4
moderate to challenging

Traveller Rating

 

Activities
  • self guided walk
Accommodation
  • 3 nights in village pensions
  • 1 night dormitory in a mountain refuge
  • 3 nights hotels
Meals
  • 1 Lunch
  • 7 Breakfasts

8 Days£1260GBP

View Inclusions

Overview

Trip Code: JZV

Trip highlights

  • Walking in the Pindos Mountains of Greece
  • Descend the famous Vikos Gorge
  • Spectacular vistas from cliff tops and high passes
  • Ancient settlements and friendly hospitality
  • Zagori cultural landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Grand, semi-fortified mansions & leafy squares

Zagoria, in the Pindus Mountains in Greece, is considered a relatively wild and remote area with a population density similar to Australia. It was a wealthy area two hundred years ago when in the proud villages grand mansions were constructed, with their own defensive features and around leafy squares. Over the years, the economy changed and there were wars of Greek Independence from the Ottomans and then the wars of the 20th century and rural depopulation leading to much of the housing being abandoned until the 1980s. Since then tourism has helped to re-kindle interest in the area which has been since 2023 on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. Maintenance grants assist house owners to repair and renovate using traditional materials and this also applies to the beautiful round-arched packhorse bridges. This walking tour follows well-marked footpaths, which with our route notes and map will enable you to find your way. The walk includes a traverse of the magnificent Vikos Gorge (sometimes referred to as the Greek Grand Canyon), as well as treasures of vernacular architecture. Many of the late 18th century stone-built villages, which we visit, are within what is today a Conservation Area. Five nights of this walking tour in Greece are spent in the lovely Zagori villages, one night in a mountain refuge, and one night at a hotel in Ioannina on the shores of Lake Pamvotis.

Countries:

Greece

Starting Point:

Preveza or Ioannina Airport

Finishing Point:

Ioannina

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Tsepelovo for your overnight accommodation. Wander around the village where you can admire the old mansions' decorated wooden balconies, a feature of this timber-producing locality. Don't miss the interesting frescoes at the restored Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos. Accommodation: Your first two nights are spent in a comfortable small pension in this typical Zagori village. *Transfer time from Ioannina Airport: 1 hour; and from Preveza Airport: 3 hours. If flying into Preveza Airport, you can arrive no later then 5.00 pm.

Meals:  Nil

From Tsepelovo (1050m) you start with an uphill path towards the highest village in Zagoria called Vradeto (1450m), from where the beautiful path at the edge of the Vikos gorge leads to a great viewpoint at Beloi (1650m). From here you can look right over the Vikos in all its resplendence and see the paths that you will be following tomorrow. Return to Vradeto village continuing downhill to Kapesovo village heading down the famous steps of Vradeto – a stone path built in the 16th Century on the slopes of the Vikos. Transfer back to Tsepelovo for your second evening.

Meals:  B

An easy descent to where the Vikos gorge starts, which is marked by a stone bridge dating back to 980 called the “Paliojefira.” Continue through a forest of beech and pine trees, where you might see evidence of bear pugmarks on the path. You end up in the village of Kipi. From here you walk up the “Koukouli Steps” and visit the centre of this picturesque village. From here walk down into the Vikos gorge again crossing the “Misiou” bridge and climb the Vitsa stairs and reach the villages of Vitsa and Monodendri that are built at the edge of the gorge. Accommodation: The stone-built guesthouse where you stay offers traditionally decorated rooms with views of Mout Mitsikeli. Rooms are all ensuite.

Meals:  B

Early in the morning descend the old Vitsa stairs into the Vikos ravine. Traversing the ravine you can do a bit of bird and flower watching, as there are quite a number of rare species that have taken refuge into the gorge. Early in the afternoon you will arrive in Vikos village and be transferred to nearby Aristi, where you will overnight. Accommodation: This 2 star hotel is constructged in traditional local style with stone-built walls and warm wooden falls. All rooms are ensuite and they offer home made, local dishes.

Meals:  B,L

After a short transfer (included) back to Vikos village, to the start of the walk, you follow the old up-hill path, which traverses the beautiful ravines to Papingo Village. Above the Towers of Papingo skyrocket inaccessibly into the sky. At the village’s natural swimming pool, you will have time for a dip and a break before heading to your accommodation. The twin villages of Megalo (Big) and Mikro (Little) Papingo huddle below the great limestone buttresses called the "Towers of Papingo" on the north side of the Vikos Gorge. Accommodation: Tonight you stay in a simple small guesthouse in Mikro Papingo.

Meals:  B

Head on uphill, up Mount Astraka. After a 3 hour ascent you will come to the Astraka Hut (1950m). The footpath up to the hut is also a mule track or route leading from the Papingo villages to various high level grazing pastures which are the traditional territory of two or three local Sarakatsani shepherding families. There are four springs along the way. From here optional ascent to Dragon Lake at 2100m, before returning to overnight at Astraka hut. You will need to carry overnight items as luggage is not moved this day due to no road access. Accommodation: Astraka Hut - Mixed dormitory style. The hut is owned by the Greek Federation of Alpine Clubs and all supplies are brought up by mules and horses. There are inside toilets and sinks and a couple of showers, be warned, these are cold!

Meals:  B

After breakfast walk to Mikro Papingo the same way you came up yesterday, it should take about 2 hours. Return to your accommodation to pick up baggage and take the prearranged transfer to Ioannina which will take approx. 1.5 h. A tour of Ioannina old quarter and citadel is worthwhile. Out-of-town excursions could include the huge limestone cave system at Perama, discovered in the 1940's, or the 3rd century BC theatre of Dodoni, and nearby ancient oracle with its whispering oaks, 15 km/9.3 miles from Ioannina and accessible in an afternoon by public bus. For those who want to take home souvenirs or gifts, a local specialty is silver and filigree jewellery. Accommodation: We usually choose a hotel in the old walled part of the town, formerly the Turkish citadel or a property in the town centre.

Meals:  B

Depending on your flight times, there may be time for further sightseeing or souvenir buying before your transfer by taxi/minibus to Ioannina or Preveza airports.

Meals:  B

Inclusions

What's included

  • 7 breakfasts & 1 lunch
  • 3 nights accommodation in village pensions, 1 night dormitory in a mountain refuge, 3 nights hotels. Twin share basis usually with ensuite facilities, except at the mountain refuge.
  • Transfer from Preveza or Ioannina to the start of the tour (and back at the end of the tour)
  • Luggage transfer (except day 6)
  • Transfers as per the itinerary
  • Information pack
  • Emergency hotline

  • Dinners, lunches & beverages
  • Entrance fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
  • Unscheduled transfers required during the trip
  • A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
  • Guide - this is a self guided holiday

Suitability

moderate to challenging

4

The tour is graded 'moderate to challenging'. The paths are rough and stony but reasonably well defined. There are ascents/descents of up to 900m/3000ft per day but the walking need not be seen as particularly strenuous as the days are not long. However, it is necessary to have some experience of map reading and route finding from written descriptions. This tour is best suited to hill walkers who are experienced at route finding in all weathers, in places like the English Lake District, Snowdonia or the Scottish Highlands. Because of the remote and rugged terrain this self-guided tour is not available to solo walkers.

Departure dates

Daily 01 May to 26 Sep

Notes

Note:
This trip is not suitable for solo travellers. Please contact our team for alternative tour suggestions
NB:
Extra nights can be booked in each location, ask our team for further details.
DN3
Please note that minor changes to your 2024 itinerary may apply.

Priceper person from

£1260GBP

Options & Supplements*
  • Single Room SupplementGBP£140
  • Solo Traveller SupplementGBP£220
*Prices listed are per person

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