Hiking Zagori & Meteora

This is the first day of your hiking trip and the meeting point is Ioannina city (airport or central bus station). A private transfer to Vitsa village is included for today, hotel check in and homemade dinner.
Depending on your arrival time, you have two options for today:
Option 1 | Morning arrivals (until 14:00pm): Hike Vradeto – Beloe – Vradeto steps – Kapesovo
In case you are planning to be in Ioannina by 14:00pm, you can already enjoy your first hike for today!
You will be picked up from Ioannina city, central bus station or airport (depending on your travel plans) and you will be transferred to Central Zagori, part of Northern Pindos National Park (approx. 45-60min drive). When you reach Zagori you will be taken to Vradeto village, the highest of all villages in Zagori (1.340m elevation), from where you will set off for our first hike. Following a beautiful easy path through the meadows, you will arrive at Beloe viewpoint (1400m), where you can enjoy panoramic views over Vikos canyon. You will then return to Vradeto village from the same path and take the beautiful Vradeto steps (stone path built in the 16th century at the cliff of the gorge) towards Kapesovo village.
Once in Kapesovo, a private transfer will take you to your guesthouse in Vitsa, which will be your base for the next 2 days.
Hike duration: approx. 3 hours / Distance: 7km / Elevation gain: +250/-450m / Level of difficulty: easy
Option 2 | Afternoon-Evening arrivals (after 14:00pm): Transfer to Vitsa & hotel check in, evening free
If your arrival in Ioannina is after 14:00pm, your time will be limited so you won’t hike on the first day of the tour. The Vradeto – Beloe – Kapesovo hike will take place on your last day in Zagori (day 6), so you won’t miss it. You will be transferred to Vitsa village (approx. 45min drive) to a family run guesthouse, where you will spend the next 2 days and enjoy homemade dinner.

     Dinner                          Traditional Guesthouse in Vitsa

After a rich homemade breakfast, today you will explore hiking some of the most beautiful historic arch stone bridges of the area, passing by traditional stone-made villages along the way.
 Arch stone Bridges Hike
Starting right from the Village of Vitsa (980m altitude), you will follow the nice stone paved trail of Vitsa steps that will take you all the way down to the first arch stone bridge, Misios bridge (740m). this is also considered as the official start of Vikos canyon. You will then ascend towards Koukouli village from another stone paved trail, the Koukouli steps. From there, following another trail, you will descend to Lazarides arch stone bridge, before reaching the village of Kipi. From there, following well marked trails among beech forests, you will explore some more of the most beautiful arch stone bridges of the area (Mili, Plakida, Kokkori, Arkouda), before you start ascending the stone paved Vitsa steps to reach again your hotel. Alternatively, if you are in for more hiking, you can cross Arkoudas bridge and hike all the way up to the beautiful Dilofo village and from there to Vitsa village (extra 5km, 2 hrs approx.).
Hike duration: 5 – 6 hours / Distance: 15 – 16 km / Elevation: +/- 300-500m / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate

 Breakfast, Snack lunch, Dinner      Traditional guesthouse in Vitsa

Today you will hike in one of the most beautiful, impressive, and rewarding hiking paths in the area!
You will be transferred to Monodendri village (your luggage will be transferred to Papigo), from where you will descend to Vikos gorge, said to be one of the deepest gorges in the world! Walking parallel to the river (with several ascents and descents on uneven terrain), it will take you about 6 hours to cross the canyon. Traversing the ravine, you can admire the rare varieties of wild birds and flowers that have found their habitat in Northern Pindos National Park. You should definitely make a stop at the river springs to relax, put your feet in the cold water of Voidomatis river and enjoy your snacks. Depending on the season, you can also swim in the river.
Early in the afternoon you will exit at Vikos village, from where you will be picked up and transferred to Papigo village for dinner and overnight stay.
Hike duration: 6 – 6.5 hours / Distance: 14km / Elevation: +1.100/ -1.400m / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging

Breakfast, Snack lunch              Traditional guesthouse in Papigo

Your hiking exploration for today is demanding, yet truly fulfilling! Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will be transferred to Mikro Papigo village, while your luggage will be kept in and transferred accordingly to your next transfer or accommodation location (Tsepelovo).
From Mikro Papigo you start the ascending hike towards the Astraka refuge (approx. 3hrs hike, 1.000m ascent).
The surrounding alpine scenery will captivate you for sure! After a short break for lunch and relaxation at the refuge, you continue onwards to the beautiful “Dragon Lake”, situated at 2050m altitude. The views over the dragon lake and the surrounding mountains & peaks of Greece will definitely reward you after a long hiking day.
Tonight, you will stay overnight at the mountain refuge of Astraka, where you will also enjoy a homemade dinner.
Hike duration: 5.5 – 6 hours / Distance: 11km / Elevation: +1.450/ -450m / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging

 Breakfast, Snack lunch       Bed (Dorm) in Mountain Hut

Wake up early enough to watch the sunrise and you won’t regret it! After breakfast at the mountain hut, you will start crossing mount Tymfi, you will reach approx. 15km later the village of Tsepelovo.
You will get supplies for lunch from the mountain hut and crossing Tymfi plateau, passing by ex-glacial terrain, vertical caves and Megas Lakkos gorge, you will reach Tsepelovo village after approx. 6.5-7 hrs hike.
Hike duration: 6.5 – 7 hours / Distance: 15km / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging / Elevation gain/loss: +425m/-1.200m
Once you reach the village of Tsepelovo, probably the biggest of Central Zagori, you will check in at your hotel and rest! Your luggage will have been transferred there, waiting for you. You can enjoy dinner in one of the local restaurants at the village’s square.

Breakfast, Snack lunch            Traditional hotel in Tsepelovo

Today you can sleep in a bit, after the last long hiking days and enjoy the morning at leisure in Tsepelovo village.
If you haven’t hiked the Vradeto – Beloe – Kapesovo trail on day 1, this is what you are doing today! Starting right from Tsepelovo village, you will hike towards Kapesovo. Before reaching Kapesovo, you will follow a trail that will take you up to Vradeto village, the highest of all Zagori villages, through Vradeto steps. You will afterwards follow an easy path to Beloe viewpoint, one of the nicest “balconies” overlooking Vikos gorge.
Hike duration: approx. 5-6 hours / Distance: 13-14km / Elevation gain: +450/-650m / Level of difficulty: moderate
A private transfer in the afternoon will take you to your next destination, a must-see for anyone visiting Greece, the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage Site of Meteora (approx. 3 hrs drive).
Hotel check in, evening free to enjoy dinner in one of the local restaurants.

Breakfast                                   3* Hotel in Meteora

What a better way to start your day than admiring the spectacular rock pillars of Meteora stone forest? After breakfast, you will explore this unique landscape on foot, following the hiking paths of the ancient monks and you can visit some of the top-cliff monasteries of the area.
You will start and finish right from your hotel and there will be free time for lunch at the picturesque square of Kastraki village. This is the end of your self-guided hiking holiday in Greece!
Total Hike duration: 3 – 3.5 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate / Total Distance: 5 – 6km / Altitude difference: 280m
Depending on your travel plans, you can either head to Athens (by train or bus) or to Thessaloniki or continue to another Greek destination. We can assist with all necessary travel arrangements.

Breakfast        On your own