In the morning, we will begin the drive to Meteora. You are not likely to forget the first moment the rock pinnacles come into view– the rock formations of Meteora are an extraordinary unique phenomenon. And the best way to appreciate the power of the natural forces that shaped this breathtaking landscape is walking right into it! We'll start from the village of Kastraki, which lies at the bottom of the rocks, and hike up towards the monasteries. They represent a unique artistic achievement and are powerful places of retreat, meditation and prayer.

the itinerary

Often referred to as the cradle of Western civilization, in Athens you can't move without bumping into an ancient ruin or building. The city evokes imagery of the Greek Gods, and the thoughts of their philosophers. After you arrive and make your way to our hotel on your own, we'll meet in the late afternoon for an introductory talk, and afterwards we have our first dinner together. Of course, Greek cuisine plays a starring role on our trip.

Today we will start early from Athens and drive towards the National Park of Parnassos which is the start of our hike. Covered by thick forests full of biodiversity, Parnassos was the first Greek mountain to be proclaimed a National Park. Our hike starts just below Corycian Cave, which was dedicated to the God Pan and used for pagan rituals since Neolithic times. The trail descends the southwest part of the mountain in a dense fir forest, offering great views of the sanctuary of Delphi and the olive grove of Amfissa, the biggest in Greece, with more than one million trees. In the afternoon, we'll visit the pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was the religious center and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world. We'll visit both the site and the museum with a specialist guide.

We leave the escarpments and rock towers of Meteora for Zagori, a region of pristine rivers, wild mountains, and isolated stone villages. On the way we stop in the picturesque town of Ioannina to see its intriguing mix of Ottoman and Greek Enlightenment architecture. Next we'll drive onward into the mountains to the charming Dilofo, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved villages of Zagori. We check into our lovely boutique hotel, and in the afternoon, we hike to the neighboring village of Vitsa to have dinner.

Today we will raft Voidomatis, which characterized as one of Europe’s cleanest rivers. We float through an impressive waterway surrounded by age-long plane trees and pass by a few easy rapids before ending at the arched stone bridge of Kleidonia. After lunch we will transfer to the village of Megalo Papigo. The village is densely built, with numerous stone houses and enclosed courtyards typical for Zagori villages. In the afternoon, we leave on foot from Megalo Papigo along ancient, cobbled lanes that take us to the “sister village” of Mikro Papigo. The path leads us along the flank of the mountain to several breathtaking look-out points over the Vikos gorge, and the whole of eastern Zagori.

This morning we have a scenic 20 minute drive to the start of our walk that takes us up to the village of Tsepevolo. From there we will hike towards towards Beloi, a viewpoint with breathtaking views of the gorge of Vikos. On the way we will have the chance to walk the stairs of Vradeto. They are made of stones, carved by exceptional and highly experienced craftsmen, who created 1,120 large steps, covering 250 meters of height over 1.5 kilometers connecting the villages of Kapesovo and Vradeto. Lunch today is prepared by our friend Lambros in his tiny kitchen, at the village of Vradeto which lies at 1340m, and is the highest in the region.

Day 2: Drive to Delphi, hike & archaeological site

Koukouli is one of most significant villages in Zagori. Five amazing stone bridges connect it with the surrounding villages. The bridges are strategically located in the area, as the rivers of Zagori are quite often impassable during the winter and the road network is quite recent. Built centuries ago by the craftsmen of their time, the bridges are preserved in an excellent condition. In a 4-hour-round trip hike, we'll have the opportunity to admire each one of them from all perspectives. In the afternoon, we will drive towards the village of Elafotopos where we'll to visit a traditional home and learn about the local cuisine during a hands-on cooking lesson.

Day 08: departures

Today there will be a morning transfer to the airport of Ioannina, where you can continue exploring Greece on your own, or catch a morning flight to Athens for return flights home.

Overnight: Athens

Overnight: Delphi
Hiking distance: 11 km

Overnight: Kastraki
Hiking distance: 8 km

Overnight: Dilofo
Hiking distance: 5 km

Overnight: Dilofo
Hiking distance: 10 km

Overnight: Dilofo
Rafting duration: 1 hr 30 min
Hiking distance: 5 km

Overnight: Dilofo
Hiking distance: 12 km (+ stairs!) 

this is gonna be fun. Trust me.