dossier

Pindos Peaks and Mt Olympus

The 2008 dates for this tour are:

Dates for the 8-day tour are:

GPP03    Sun 1 June     -       Sun 8 June

GPP01    Sun 29 June   -       Sun 6 July

GPP02    Sun 7 Sept      -      Sun 14 Sept

Dates for the 15-day tour are:

Outline Itinerary

The following itinerary is intended as a workingguide only, and is subject to variation as a result of weather conditions,local factors and group progress.

We reserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) any walk at any time ifnecessary. 1000m = 3281ft. Local time = EST plus 7 hrs.

Day 1.  Flight to Prevezaairport, on the Greek mainland west coast, for convenient two hour transfer byroad to Ioannina. We continue on to the mountains of central Zagoria and thevillages of Vitsa and Monodendri, arriving in the afternoon/early evening.There may be time to explore the two villages before dinner.

Day 2. Vitsa - Vikos Village. Early in the morning we descend the oldVitsa stairs, a steep but well-made path, into the spectacular Vikos gorge(sometimes called the Greek Grand Canyon). 12km/7mi long, 1,350m deep and 980mwide. Traversing the ravine we can admire the numerous wild animals, birds andflowers which find protection within its rocky walls. We ascend to Vikosvillage where we stay overnight. (7 hours walking).

Day 3. Vikos - Papingo: We cross the Voidomatis River and take footpathsuphill to Mikro Papingo. Above are the great limestone buttresses; the"Towers of Papingo" which contain the deepest vertical cave inEurope. At the natural swimming pool near the village we can enjoy a swim and arest, before arriving at our traditional pension (4 hours of walking.)

Day 4. Papingo – Dragon Lake – Astraka hut.  We climb uphill onto Mount Astraka, and reach the Astraka hut at1950m for a break. Later we continue up to the beautiful “Dragon Lake” (2100m)before returning and overnight stay at the Astraka Hut (8 hours walking).

Day 5. Papingo - Summit of Astraka - Tsepelovo Today we make an earlydeparture from Papingo this time heading for the top of Astraka peak 2436m. /7990ft.We Pass near the "Sheep's Gulf" claimed to be the second biggestprecipice "gulf" in the World, with a depth of 404m. (a good pub quiztype trivial fact, but maybe worth quizzing your guide about the precisemeaning of "Gulf") Descending from Astraka, we move onto crossing themountains following shepherds' trails and mule tracks over high pastures beforemaking a fairly steep descent to the village of Tsepelevo (8-9 hours walking).We are reunited with our main baggage.

NB : although it is mentioned in the brochureitinerary, the climb of the Astraka summit is not included.

Day 6. InTsepelovo. A chance to catch up with some laundry.

Day 7. Rest day in Tsepelovo.

NB : clients doing the 8-day itinerary willbe transferred to Ioannina.

Day 8. Walkover the high Tsouka Rossa pass (2 350m) and descend through black pine andbeech forest to remote Vissihori overlooking the wild and forested Aoos valley
(7-8 hours walking). Overnight Vrissohori.

NB : clients doing the 8-day itinerary willbe transferred to Preveza  airport fortheir  flight home.

Day 9. We continue our walk by crossing the Aoos River. It is then a fairlyeasy climb up through woodland to the village of Pades, where we can takerefreshments before continuing on to our overnight camp in a meadow on thelower slopes of Mt. Smolikas. (4 - 5 hours walking).

Day 10. An early start today as we continue our ascent of Mt Smolikas,the second highest mountain in Greece at 2637m/8650ft. Through pine forestinitially, and by tumbling mountain streams, the final ascent to the summit isover rock of red serpentine. We follow the mountain ridges east before makingour descent to Samarina, summer village of the Vlach community. (6-7 hourswalking.)

Day 11. From Samarina we have a long drive across northern Greece toLitochoro at the foot of Mount Olympus. En route there will be an opportunity for a brief visit to the famousmonasteries of Meteora near Kalambaka. During and after the 11-12th  C Byzantine monks built a remarkable seriesof monasteries in easily defensible positions atop these immense pinnacles ofconglomerate rock.   Several of themonasteries are open to the public and attract large crowds in season.  Overnight Litochoro Hotel.

Day 12. From Litochoro walk via the deep and spectacular Enipeas gorgeup to the Spilios Agapitos hut where you spend the night. 6-7 hours walking.

Day 13. Anopportunity to reach one of the summits of Mount Olympus (the highest peakinvolves scrambling). Our experienced and well-qualified guide will make themost of the opportunity to scale summits and admire views. Back down to therefuge where you collect your overnight gear and descend to Prionia. Minibusfrom Prionia to Litochoro. Overnight Litochoro.

Day 14. We transfer by road back across the Pindos range, with anopportunity for lunch (not included) en route at Metsovo to Ioannina, where weare transferred to our accommodation - normally at a hotel in the area of theold castle. The rest of the day is free to explore the town of Ioannina and itsold neighborhoods as well as the island, which has shops with silverwareproducts, a bakery and several taverns specializing in trout from the lake. Onthe island there are several ancient churches to see. It was also the lastretreat of the Cl9th despot, Ali Pasha, who once received Lord Byron at hiscourt.

The following optional excursions are possible:(i) across the lake, 4km/2.4mi from Ioannina, at Perama, is a huge cave system(guided and lit) which is well worth a visit; (ii) the town of Ioannina,capital of Epiros, has long been famous for the manufacture of filigree silverjewelry. A walk through the old town's narrow streets and citadel is well worthwhile;(iii) by taxi (or occasional bus, but bus does not run on Saturdays) to thefamous oracle site and ancient theatre of Dodoni, 15km/9mi from Ioannina. Wholeafternoon needed for this excursion.

Day 15. We transfer by road to Preveza for our afternoon check-in. FlyPreveza - home.

Grade: Moderate to Challenging

There are some strenuous ascents, descents and acouple of long days; temperatures can range from hot to cold. 

Qualifications

This trek is designed for those who are in goodphysical condition, take regular exercise and enjoy hill walking. It will benecessary to carry usual day-sack contents, minimum and some food. During thesecond week, which is fully vehicle supported, our leaders will set up andsupply our overnight camp on night 9. All equipment, except clients' ownsleeping bags, is provided.

Equipment and Clothing

If you are already a hill walker you willprobably have all the clothing and equipment you need. The climate is warm atlow altitude and light clothing should be brought, as well as warm, and stormproof clothing for high-level walking. A detailed list of recommended clothingand equipment will be supplied with confirmation of reservation. A sheet lineris needed for the night in the hut and a sleeping bag of about 3-season warmthis needed for one night camping near Smolikas.

How the Trek is Organized:

On several evenings accommodation is in smallvillages and we take our evening meal in the local tavern. We stay in a fullyequipped mountain hut (refuge) for one night. This will necessitate carrying asheet sleeping bag, and basic personal equipment for the relevant days. If youplan carefully you can expect to carry a maximum of 10 kgs. /22lbs. On mostother days it will be possible to keep well below this weight. 

Food & Accommodation:

All youraccommodation and most of your meals are included in the tour price. You willhave to purchase lunch on 4 days and dinner on two.

Food included: Breakfast: every day except day 1. Lunch: picnic style onall walking days (i.e. not on days 1, 6, 14, 15). Dinner: each night exceptnights 13 (Litochoro) and 14 (Ioannina).

We suggest you budget around US$90 for extra meals and an additional allowancefor drinks and refreshments - most people get through about $6 - $22 per day.

Accommodation: mountain refuges on night 4 & 12; camp on night 9;small hotel on nights 11, 13 & 14; pensions (village guesthouses) on theother nights. Accommodation in the villages is simple but clean andcomfortable. Rooms in village guesthouses and in hotels on this tour all haveen-suite facilities (bath/shower and WC) except for night 8 at Vrissohori wherefacilities are shared. The hut (night 12 on Olympus) has indoor toilets andwash-hand basins (cold running water only) but in 2007 no showers. Blankets areprovided but it is necessary to carry your own sheet-bag. The Astraka refugehas been renovated and enlarged. It has indoors toilets, wash-hand basins and acouple of showers (cold water only).

What's Included:

airport taxes; all transportation as specified;all accommodation; meals as specified (breakfast each day, lunch on all except4 days, dinner on all except 2 days); services of leader.  

*Travelers must make their own way to and fromIoannina (airport code IOA; 2 flights daily from Athens).

Not Included:  International Airfare,passport, insurance, personal equipment and expenditure, some meals (allowapprox. US$90), drinks and refreshments, personal tipping.

Books & Maps: