PROGRAM T 4: METEORA - MOUNT OLYMPUS
Climbing the Throne of the Gods and meet the Monasteries
| Trekking level 1-5: | 3 |
| Min - Max: | 2 - 12 persons |
| Duration: | 8 days - 7 nights |
| Price per person: | € 794, -- |
The monk hood began at the rocks of Meteora around the 8th century A.C. The monasteries are built on craggy rocks and in the old days people were going up by using a rope, a rope ladder or net. Today, only 6 out of 22 monasteries are inhabited and can accept visitors. With a combination of 1 or 2 overnight stops and trekking, Meteora continues to appeal to the visitor no matter how many times someone will go there. A visit to the very old Byzantine church in Kalambaka will reward the visitor for his choice. Mount Olympus with its many tops and forests is situated at the geographical borderline between Thessaly and Macedonia and is the highest mountain in Greece with its top at a height of 2917 meters. According to Greek mythology Mount Olympus was the residence of the twelve Gods in ancient times.
Day 1 Airport of Thessaloniki - Litochoro
Your guide meets you at the airport of Thessaloniki to transfer you to your hotel in the village of Litochoro, just under the throne of Zeus. Dinner and overnight stay in Litochoro.
| Airport Thessaloniki-Litochoro : | 2 hours |
Day 2 Litochoro - Prionia - Enipeas gorge - Litochoro
After breakfast a taxi will transfer us in about half an hour to the area of Prionia, from where we will hike inside to Enipeas Gorge. This is one of the best walks in Greece, underneath the trees next to the Enipeas stream. During the hike we will have the opportunity to visit the Monastery of Agios Dionisios and see the gave that he was leaving as eremite person. Dinner and overnight stay in Litochoro.
| Trekking altitude: | 1100m - 300m |
| Trekking time: | 4 - 5 hours |
| Total time: | 5 - 6 hours |
Day 3 Litochoro - Prionia - Spilios Agapitos refuge ( Zolotas )
In the morning a taxi will transfer us to the same area like yesterday, to Prionia. We will hike in the opposite way of yesterday's route, in the direction of the Spilios Agapitos refuge or Zolotas, which is the most known name for this refuge. We will have lunch at the refuge and have a nice and relaxed afternoon here. Dinner and overnight stay in the refuge.
| Trekking altitude: | 1100m - 2100m |
| Trekking time: | 2 - 3 hours |
| Total time: | 3 - 4 hours |
Day 4 Zolotas refuge - Agios Anotnios - Skolio - Skala - Christos Kakalos refuge
Hiking at the top of Greece under the watchful eye of Zeus and the other Gods from Greek Mythology; after an early breakfast we start the day from the peak of Agios Antonios ( 2817 m ), Skolio ( 2912m ), Scala ( 2866 m ) and then we go down and finish the day in the refuge Christos Kakalos . When the weather is good and Zeus is happy, the view from the top of Greece is magical. Picnic at one of the peaks during the hike. Dinner and overnight stay in the Christos Kakalos refuge.
| Trekking altitude: | 2100m - 2817m - 2750m - 2918m - 2866m - 2400m - 2648m |
| Trekking time: | 7 - 8 hours |
| Total time: | 8 - 9 hours |
Day 5 Christos Kakalos - Petrostrouga - Litochoro - Trikala - Kastraki
One of the best views during the today whilst hiking from the north east side of mountain Olympos, from Oropedio ton Mouson, where the Christos Kakalos refuge is located, through the area of Petrostrouga and Gortsia. We will finish the hike in a place locally known as Diastavrosi. A taxi will wait here to transfer us to Litochoro. From Litochoro we will travel by the public bus to the village of Kastraki at the north west side of Meteora. Dinner and overnight stay in Kastraki.
| Trekking altitude: | 2648m - 1050m |
| Trekking time: | 4 - 5 hours |
| Total time: | 5 - 6 hours |
Day 6 Kastraki - Askitaria - Agio Pnevma - Megalo Meteoro - Kastraki
We start by walking through the towering pinnacles of the rock to discover how the first people climbed to the top. Afterwards we ascend to the Holy Spirit (for people with vertigo it is recommendable to wait at the bottom). We will have our picnic in the shade of the rocks and in the afternoon we shall visit the Megalo Meteoro. Late in the afternoon we return to our guest house. Dinner and overnight stay in Kastraki.
| Trekking altitude: | 260m - 350m - 270m - 600m - 300m - 615m - 260m |
| Trekking time: | 6 - 7 hours |
| Total time: | 8 - 9 hours |
Day 7 Kastraki - Trikala - Thessaloniki
By local bus we will arrive at the city of Thessaloniki, the second city in Greece after Athens. Dinner and overnight stay in Thessaloniki.
| Kastraki - Thessaloniki : | 4 hours |
Day 8 Thessaloniki - Airport
Transfer by taxi to the airport of Thessaloniki.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAM T4 METEORA / MT. OLYMPUS € 794, -- p.p.
Transfer times from / to Airport:
| Airport of Anchialos to Kastraki | 3 hours | Litochoro to Airport of Anchialos | 3 hours |
| Airport of Thessaloniki to Kastraki | 4 hours | Litochoro to Airport of Thessaloniki | 2 hours |
| Airport of Athens to Kastraki | 5 hours | Litochoro to Airport of Athens | 5 hours |
Included in the price:
- Experienced and licensed trekking guide
- Transfer of your luggage
- Transfer from and to the airport
- 5 nights bed & breakfast in local guest houses, based on double rooms
- 2 nights bed & breakfast in a refuge
- 12 meals: 7 dinners, 5 picnics - lunches
- 1 entrance fee for the Great Meteoro.
- Local taxes
Not included in the price:
- A single room is possible on request and at an extra cost of € 140, -- per person
- The lunch on day 1 and day 7
- All beverages i.e. tea/coffee
- Airplane tickets
- Anything which is not mentioned inside the program
Necessary items for trekking days:
- Bottle/flask of water (1 litre per day)
- Rucksack
- Sun protection
- Waterproof coat / wind stopper
- WALKING BOOTS ARE RECOMMENDED!
Note:
- The guide can at any time, change or modify the program at his own digression due to i.e. weather conditions,
or if there are circumstances which give the guide reason(s) to think any person(s) are in danger.
- Every night at the dinner the guide will inform the guests for the following day ahead.
- On the mornings where there are picnics, the picnic items will be divided among the guests just before leaving
for the day ahead and is the responsibility of the guide.
- The luggage will be transferred by private car to the next location.
- The refuge contains bunk beds, bed linen, pillows / pillow cases and blankets. There is also a restaurant,
showers (no hot water) and toilets. Guests are welcome to carry their own bed linen / sheets, for personal usage.
Responsible for the program:
