7 days Journey to Vikos-Aoos National Park from Athens

5.0
(8 reviews)

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7 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Take this 7 days journey to the most untouched area in Greece, directly from Athens.
The relative small human impact, the rare flora and fauna of the area, and thanks to its wild and unspoiled nature makes this place unique.
We will cross the impressive Vikos gorge, located in the heart of the National Park, and listed in Guinness as the deepest gorge in the world.
We will visit Zagori, a mountainous region of stunning beauty, one of the most strictly protected areas in Greece. As the region remained cut off from the rest of the country for decades, you will not find here signs of massive tourism.
We will visit and stay at some of the picturesque stone villages of Zagori, a masterpiece of traditional architecture, ideal for those seeking relaxation and tranquility.
Finally we will go for rafting in Voidomatis river, ranked as one of the cleanest rivers in Europe and enjoy the stunning nature of the area while paddling through turquoise crystal clear waters.

What's Included

6 nights accomodation(5 nights in traditional guest houses, 1 night in a mountain refuge)
Public liability insurance
Dinner (Optional[4])
Dinner
Breakfast (Optional[6])
Breakfast
NomadsPath english speaking guide/tour leaders throughout the trip
Hotel pick up
Cost for Rafting in Aoos river & the necessary equipment
Transportation from/to Athens with air-conditioned vehicle & local transfres
Airport/Departure Tax
International airfare
Travel insurance
Additional expences as a result of leaving the tour earlier
Additional expences as a result of staying longer
airport pick up

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

We can pick you up from your hotel in Athens

OR
Meeting point

We can meet at the metro station of Nomismatokopeio

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 7 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Arrive in Athens, check in at the hotel and dinner in a local tavern.

    1 stop
  • 1
    Athens

    You will meet our guide in Athens, waiting for you at the hotel. As there not any activity included this day we will have a short walk tour in the lively area of downtown Athens, go for a dinner in a local tavern. and have a tour briefing from the guide.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 2

    Travel to Zagori area, hike Vradeto Steps and visit local villages

    1 stop
  • 2

    Today's hiking starts from the village of Vradeto the highest village in the area, built at an altitude of 1340m. Until 1974 the village was connected to the rest of the world only by the famous "Vradeto steps", an impressive stone structure using the "native" stone above the Vikos Gorge. During the hike we will visit Beloi, a natural balcony that offers the best and most imposing view of Vikos Gorge. We will descent this stone trail for about an hour and we will arrive at the village of Kapesovo. We have free time to explore the village and enjoy a lunch with local delicatessens. We will then move to Dilofo, the nearby village where we will end our day.

    3 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 3

    Transfer to Monodendri village, cross Vikos gorge, visit local villages

    1 stop
  • 3

    After breakfast, we will move towards the traditional village Monodendri . Today's day is quite interesting as we will cross the imposing gorge of Vikos. It is located in the heart of the National Park of Vikos-Aoos, A magnificent area with great ecological value. A feast of flora and fauna, Vikos is one of the few wildlife shelters in Europe. We will hike for about 7 hours, a 12 km distance, in order to reach the traditional village Vikos, perched on top of the canyon. We will enjoy breathtaking views and then it is time to luch at the local tavern of the village. We will then drive a 30min distance to Papigko village where we will have free time to walk around and spend the night.

    7 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 4

    Hike up to the alpine Dragon lake, and sleep at the refuge house.

    1 stop
  • 4

    We will have an early start as we will be heading towards Dracolimni. We will be walking uphill and our first stop will be the Astracas shelter at 1930m. During the first part of our journey will be passing through forest areas. Soon enough, the landscape will change as we will be entering the alpine zone of Mt. Tymphe. The variation of the surrounding environment is something that we should take into consideration especially during the summer when the temperatures can be really high. Hopefully, on our path will find find three natural refreshing water sources. The journey till our first stop at the shelter will be approximately four hours. There, we will have lunch and some rest. After that we will hit the road again and we will walk for 1.5 hours until we reach our final destination, Dracolimni. The view up there is one of the most mesmerising views that someone can enjoy from the impressive greek mountain peaks. We return back to the refuge for dinner and rest.

    4 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 5

    Descent the mountain, Visit Konitsa village, tranfer to a guesthouse in the woods.

    1 stop
  • 5

    After breakfast we will start our descent of the mountain from the same path we hiked from Papigko village. On our way to Pades village we can have a stop at Ovires natural swimming pools. A truely beautiful and fairly quiet place. In the summer you can enjoy a swim and refresh in one or more of the area's pools or under the small waterfalls. After the stop at Ovires natural ponds, we arrive at Konitsa village.Free time to explore the village and have a lunch. Our final destination for today is a cosy guesthouse located in the woods and next to the river where we will raft the day after. There is also the option of the tree houses, very comfortable with their own wc. Time to relax and enjoy the nature of the place or have a walk across the river.It is an aerial passage over the river with a rope, in which we slide secured to a pulley with special climbing materials. No experience required. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

    4 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 6

    Rafting at Aoos river - Travel back to Athens

    1 stop
  • 6

    After breakfast at the guesthouse, it is time to explore Voidomatis river! An ideal, for beginners or families, relaxing rafting descent in the crystal clear waters of Voidomatis river, ranked as the cleanest river in Europe, in the heart of the National Park of Vikos. Enjoy the stunning nature of the area while paddling through turquoise crystal waters. Without any technical difficulties during the rafting, is definitely an experience that should not to be missed by anyone.

    3 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 7

    Departure day

    1 stop
  • 7
    Athens

    Our adventure ends today after the breakfast. For those who have a flight back to their country we wish them to have a pleasant and safe journey. For those who continue their holidays in Greece we are sure that they will enjoy wherever they go.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Supplied by Nomads Path

Tags

Nature and Wildlife Tours
Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Seasonal
Small Group
Adventure Tours
Zombie

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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