DAY 1

You meet your guide(s) and group in Athens in the morning for an orientation meeting and then depart on a scenic drive northwards. After approximately 2 hours, you turn off the highway near the Mycenean citadel of Gla and head west, through the village of Orchomenos and past the Schist Crossroads, identified by the ancient travel writer Pausanias as the place where Oedipus unwittingly murdered his father.

Your lunch stop is in the beautiful town of Arachova, which is a ski resort in winter. Taste your first authentic Greek fare in a traditional taverna with great views over the valley below. This delicious lunch is followed by a walk in Parnassos National Park, which was the second national park to be established in Greece, after Olympus. Just like the Olympus National Park, Parnassos is linked to Greek Mythology. Mount Parnassos was Apollo’s sacred mountain and the home of muses and Corycian nymphs. Walk along trails where you can see Mediterranean flora and fauna and among pine forests. The park is at its best in the spring and fall when the wildflowers are in bloom. It is also the site of a ski area in the winter.

Return to Arachova to relax and check in to your stunningly located hotel. Later a festive dinner in a nearby taverna consisting of local specialties such as zucchini fritters, salad with pomegranate, lamb chops, or grilled fish welcomes you to the natural beauty and ancient wonders of Greece.
Hotel Likoria, Arachova

DAY 2

After breakfast you drive a short distance to the archaeological site of Delphi. In antiquity, for over a thousand years, a steady stream of pilgrims wound their way up dangerous mountain passes to seek guidance from the Delphic Oracle; this afternoon you are amongst the present-day visitors to this most impressive of all ancient Greek monuments. You meet your private guide outside the museum, where you receive an excellent introduction to the history of this fascinating place. You then enter the site via the Sacred Precinct and make your way past the foundations of memorials and treasuries and the remarkable Polygonal Wall, up to the impressive remains of the Temple of Apollo, which dominates the whole sanctuary.

The morning concludes with an optional walk continuing up to the Delphi Theatre and Stadium at the highest point of the Sanctuary. You then walk into the village of Delphi where you enjoy lunch in a local taverna which consists of delicious and unusual salads and mezethedes (appetizers).

After lunch you depart Delphi and drive north towards the Pindos Mountains and the Agrafa region. After driving approximately one-and-a-half hours, the first stop this morning en route to your destination is Thermopylae, site of the momentous battle of 480 B.C. between the 300 Spartans and the mighty Persian army led by Xerxes. The recent diversion of highway away from this area has added great poignancy to the monument to King Leonidas of Sparta and the gravemound of the fallen Spartans.

Driving farther northward across the Plain of Thessaly you arrive at your home for the next three nights, a spa hotel located on a forested hill near the city of Mouzaki overlooking the plain of Thessaly, one of the regions comprising northern Greece. After checking in, you may choose to relax in the pool or use the spa facilities before gathering for dinner at a nearby taverna.
Hotel Mouzaki and Spa, Karditsa

DAY 3

Today’s walk takes you to two unknown and little-visited mountain communities just a short distance from your hotel. The mountain range known as the “spine of Greece,” the Pindos stretch over one hundred miles from northern Greece and southern Albania through the heart of Macedonia. The highest point is Mount Smolikas at just over 8,000 feet.

You drive first through Pili, the southeastern gateway to the Pindos mountains and soon arrive in the village of Agios Prokopios. The trail climbs steeply out of the village, following the road to a monastery of the same name. An approximate 45-minute climb takes you along terrain that includes a paved road as well as hard-packed gravel. You then ascend gradually to emerge high on a ridge between two valleys. Your exertions are rewarded with unrivalled mountain views, which are your focus as you descend to Petrochori. Here you receive a warm welcome in the simple village taverna as you enjoy a well-deserved lunch. Afterwards it is just a short walk down to the road and close to the dramatic location of the Megalo Kastro (great castle) on a seemingly invincible outcrop of rock. You return to the outskirts of Pili where you conclude the afternoon with a short walk over the imposing single-arched bridge, dated 1514, along the bank of the Portaikos River and past the beautiful Byzantine church of the Porta Panagia, founded in 1287.

Dinner this evening is at a wonderful family-run restaurant and may feature eggplant parmesan, roasted peppers, and grilled trout.
Mouzaki Hotel and Spa, Karditsa

DAY 4

After breakfast you drive approximately one hour to the town of Kalambaka, dramatically located in the shadow of the spectacular rocks of the Meteora, one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Meteora means “suspended in the heavens” and, indeed, the collection of monasteries are perched incredibly high on naturally sculpted sandstone pillars and can be reached only by a series of steep stairways. You begin today’s walk in this fantastic landscape at the beautiful 12th-century church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, one of the few buildings in the old town not destroyed by the German army in the 1940s. From here a dirt trail leads you to the village of Kastraki and your first, stunning, close-up view of the monasteries. You visit the Varlaam Monastery which has superb 16th-century frescoes by a famous Cretan painter. You can also visit the tower which contains the old windlass and rope basket from 1536. This basket used to transport monks and supplies to the monastery. It was used as recently as 1961-63, when the refectory was renovated into a museum of religious artifacts. After this visit enjoy a simple but delicious picnic lunch just outside the monastery grounds.

After lunch you may choose to visit the nearby Great Meteoron (“Monastery of the Transfiguration”). Founded in 1362, this is the largest and loftiest of the Meteora monasteries. Here you have the option of visiting inside this monastery (unaccompanied), or taking the Ipapandis walk. Those who choose to visit inside this monastery will reconnect with the group later this afternoon.

For those who wish to join the remainder of the scenic afternoon walk, you leave the main cluster of monasteries behind, and head for the solitude of Ipapandis, an abandoned 14th-century cave monastery set in beautiful woodland. On your walk you may encounter a herd of goats and their shepherd, which is still a traditional form of living in this area. From here a peaceful track leads you back to the outskirts of Kastraki where your transport awaits to take you back to your hotel. Here you have time to relax before a dinner of local specialties.
Mouzaki Hotel and Spa, Karditsa

DAY 5

This morning you depart Mouzaki for your final destination: the small seaside resort of Agios Ioannis on the wooded eastern slopes of Mount Pelion. This mountain is situated on a hook-like peninsula in the Aegean Sea; its forests of beech, chestnut, and oak crisscrossed by a network of hiking trails that lead down to numerous beaches of varying size. In Greek mythology, it was the homeland of Chiron the Centaur as well as Achilles.

After an approximate two-hour drive, you find yourself high in the village of Hania, a few miles east of Volos, still very much a welcome resting place on the journey over the mountains. A short distance farther brings you to Anilio, home to a flourishing apple packaging and export business. En route view the traditional Greek houses on the hillsides. This is quite an affluent area, due to people from Athens and Thessalonika making this area their weekend or vacation getaway. Here you are treated to a delicious lunch in the local taverna which may include spanakopita (spinach pie), Greek salad (made out of the freshest ingredients), grilled lamb kebabs, and yoghurt topped with local preserves for dessert. From here you take your first walk in the magical Pelion area. Following the quiet road through the village past the main square and the church of Agios Athanasios, you then take the old constructed pathway that leads steeply down through woods and olive groves to the coast, where you catch your first glimpse of the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea. The final part of your walk is along the sands of the beautiful and secluded Plaka beach and the waterfront of Agios Ioannis.

After settling into your hotel, dinner in a local restaurant is included. Enjoy the fresh seafood, including sardines and calamari, and other grilled, local fish.
Boutique Hotel Kentrikon, Agios Ioannis

DAY 6

This morning you set off on the finest walk in the area in the heart of the Pelion, a full-day traverse from the eastern side of the peninsula to the village of Milies. Until the building of the winding asphalt road in 1938, your route was the principal link between the villages of the Tsagarada region and the end of the narrow gauge railway in Milies, the westerly access point.

You begin your walk just outside Tsagarada, where a narrow path takes you steeply up above the village of Ksourichti and on to the chapel of Agios Dimitrios. From here your well-marked route is an agricultural road and then an old path, which leads you up through an enchanting beech forest to emerge at a wayside shelter high on a ridge. After a welcome rest and a simple picnic lunch of fresh bread, olives, cheese, and fruit, your resume your walk, now on a trail which descends gradually towards Milies and offers expansive views over the whole area. A series of old paths brings you into the traditional mountain village of Milies with its stone houses and cobbled streets. Here a welcome drink awaits you in the sleepy village square before you return to your hotel. In the late afternoon, you may have time for a stroll along the beach or a dip in the sea before gathering for dinner.
Boutique Hotel Kentrikon, Agios Ioannis

DAY 7

This morning’s walk begins on an old trail just below the village of Lambinou. Taking a narrow pathway you pass a deserted olive oil factory set in a shady grotto and soon afterward come out onto the road to reach the recently restored monastery of the Panagia Lambidhona. From here it is just a few minutes walk down to the sea, where your route becomes an agricultural track and then a local path through olive groves, which, surprisingly, are a rare sight in this region. The route descends steeply to the shore at Limnionas Bay and then climbs above the coastline to emerge at Milopotamos, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Pelion area, blessed with crystal clear water and gleaming white sand. Here you have a chance to take a dip before a delicious lunch of fresh seafood (octopus salad, grilled prawns, and calamari) at the nearby taverna.

After lunch you take a short transfer back up to the fascinating village of Tsagarada, which is divided by a ravine into two separate neighborhoods. This is the heart of the traditional Pelion, its stone-built mansions and impressive public schools testifying to its wealth in previous centuries. You begin in the neighborhood of Agios Taxiarchis, where you see the church dating from 1746 and the 150-foot diameter plane tree (known more commonly in the U.S. as a sycamore). You then follow winding village paths to the distant square of Agia Paraskevi with another enormous plane tree and cold springs. Tonight at your farewell dinner, you toast your adventures in the heart of Greece’s storied mountains.
Boutique Hotel Kentrikon, Agios Ioannis

DAY 8

On your final morning a short transfer brings you to to the hamlet of Dhamoukhari. This tiny settlement is still a hidden gem, despite its recent fame as the location for the port scenes in the hit movie “Mamma Mia.” You return to Papa Nero on foot, enjoying a short walk along the coast. Then board your private coach and drive back over the summit of Mount Pelion to Volos where you eat your final lunch. It was here where Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, set sail on his quest for the Golden Fleece. Reluctantly you now turn southwards for your return journey to Athens (from Volos an approximate four-hour drive) where you say goodbye to your new-found friends.

Itinerary Changes

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual activities, sites, and accommodations may vary due to season, special events, weather, or transportation schedules. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

Night 1

Hotel Likoria
Arachova, Greece

An intimate four-star boutique hotel situated at over 3,000 feet. It offers spacious, plush rooms, all with fabulous views over the Delphi Valley.

Nights 2, 3 & 4

Mouzaki Hotel and Spa
Mouzaki, Karditsa, Greece

A new resort located in the countryside and surrounded by manicured grounds. Large comfortable rooms, as well as outdoor and indoor pools, Jacuzzi, and spa services available.

Nights 5, 6 & 7

Boutique Hotel Kentrikon
Agios Ioannis, Greece

Located in the heart of the peaceful village of Agios Ioannis, this is a family owned and run property. It consists of a recently refurbished central building and five tiers of individual bungalows each with its own private entrance and a panoramic view of the Aegean Sea.

Please note that this is a sample hotel itinerary for this tour. While these exact hotels are featured on most departures, we occasionally reserve other hotels of similar style and quality. If you are currently booked on a Country Walkers adventure, a hotel itinerary has been sent to you for your exact departure date. Please call Country Walkers at 800.464.9255 if you have any questions about the exact hotels selected for any of our tours.

Ruth Hackney

Raised near Manchester in northern England, Ruth Hackney has always been a passionate hiker and a history enthusiast. She majored in Oriental Studies at King’s College, Cambridge, then taught in India for 2 years, followed by a year in Australia on a Rotary Foundation Scholarship. She has lived in southern Greece since 1987, initially teaching English to Greek teenagers before she found her perfect vocation as a tour guide. On our Greek trips she loves to share her deep affection for the history and culture of her adopted homeland, while each summer she returns to her roots in the UK and guides our Scottish tours.

Antonis Dimas

Antonis was born in Germany and raised in Athens. Since 2002 he has lived on the Greek island of Patmos. A connoisseur of Greek history and geography, he has written travel books and articles and is a travel photographer. Although Antonis has traveled extensively throughout the world to countries such as Mongolia, India, China, and Nepal, he remains devoted to, and passionate about, everything Greek.