dossier

Day 1:
Fly to Preveza and transfer by road to Tsepelovo, via Ioannina (150km/3hrs). Or arrive into Ioannina airport and go to our local agent's office in the town and be transferred from there to Tsepelovo. (50km/60mins).

Day 2: Tsepelovo - Vradeto -Beloi - Tsepelovo
From Tsepelovo (1050m) we start with an uphill path towards the highest village in Zagoria called Vradeto (1450m) from where the beautiful path at the edge of the Vikos gorge leads to a great viewpoint at Beloi (1650m). From here you can look right over the Vikos in all its resplendence and see the paths that we will be following tomorrow. Return to Vradeto village continuing downhill to Kapesovo village heading down the famous steps of Vradeto – a stone path built in the 16th Century on the slopes of the Vikos. Transfer back to Tsepelovo and overnight in a traditional pension there. (Walking for 4 hours).

Day 3: Tsepelovo – Kipi – Koukouli - Vitsa
An easy descent to where the Vikos gorge starts, which is marked by a stone bridge dating back to 980 called the “Paliojefira.” Continue through a forest of beech and pine trees, where you might see evidence of bear pugmarks on the path. We end up in the village of Kipi. From here we walk up the “Koukouli Steps” (more stone steps) and visit the center of this picturesque village. We walk down into the Vikos gorge again crossing the “Misiou” bridge and climb the Vitsa stairs and reach the villages of Vitsa and Monodendri that are built at the edge of the gorge.

Day 4: Vitsa -Vikos
Early in the morning we descend the old Vitsa stairs into the Vikos ravine. Traversing the ravine you can do a bit of bird and flower watching, as there are quite a number of rare species that have taken refuge into the gorge. Early in the afternoon we will arrive in Vikos village where you will overnight in a pension. (7 hours of walking).

Day 5: Vikos – Papingo (also called Papigo).
Following the old up-hill path , you traverse the beautiful ravines to Papigo Village. Above us the Towers of Papigo skyrocket inaccessibly into the sky. At the village’s natural swimming pool, you will have time for a dip and a break, before overnighting in a traditional pension. (4 hours of walking).

Day 6: Papigo – Refuge – Dragonlake – Papigo
Head on uphill, up Mount Astraka. You will then come to the Astraka hut 1950m, which although is a good place to rest, the Refuge was closed in 2003. From here continue the ascent to Dragon Lake at 2100m, before returning to overnight at Papigo. (8 hours of walking).

Day 7:
Today you transfer by bus to Ioannina (44km/26mi/1.5hrs), where there is time for sightseeing. A tour of Ioannina old quarter and citadel is worthwhile. Out-of-town excursions could include the huge limestone cave system at Perama, discovered in the 1940's, or the 3rd century BC theatre of Dodoni, and nearby ancient oracle with its whispering oaks, 15km from Ioannina and accessible in an afternoon by public bus. For those who want to take home souvenirs or gifts, a local speciality is silver and filigree jewelery.

Day 8:
Depending on your flight times, there may be time for further sight seeing or souvenir buying before your transfer by taxi/ minibus to Ioannina airport for flights to Athens or Preveza (2 hours) for flights home.