of Vradeto before a road was built in 1973.

[4] At our own expense

[5] Skala can be climbed on a trail that doesn’t require technical scrambling or helmets, though the trail is steep scree and has a bit of exposure.  Since this adventure is classified as a trekking/backpacking trip, no one on the trip is authorized to climb the main peak which requires higher level scrambling skills as well as helmets, harness and ropes.  Anyone uncomfortable with the terrain will have the option to return to the hut or wait partway for the group.

Activity Difficulty:  Moderate to Very Strenuous, due to rugged rocky terrain and some large gains and losses.

Activity Leader Rating:  Challenging, because of the rugged terrain, some moderate exposure, and fitness demand for larger elevation gain days.

Time of Year:   Our visit will be in September after most tourists have returned home from holiday, so the crowds should be less and the weather cooler;  however there is still the potential for heat and humidity on occasion during the month even in the mountains.   The average high temperature in Athens during September ranges from 82-86°F (on the hottest days, the temperature might reach up to 91°F early in the month.) The average low temperature at night is typically around 64°F to 68°F.   In the Pindus Mountains and on Mount Olympus, we can expect cooler weather, with highs in the mid 70s to low 80s and lows in the low to mid 50s (rarely down into the 40s at the highest locations).  Like any mountain environment, showers are always possible and it is getting more probable in September, so hikers need to be prepared with raingear;  but most days in September are still sunny to partly sunny with only modest precipitation expected.  We’ll watch the daily forecast, and if heat is predicted, we'll emphasize early start times, a slower pace, plenty of water and electrolytes, and sun protection including encouraging reflective umbrellas on those days.  People who are particularly susceptible to heat illness may need to consider whether this trip is right for them.  In extreme cases we may have to cancel or modify a day’s hikes based on rain or heat.

Lodging:    Our lodging in Athens will be in a 2- to 3-star hotel near the historic center, with twin-share rooms and ensuite bath.  We’ll spend two nights in simple, remote dorm-style mountain refuges (no showers or cold showers only), and the rest of our nights we will stay in  family hotels in small villages (twin-share, bath in the room or down the hall).   To simplify check-in and to help everyone to get to know each other, the leader will assign roommates throughout the trip and the assignments will change every 3-4 days.

Food:   The trip price includes breakfast every day, and three dinners including a welcome dinner in Athens, a dinner upon our arrival in Vikos, and a farewell dinner in Damouchari.    Our remaining dinners will be available for purchase a la carte (at our own expense) at the mountain huts and in the villages where our hotels are located.   Packed lunches will be available from our lodgings, and we'll have the opportunity to purchase snacks along the way.   Greek cuisine has many wonderful vegetarian options so vegetarians should have plenty of choices, and vegan and gluten free options should be available with some planning and willingness to accept less variety, but there may not always be choices to satisfy other dietary restrictions in these small towns.

Leader’s Experience:   Cheryl Talbert has led many Mountaineers hikes and many Mountaineers and private backpacks, treks and cultural trips around the U.S. west and worldwide.  She has been a Global Adventures leader since 2014, and this will be her 45th Global Adventure lead including trips led in New Zealand, Patagonia, Peru, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Portugal, Madeira, Croatia and the Alps.  This is her first time trekking in Greece. (cascadehiker12@gmail.com)

Participant Requirements:   Must be a current Mountaineers member with an up-to-date waiver on file. This outing includes strenuous hiking on rugged terrain (including some steep moraine and scree slopes and moderate exposure) for multiple successive days, so participants need to be in excellent condition with good balance and confidence traveling on steep scree and crumbly rocky trail with a pack, and with the experience and attitude to roll with changeable weather and a lack of laundry and showers on some days.  Recent experience with multi-day strenuous backpacking, scrambling or hiking, plus a positive attitude and a demonstrated ability to get along well as part of a group under demanding conditions, will be very important.  Finally, participants must support an expedition-team approach where we stay together on the trail and make decisions for mutual support.   Your fit with the requirements will be evaluated through a detailed application (see Application button below) as well as contacts with Mountaineers leaders who have hiked with you in the past.  NOTE:  Your leader makes most of the arrangements and provides logistics support during the trip, but is NOT a tour guide!  As a Mountaineers group we will operate as interdependent, capable travelers making our way together and helping one another succeed and be safe.  You must have the ability to navigate on trails with a map and compass or digital map program.

Respiratory Illness prevention:  Participants must be fully vaccinated to participate in the trip, which includes any boosters available up to the time of travel.  In addition, participants are asked for the safety of their fellow travelers to practice conservative behavior before and during transit to the trip, including masking in airports and on the plane, and avoiding crowded indoor spaces whenever possible; and to carry covid self-tests on the trip and use them at any time when they experience a symptom commonly related to covid.  Any positive test could mean that the participant will need to isolate from the group until symptoms are gone, and/or to remain masked up for a few days after that when in close quarters.  Likewise, participants should wear a mask in group spaces and isolate as much as possible if they have significant symptoms of ANY potentially contagious respiratory illness.  The Mountaineers Respiratory Illness policy can be found at this link.

Required and Recommended Travel Insurance:  Participants are required to carry international medical and evacuation insurance at their own expense, and it is also recommended to carry trip cancellation insurance though this is not required.  Cancel for Any Reason insurance provides the option for partial reimbursement of trip expenses for cancellation due to a pre-existing condition or other reasons – but must be purchased within 14 days of your first trip payment (which would be your deposit).  If you choose to carry Trip Cancellation insurance, check with the insurer to be sure that a positive Covid test would be counted as an approved reason to cancel, and find out what documentation would be required.

Trip Price Detail:  $5700, including all lodging, guides during the trek, and ground transportation (not including the airport to city metro in Athens) as well as skip-the-line entry to some sites in Athens, your breakfasts and three dinners during the trip, plus packed lunches while we are trekking.  Your airfare (approx. $1200 with international and domestic flights), airport transfers in Athens (~$15-50 depending on taxi vs metro), guides at historical sites in Athens, travel insurance ($75 for required medical and evac cover),  10 dinners throughout the trip (~$350), guide and driver tips (~$180), taxi to and rental of snorkel gear at Fakistra, and cost of optional tours during free day between Meteora and Litochoro (~$100) are not included.  

Registration Instructions:   First please complete and submit the application form at the button below and email the leader letting them know of your interest in the trip.   After the leader’s approval, go to the trip listing and click the REGISTER button to pay the 50% deposit and hold your space on the roster. Registration will close on June 1, 2026 or whenever the roster fills. A place on the roster can only be held with payment of the deposit. The due date for the balance of the trip payment will be announced later.

As soon as you've joined the roster for the trip, please complete the Trip Agreement and Release forms at the buttons below at your earliest convenience.  

APPLICATION

TRIP AGREEMENT

RELEASE

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FORM (TO BE COMPLETED IN THE FINAL WEEKS BEFORE THE TRIP)

Cancellation Policy:    In general, refunds will not be available once you have paid your deposit and registered for the trip.   If you must cancel but we are able to find a replacement for you, you may be able to get a refund of some or all of your trip payments up to that point, less a $100 administrative fee and any non-refundable or incremental costs associated with your cancellation; this option is only available up to a month before the trip departs, after which you will not be eligible for any refund.                      

Participants are asked to arrive at the Athens, Greece International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (AIA) no later than the afternoon of Sunday August 30, 2025.  (Earlier arrival to allow extra days exploring Athens are encouraged, but extra lodging days and transport before or the main itinerary are not included in the trip price.}  A convenient metro is available to take us from the airport to a station close to our hotel near the historic center (at our own expense). 

After a full day touring Athens and a group welcome dinner on Aug 31^st, we’ll metro back to the AIA airport on the morning of September 1st for a short flight to the city of Ioannina, our gateway to explorations of the Pindos, Vikos and Meteora.  (This flight and our international flight to Athens are not included in the trip price, but the leader will coordinate flight bookings to Ioannina so that we’re all on the same flight to facilitate transport at the other end).  A van will pick us up at the Ioannina airport and will stay with us to take us between the various start and end points of our trek.

The trip will end with two hotel nights in Damouchari on the Pelion coast, a full day to enjoy the beach and lovely coastal forest, and a shuttle back to Athens on Monday September 14 to catch flights home (or to kick off subsequent explorations!)  Return flights should not be organized before early evening to give us time for our 5 hour van ride to Athens airport from Damouchari.