Greece is one of my favorite countries in the world. The food, the culture, and the natural beauty of the land are incredible and unlike anywhere else. This trip is focused on culture and adventure, where you are invited to step outside of your comfort zone, travel with intention, and make friends in a small group setting. This itinerary steps away from the normal tourist trail, exploring the beauty that Northern Greece has to offer.

The Natural Wonders

SEPT 16-23, 2024

DELPHI - METEORA - ZAGORI
START: ATHENS • end: ioannina

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You don't often hear about Northern Greece as a hotspot for tourism– most people head straight for the islands. But if you enjoy the kind of travel I do, then you will love it. Green mountains, quiet mornings in traditional villages, trails that have been walked for thousands of years... a delight for the intentional traveler.

Think mountains, gorges, and rivers. This region is blessed with a lush and soaring landscape, and mountain villages that still preserve their traditional architecture. We'll experience this special place over eight days of hiking, sunset views, Greek meals, stays in boutique hotels, and group discussions over raki.

Our trips attract people who are interested in personal growth, culture and adventure. We do a lot of hiking and we certainly stay busy, but the trip is also a space to come as you are, set personal intentions, and leave with more clarity. It is also a place to develop your photography and work on your skills in a beautiful environment, if that's what you want to do. That said, you don't need to be a photographer to join! The most important part is that this trip page resonates with you and makes your spirit say YES.

Join us in Greece for a special adventure through the mountains!

you're invited:

Dates

SEPTEMBER 16-23, 2024

Cost

$3,650 USD

Size

12 participants maximum

trip is filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
scroll down to APPLY.

What's Included

The details

All accommodations based on double occupancy

Hotel taxes and service charges

All transportation during the trip

All activities mentioned in the program

Entrance fee to one monastery in Meteora

Guide services throughout the tour

All hikes and rafting day trip

All meals starting with dinner on arrival day, ending with breakfast on departure day

Daily group discussions, journal prompts, and guided activities with Erin












































What's Not Included

Domestic and/or international airfare

Medical expenses

Travel insurance (required!)

Tips for guides and drivers

Alcoholic beverages and meals other than those outlined in itinerary

Transfer to and from the airport/port

Visas if needed

Snacks – bring from home, or purchase once in Greece

Any personal items or souvenirs











































“I’m SO glad Erin pushed me to take a chance.”

CHRISTINE MADE LIFE-LONG FRIENDS

My biggest takeaway is knowing that I can do stuff like this… whether it’s a physical challenge, or traveling with a group of strangers that would become friends… I’m SO glad Erin pushed me to take a chance.”

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.

DAY 01: Arrivals & Welcome Dinner

DAY 03: Drive to Meteora, hike & sunset

DAY 04: Drive towards Zagori, Ioannina, hike Dilofo to Vitsa

DAY 05: Hike, visit traditional bridges, cooking lesson

DAY 06: Rafting Voidomatis, hike Megalo Papigo to Vikos view

DAY O7: Hike from Tsepelovo to Beloi viewpoint through Vradeto stairs

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.

FROM OUR ALUMNI...

“This trip is about more than just experiencing the beautiful country.”

jordyn got more than she expected

“If you go, expect an experience unlike any other.”

Erin and Dimitris are the absolute best. They will make you feel so comfortable about everything. It sounds kind of scary to just be going on a trip with some girl from Instagram, but trust me, it’s the best. Erin is exactly how you would expect her to be, just a little taller. If you go, expect an experience unlike any other. Expect to not be able to accurately describe what happened between you and your new family, and expect to be more blown away by the views.

ARi got more than she expected

“There is always something we can learn from one another.”

I loved seeing everyone’s personalities come together to create so many beautiful moments. I was reminded that people have a much greater potential of connecting when we ask each other meaningful questions and keep an open mind. Some other takeaways… Take risks! Even when it’s scary and the path ahead is uncertain. Continue staying open to everyone’s beliefs, views and ideas because there is always something we can learn from one another.

Paulina created so many beautiful moments

There is no way to describe this experience in words—if you are drawn to this trip, GO. I do not typically partake in organized group trips (especially with complete strangers!), but I could never have experienced Greece in such a full and authentic way if I had gone on my own.  This trip is about more than just experiencing the beautiful country that Greece is—it is intimately interacting with the culture and people and history of the place together with a group of strangers that will become family.

meet your tour guides!

Erin & Dimitris 

Erin Sullivan is an adventure guide turned blogger and photographer. After spending her early 20’s as a wilderness and adventure travel guide worldwide, Erin turned her experiences into a blog with the goal of helping people to find adventure in their own lives. Erin connects with thousands of people online every day through her writing and photography, centered around travel, the outdoors, and living with purpose. Erin has 10 years of experience leading and facilitating adventure programming worldwide, and is thrilled to invite you on a journey of exploration, growth, and self-discovery.

MEET DIMITRIS

This is 
erin

Having already been to more than forty countries with his backpack, traveling is a way of life for Dimitris, and although he studied to be an engineer, he decided that sharing his passion with others is much more vital. Interacting with people has always been his inspiration. He loves the outdoors, especially rock climbing and hiking, and when he is not guiding, he is probably off somewhere on his bike. Dimitris has over 12 years of guiding experience, leading trips for the largest companies in the world including National Geographic and REI. Dimitris was honored with the REI Top Guide Award in 2013 for his unique and adventurous guiding style. Establishing his own adventure travel company TripIn Adventures was simply the next step, because showing people Greece off the beaten track, is after all, his dream job.

BACK TO ERIN

This is Dimitris

How do i know that this trip is for me?

Wait, so is this a photography workshop or not?

Can i bring a friend?

what is the age group?

What is the accommodation like?

what's the food like?

what are the hikes like?

i am nervous to come alone!

This trip is for you if you are curious about adventure travel. This trip is for you if you hear life calling you to do something a little outside your comfort zone. This trip is for you if you are ready to make new friends in a beautiful place and take an opportunity to be seen. This trip is for you if you'd love to experience Greece, and would enjoy a curated experience, crafted by adventure-minded experts. If this feels like a big "YES" for you, I'd encourage you to get in touch. We can’t wait to meet you.

Bring your camera– there are amazing opportunities for photography on this trip! But this is not a formal photography workshop where we all put our tripods in a line and take the same photo. Our main focus is on small group adventure and personal growth, but bring your photography questions and I'll be happy to help. I would love to help you to leave this experience with beautiful photographs of our adventure!

We highly recommend that you come alone! If you and a friend are interested in sharing this experience, please talk together about how you plan to get to know everyone on the trip just as well as you already know each other.

All accommodation and pricing is based on double occupancy in mid-range hotels. On this trip, we spend most of the nights in a lovely boutique hotel in Dilofo where we rent all of the rooms. If you would like to have your own room for an additional cost, please let us know ASAP so we can discuss options.

Real Greek food is amazing! We eat all of our meals family style. If you have a dietary restriction or allergy, do let us know. If you have flexibility in your diet, this is the week you’ll want to be flexible as Greek food is a lot of meat, salad, fresh cheese, veggies and overall everything is fresh and delicious. Vegetarians– we can accommodate you.

Hikes are moderately challenging on mountainous terrain, ranging from 4-8 miles in a day, some with significant elevation gain. If you do not hike regularly at home, we recommend training for this trip by doing some kind of cardiovascular activity a few days a week at a minimum. Hiking a few days a week to prepare for the trip is recommended. Those with injuries or other health concerns should consult their doctor. This isn't a good trip for you if you have an active injury, unless your doctor gives you the OK, and you know you will be able to hike in a group.

This trip is built for a solo traveler. Agree to come with an open mind and open heart, and we hope you'll find surprise and delight in your experience.

All are welcome, but most people who come are in their 20’s and 30’s. We welcome a diverse range of participants with varying backgrounds.

Frequently
asked questions

A non-refundable $1,000 deposit is due at the time of registration. We can sometimes hold spots for a few days after you’ve been sent an offer, but the deposit is the only thing that officially secures your spot! Full trip cost is due 60 days before the trip start date. Cancellation timeline is as follows:

Cancellation Policy

Cancel more than 60 days before the trip start date: full refund except $1,000 deposit.

Cancel less than 60 days before the trip start date: no refund.















“This trip can change your life!”

Gian had the time of his life

Best guides ever and an incredible group!! places, treks, food and all other activities – everything amazing :) this trip can change your life!

I want that →

Click to apply. Applicants are interviewed and offered spots on a first-come, first-served basis. We kindly ask that you review your schedule and finances prior to applying.

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