Introduction
The Greek Gods made their home on Mt Olympus (Mytikas 2918m). Not only the highest mountain in the country, Greece's oldest and most carefully protected national park, also boasts the greatest concentration of flora and fauna, huge expanses of forest and the crystal clear waters of the Enippeas River.
The dramatic rocky pinnacles of Meteora with their thriving cliff top monasteries are a sight to behold. One marvels at the audacity of the monks who first dared to perch simple shelters on the tiny summits. Nowadays the monasteries are much grander, but we take the privilege of reaching them via windy rocky paths among the rocky "chaos".
Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: week
Quick Facts
- Eight day trip
- Seven nights accommodation inn hotels and guest houses
- Professional trekking guide
- Climb the most legendary mountain in the world, home of Zeus
- See the amazing pinnacles of Meteora
Area
Mt. Olympus is the most famous and highest mountain in Greece; and of course mythical home of the ancient Greek Gods. From its steep rocky summit, first climbed only 100 years ago, Zeus supposedly hurled his thunderbolts against humankind. Its eastern flanks were the country's first national park (created in the 1930's), with dozens of endemic species of flower as well as some endangered bird and butterfly species; there are no roads within it apart from the trailhead access road. There is also no habitation apart from the two-staffed refuges, which bring provide simple food and accommodation in a friendly atmosphere. The mountain's watershed divides the regions of Thessaly (south) and Macedonia (north); to the east is the Aegean Sea, which brings in the afternoon/evening mist so characteristic of this mountain.
Flora and Fauna
Wild flowers abound. Throughout the summer the forest paths are studded with gentians, tulips, fritillaries and lilies. In the alpine zone we see pansies, saxifrage, columbine, bell-flowers (campanula), and (a rare treat) the endemic jankaea heldreichii. Yellow Spanish Broom is common on low ground. Wild herbs (oregano, basil, sage "tea") scent the hillsides throughout the year.
The forests mostly consist of fir and pine, with colourful stands of beech. At lower levels there are dense low woods, with the usual mixture of kermes oak, judas trees, arbutus and plane trees. The mountain also harbours some elusive Balkan chamois. At lower altitudes various forest mammals (squirrels, martens, etc.) may be spotted.
Whereas sighting a mammal may prove a frustrating pastime, bird watching has much more obvious rewards. Of the many birds of prey, Egyptian and griffon vultures, golden eagles, Peregrine and other falcons and various buzzards are found, while the magnificent Lammergeyer (or Bearded Vulture) with its 3-metre wingspan may be spotted with luck. In the forests, woodpeckers abound, including the rare Black Woodpecker; the Alpine zones also boast a wide variety of avifauna - highlights here are the rock partridge and elusive wall creeper. Lower down, warblers, shrikes, buntings and thrushes are common.
Itinerary
| Day | Activity |
| Day 1 |
Arrival in Athens. Meet at the airport with your guide. Transfer to the hotel and settle in. In the evening meet with your guide for a short walking tour of Athens and enjoy dinner in a traditional Greek tavern. |
| Day 2 |
From Athens travel to Litochoro and walk to Spilios Agapitos refuge (Athens-Litochoro 387km, approximately 6 hours drive. Estimated walking time 3.5 hours). After breakfast, depart for your drive to Litochoro. Lunch in a taverna on the way. Early in the afternoon, transfer to Litochoro, and then Prionia from where we begin our walk, at an altitude of 1.000 metres, we walk through shady beech and fir forests, where we should see a variety of woodland birds and flowers. We continue our way up to the refuge at 2,100m |
| Day 3 |
Peak ascents (Estimated Walking Time 4- 6 hours). We take a path going up the cliffs and we reach first Skala at 2,882 meters and from here we traverse to Mytikas (2,917 meters), Greece's highest peak! This involves some scrambling on a well-defined route and a head for heights |
| Day 4 | Plateau of the Muses (3- 4 hours). We leave the refuge after breakfast and climb to the Plateau of the Muses and on to the Seo refuge at 2700m. The dramatic peak of Stefani, the throne of Zeus, dominates the plateau |
| Day 5 |
Descent of the Lemos Ridge and walk through Enippeas gorge to Litochoro (6-7 hours). After an initial steepish descent, we enter the Enippeas gorge, passing a cave-chapel and the monastery of St. Dionysus, as well as taking advantage of several swimming opportunities en route in river pools. After about seven hours walking, the gorge opens up on the outskirts of Litohoro. |
| Day 6 | Travel to Meteora. Transfer from Litohoro to Kalambaka in the nearby village of Kastraki. (Litochoro-Kastraki 151 km, approximately 2.5 hours drive). |
| Day 7 | Walk and monastery visit. Walk around western Meteora, following the same old paths the monks used to use, which wind their way amongst the tall rock-towers. These paths go up to the rocks and take us to the cliff top monasteries, the high places of the Greek-orthodox spirituality. We will have enough time to visit two of the most important ones: the Megalo Meteoro, and the Varlaam |
| Day 8 | Return to Athens. After breakfast, we drive back to Athens. (Kastraki-Athens 350 km, approximately 5.5 hours drive) |
Please note: this is a complex itinerary, and certain elements of it may need to be varied in accordance with conditions on the ground, as the guides see fit.
Course Requirements
In Mt. Olympus we walk 5-6 hours per day, and mostly follow good forest paths. Above the treeline, the terrain varies from grassy uplands to rocky ridges, with some easy scrambling required for the peak ascents. In Meteora we walk 4-5 hours per day on paths on rocky terrain.
We recommend that you follow a fitness plan in preparation for your challenge, an example of one will be sent to you when you have confirmed your booking.
Although the fitness plan we will send to you has been devised by a fitness professional, this is only provided as a guide and you should seek professional advice before starting your own fitness regime.
Dates
The season for this trip is between April and September, with the best conditions in June and September.
Please call us on 017683 71289 to register your interest and discuss dates with us directly.
Create Your Own Trip Dates
Price and Inclusions
2012 Price:
Price includes:
- 8 days/7 nights, accommodation in double rooms in B/B basis in hotels and/or guesthouses
- Full Board
- English speaking trekking guide,
- All relevant ground transfers
- Entrance fees
Price Excludes:
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
- Optional tips
