Mount Olympus and Meteora Walking Holiday
Mount Olympus & Meteora walking holiday
- Jun - Sep
- May - Oct
- Small Groups
- 4-7 days
- Customizable
"Conquer Mt. Olympus, featuring the highest peak in Greece… Visit the spiritual, breathtaking gigantic rocks of Meteora…..."
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During our 7-day trek you will explore two of the most unique and breathtaking locations in Greece, Mount Olympus and Meteora!
Mount Olympus is undoubtedly one of the most famous mountains in the world. Being the home of the twelve ancient Greek Gods and featuring the highest peak in Greece (Mytikas at 2,917m), the mountain captivates the visitor at first site with its incomparable natural beauty and the wealth of its ancient history.
The Olympus mountain range has been declared the first Greek National Park since 1938 and it’s also characterised as a World’s Biosphere Reserve. Organized mountain refuges and numerous hiking routes are available for all levels. In total there are 52 peaks ranging from altitudes of 760m to 2,918m, which combined with the alpine fields, sheer ravines, deep gorges and thick forest create a unique landscape. Olympus mountain harbours more than 1,500 types of plants, dozens of animal species and many rare birds that we look forward to spot for you.
Our next stop is the gigantic rocks of Meteora… Tranquil, spiritual, other-worldly, remarkable, breathtaking, enormous, inspirational, magnificent are only some words used to describe them! Unique enormous columns of rock rise vertically from the ground with an unusual form, demonstrating nature’s splendor and man’s ever lasting desire to connect with the divine. The gigantic rocks of Meteora are perched above the town of Kalambaka at a maximum height of 400m, with its most interesting summits decorated with historical monasteries dating back to the 14th century.
Here is an example of what you will experience during our Mount Olympus and Meteora walking holiday:
Join our Mount Olympus & Meteora hiking holiday and and reward yourself with the experience of a lifetime:
Explore the most famous mountain in Greece, home of the Greek Gods and ‘relive’ ancient myths and history,
Experience the diversity of the Greek mountainous landscape, Enjoy unspoilt sceneries with breathtaking views of Mt Olympus’ summits and deep gorges,
Hike part of the E4 European path and Enipeas gorge,
Visit Meteora and learn all about this unique geological phenomenon of astounding beauty,
Follow old trails used by monks to reach 14th century monasteries and absorb the most captivating views and serenity!
Walk with locals and experience the original Greek culture,
Spot unique wild life and endemic flora!
You are strongly advised to come prepared for a real trekking experience, this meaning good hiking boots and walking poles, a hiking backpack, waterproof shells, warm clothes and socks and a personal first aid kit. Full list and further information will be provided. Though previous experience is not necessary, a reasonable fitness level is required.
Temperatures can get pretty chilly even during the summer months, while rain is always a possibility. Bear in mind that the Plateau of the Muses lies at an attitude of 2,700m and attitude sickness symptoms might be present.
While hiking on Mount Olympus, you will have to be prepared to carry clothes and gear to spend 3 days οn the mountain, hopping from refuge to refuge. Bottled water is available at all the refuges to purchase and there are a few springs with drinkable water on our route.
In Litochoro and Meteora, we have reserved for you lovely authentic family-run guesthouses at very picturesque locations. The owners are very hospitable and helpful and are known to provide the most delicious breakfasts and meals. We’ll send you full details.
The itinerary below is subject to changes according to the weather conditions or other special events taking place during the week. The enjoyment of our guests and their safety are always our priorities. Flexible itineraries are available based on the needs of our guests. We can organise a more challenging or a more relaxed-pace itinerary offering you more time to relax and enjoy Mount Olympus and Meteora. 4- and 7-day itineraries are offered.
Solo travellers are welcome. It’s always more fun to walk with a group of like-minded travellers.
It is possible to extend your hiking adventure for a few days and explore the rest of Northern Greece… or combine it with a week in the Ionian islands of Lefkada or Ithaca.
We look forward to welcome you at our Mount Olympus and Meteora walking holiday! This unique trekking holiday is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the Greek mountainous nature, history and culture off-the-beaten track and under the guidance of an experienced local mountain guide.
Please contact us for further information and advice.
We organise our Mount Olympus and Meteora walking holiday between June and September each year.
MOUNT OLYMPUS & METEORA WALKING HOLIDAY FEES
4-day or 7-day walking holiday staying at traditional family-run guesthouses and mountain refuges:
All prices are per person for two people sharing a standard double room.
- 7 nights – from EUR 837 to EUR 930
- 4 nights – from EUR 478 to EUR 531
Supplement for single rooms:
- 4 nights – EUR 60
- 7 nights – EUR 105
We offer group and special offers. Please contact us for further information…
The fee includes:
- 5 guided walks at Mt Olympus & Meteora
- Accommodation x 7 days
- Breakfast
- 24% VAT
- Transfer from and to Thessaloniki
- Luggage transfers
- Transfers to and from our starting and ending walking points
- Client’s information brief by e-mail
- An arrival briefing
- Presentations and information on the biodiversity & local flora and fauna
The fee doesn’t include:
- 7 lunches/dinners – around EUR 175 per week
Book your walking holiday and explore with us the mythical Mount Olympus and Meteora!
Itinerary
After a picnic by Orlias waterfal, you will be transferred to Gortsia point (1,200m), where you will start your hike to the refuge of Petrostouga. The path traverses through thick pristine forest, gaining smoothly but steadily altitude, until it reaches the refuge after around three hours. The refuge is situated at an altitude of 1,940m, in a beautiful spot among age-old Bosnian pine trees, offering you panoramic views to the valley of Katerini, Mount Pelion and the Aegean Sea. You’ll enjoy a delicious warm dinner at the refuge.
(Distance: 5,5km. Technical difficulty: Moderate. Actual walking time: 3 hours.)
As you reach higher altitudes, you will have many opportunities to spot the endemic wild goat of Mt. Olympus, a rare and endangered specie looking more like a deer than a goat, inhabiting mostly Mt. Olympus’ alpine zone. The 4-hour walk will finish at the refuge of Kakalos, located at an elevation of 2,650m. It was named after Christos Kakalos, a local hunter who guided the Swiss climbers Fred Boissonnas and Daniel Baud Bovy to realize the first recorded ascent to Olympus’ highest peak, Mytikas, in 1913.
After a small break and lunch at the refuge, we will wander around the magical alpine landscape of the plateau and reach Agios Profitis peak (2,830m) after an easy 40-min walk. An ascend to Profitis Ilias peak allows breathtaking views to the north slopes of Mt. Olympus and neighboring mountains, intensified by the colours of the sunset. Dinner will be served at the refuge.
(Distance: 8km. Technical difficulty: Easy to moderate. Actual walking time: 5-7 hours.)
After enjoying a snack at the top of Scolio peak, you’ll follow a scenic path through an area called Zonaria where the barren rock landscapes of Mt. Olympus are overwhelmingly stunning. After a 2-hour descent you’ll reach Spilios Agapitos Refuge, a magnificent stone building at a beautiful location forming a natural balcony, at an altitude of 2,100m. This cozy refuge is an ideal spot for relaxing. Dinner will be served later in the evening.
(Distance: 6km. Technical difficulty: Moderate. Actual walking time: 4-5 hours.)
We’ll then follow the Enipeas river all the way down to the monastery of Agios Dionysios. It is a 1542 monument of rare architectural and aesthetic beauty, built as a fortress from stone and wood on a natural fortified plateau. On the way you’ll cross the canyon over beautiful wooden bridges and stop at a hidden waterfall for a well-deserved refreshing swim in its crystal clear waters!
Tonight you’ll sleep back at Litochoro at our guesthouse by the sea, completing your descend from an altitude of 2,100m all the way down to sea level. To congratulate yourself for such an achievement you will enjoy dinner at the best fish tavern in the area.
(Distance: 10km. Technical difficulty: Moderate. Actual walking time: 5-6 hours.)
After a light lunch at Kastraki town, at the foothills of Meteora, we will start our tour of the monasteries. During our relaxed exploration you will experience spectacular views from above, having Kastraki and the Thessalian plain at our feet, as well as unobstructed views to all surrounding mountains. Dazed by the scenery and amazed by the monks’ decision to climb the steep rocks of Meteora, we will have dinner at a local tavern.
Our next stop will be the monastery of the “Holy Trinity”, widely known from the James Bond film “For your eyes only”. It was built in the 14th century and the access to the monastery until 1925 was only by rope ladders and the supplies were transferred by baskets. Last monastery to visit will be the “ Varlaam monastery”, founded in 1350 by a monk named Varlaam, the only one to live on the rock. Rumor has it that it took the monks 20 years to gather all the materials on top by using ropes and baskets and only 20 days to finish the construction.
Passing from the roots of the giant boulders, moving in dense forest you’ll enjoy alternating sceneries of trees, small clearings, low vegetation, wild flowers, mushrooms and the majestic Meteora rocks. We’ll ascend to the most panoramic point to admire the Meteora cluster and have a small picnic. We will continue our hike through the old and not so obvious paths in a fairytale-like forest with streams and vegetation so thick that creates arches to pass underneath. At the end of the trek we will descend following an ancient stone-paved path (kalderimi) at one of the local taverns of Kastraki to celebrate the end of our adventurous week.
(Distance: 11km. Technical difficulty: Easy to moderate. Actual walking time: 5 hours.)
Map
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“We so enjoyed our holiday in Mt Olympus & Meteora. Daphne was a great guide. Very relaxed and easy to chat to and, obviously, a real expert mountain tour guide. It was fabulous doing the tour as a family as we could chat with Daphne who was very flexible in all our arrangements and timings. Everywhere we stayed was perfect. We loved the townhouse in Litochoro and, whilst we might have liked to go back there, it was lovely staying on return from the trek in the beach hostel as we really just wanted to chill out and it was perfect for doing that. All the refuges were great as well and it was lovely watching the sunset and the sunrise on the mountains. Our children also had a wonderful time and loved chatting to Daphne. We will certainly be recommending yourselves to our friends.”
Deb, Chris, Ben & Martha, UK
“A downpour during a short hike in the Ithaca hills could have been a downer as we were completely soaked. But the combination of our guide, Daphnie’s planning and unfailing good cheer, along with our mountain village Taverna’s hostess’ hospitality, warming welcome (including glasses of psipouro and dry clothes!!) and wonderful and continuously replenished, traditional Greek dishes, turned this into one of our most memorable evenings ever.”
