The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains Free
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FREE THE MOUNTAINS OF GREECE: TREKKING IN THE PINDHOS MOUNTAINS PDF Tim Salmon | 368 pages | 01 Jan 2010 | Cicerone Press | 9781852844400 | English | Cumbria, United Kingdom Pindus Mountains | mountains, Europe | Britannica Trekking the Pindus Mountains Horseshoe trek in Northern Greece will challenge your expectations for this beautiful country. Yes,it has incredible history, great scenery, friendly locals and delicious food. However, the stunning beaches on this famous Pindus Horseshoe trail are replaced by craggy mountains, mountain breezes and great hiking. This region, known locally as Epirus, boasts some of the most scenic mountains in Greece. Zagori is an area of great natural beauty, with striking geology and two national parks, one including the river Aoos and the Vikos Gorge, The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains other around Valia Kalda, to the east of the imposing snow-capped Mt Tymfi. The 46 or so villages of Zagori were interconnected by mountain roads and traditional arched stone bridges The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains modern roads were opened in the s. The stone arched bridges were built by benefactions from expatriate merchants in the 18th century and replaced older wooden bridges. Gamila and Astraka are only 2 of 8 peaks that make up the massif of Tymfi Mountain, Astrak being the highest at 2, m 7, ft. Astraka Towers are vertical rock formations resembling a huge wall of rocky towers looming over the Mikro Papigo village. Vikos Gorge, listed as the deepest gorge in the world, in proportion to its width, by the Guinness Book of Records, renowned for its natural beauty and crystal river pools is an unforgettable experience. The gorge begins m after Monodendri village and constitutes a true natural monument. Its overall length exceeds 30km. Its depth varies. In Monodendri it reaches m and is at its narrowest point and in Vikos village it reaches 1,m more than 1,m in its east part and approximately 1,m in its west part. In its deeper part the gorge reaches approximately 2,m width. Due to its geological isolation and the absence of human presence, Vikos Gorge includes many rare plant and flower species. There have also been recorded more than bird species, 19 serpent and amphibian species, as well as many rare butterfly species. Throughout the Pindus Mountains Horseshoe trek, expect to enjoy famous Greek hospitality, stunning architecture, engaging history, wonderful food and drink and beautiful views. You will rest in a traditional guesthouse and enjoy exploring the village. Today involves a wonderful hike taking in villages and a quick look at the stunning Vikos Gorge. You will start by heading downhill from Vitsa on the Vitsa Steps and into the heart of the Vikos Gorge. From here you will cross beautiful arched bridges and start heading uphill towards Koukouli. The village square in Koukouli is a great place for a refreshment!! You will then continue walking towards the village of Kipi, where you will The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains another break and see more beautiful bridges! From Kipi you will walk through dense forest towards Dilofo, a protected village due to the local architecture. Finally you will continue towards Vitsa and then walk past the village and towards Monodendri, a charming village that retains much of the traditional stone-build architecture. Today you will get a chance to cross Vikos Gorge, a spectacular site, and the deepest canyon in the world. From Monodendri you will hike downhill, where you will meet the small river that flows through the gorge. Continue hiking next to the stream and walk right into the heart of the National Park. Vikos-Aoos National Park is full of wildlife, and you may spot birds of prey, wild boars and occasionally even bears find refuge in the park! Your walk will end at Vikos village after a short ascent, around 40 minutes. Starting at Vikos Village, the walk today heads towards the charming village of Mikro Papingo. The views get more impressive as you gain elevation. The walk continues through the forest and under the impressive towers of Astraka. Soon, you will reach Mikro Papingo, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved villages in Zagori. Today is a shorter day to give you free time to explore the nearby natural rock pools of Rogovos, near the village of Mikro Papingo. Overnight: Mikro Papingo Distance: 4 hours of hiking Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Today you will hike the high plateaus of Mt. Tymfi, reaching an alpine lake at 2,m. On the way up, you will pass numerous water springs. The scenery is magnificent, with incredible views over Pindus mountain range. You will hike back to the refuge where you will spend the night. Today is a big day, as you are crossing the Tymfi mountain range. It is a long but beautiful walk, as you are in the mountains, away from villages all day. Starting from the refuge, hike downhill, reaching the plains below. Under the impressive cliffs of Astraka, continue towards a small water reservoir, known locally as Loutsa Robozi. This reservoir is used by shepherds to water animals The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains summer months. The walk brings us at the beginning of Megas Lakos, an impressive canyon. Continue on the The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains as you cross a water spring, and then back into civilization in Tsepelovo village, a village with a stunning location and views. Today is the last day of walking, and another big day as you walk from Tsepelovo to Kapesovo via the pretty Beloi Viewpoint. You start by walking from Tsepelovo towards Vradeto, the highest village in Zagori. This walk goes on pretty cobblestone paths and has stunning views of the Vikos gorge. You will eventually reach Beloi Viewpoint, a natural balcony overlooking the Vikos Gorge. You will then walk towards the Vradeto village for a short stop and hike down the impressive Vradeto Steps, an old and historic path which takes you down to Kapesovo village. You will get a transfer from Kapesovo to Elati, where you will spend the night. Unfortunately, this wonderful Greek trekking tour of the Pindus Horseshoe finishes today. Enjoy breakfast before saying goodbye. Enjoy a transfer back to the airport, where you can make the journey back to Athens. This trek in Greece is always run as a custom tour for you and your group. Please contact us with your preferred starting date and group size so we can help you make incredible memories on this private group tour. Pricing is based on the number of guests on your trip and whether you want a guided or self-guided tour. This tour is typically run from April through November. The hotels listed below are subject to availability and may change. For groups with an odd number of guests, The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains can choose a triple room and receive a discount on the tour price. Single travelers can book private tours too, however, the cost is typically 2x the per-person cost for groups of Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible. En Chora Vezitsa is situated in Vitsa Village The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains offers 10 spacious rooms with free parking and traditional breakfast prepared with local products included. The hotel's terraces feature beautiful views of Vikos Gorge. This inn in Monodendri is very popular, with guests noting the traditional breakfast, great location and clean premises. Some rooms come with a balcony and stunning views over the countryside. Zissis Hotel is located in the picturesque village of Aristi, in the Zagori area of Epirus. It features a stone-paved yard with views of Vikos Aoos National Park and the surrounding mountains. Astraka Mountain hut on Tymfi Mountain is located at an altitude of meters feet. There are 50 beds in the dormitories, which are comfortable and clean, though not private rooms. There is also a dining-room with fireplace, common showers cold water and shared bathroom. Located in Tsepelovo Village in the Zagori region, the traditionally built Kadi is made of stone. It offers accommodation with Tymfi Mountain views. The 4-star Guesthouse Driofillo is centrally situated in Elati. It features romantic rooms with fireplace and satellite LCD TV, and offers traditional regional cuisine. Wi-Fi is free throughout. This tour includes return transfers from airport to hotels as well The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains all necessary transfers for the hikes. Prices below are subject to availability and might change depending on the season, currency exchange rate and availability:. There are some longer day hikes on this trekking tour of Pindus Horseshoe. The walking is on a mixture of dirt tracks and well-constructed stone paths. These trips are designed for active people who enjoy active days. Participants should have hiked similar distances in the past. Check with your local country about visa requirements for travel to Tanzania. You could also The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains this websitethough you should verify with your government. Yes, it is mandatory to have Travel Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. You can get travel insurance here. Make your way to Ioannina airport, where you will be met for your transfer to Vitsa for the start of this trip. Please try to travel as light as possible. Although you do not need to carry your entire luggage while walking, you will still need to carry it over short distances.