Northern Greece Trekking 2026

Northern Greece Trekking

April 28 – May 8, 2026 · Meteora · Zagori · Mount Olympus

Days

Treks

~85

Km on foot

~8,000

m elevation

Zones

Map

All trip points – click markers for details

Meteora

Zagori

Olympus

Stops

Idea

Route

Quick Overview

Block 1 – Meteora

1 night

Rock pillars with suspended monasteries. Full day: Monastery Circuit + Sunset Trail to Holy Trinity, all in one packed day.

Block 2 – Zagori & Vikos

3 nights

The heart of the trip. Drakolimni (Dragon Lake), Vradeto Steps + Beloi, the full Vikos Gorge crossing, Aoos Gorge (Konitsa), stone bridges & villages.

Block 3 – Mount Olympus

4 nights

Mountain of the gods. E4 trail to the Refuge, full Enipeas Gorge with monastery and Zeus's Bath.

Interactive Map

Click markers for photos, info & trek links

Day-by-Day Itinerary

11 days, packed with trekking — everything in one place

Day 1 – Arrival in Thessaloniki

Apr 28 Tue

Late night flight. Pick up rental car at the airport. Overnight near airport or city center.

🌙 Sleep: Thessaloniki (airport hotel or city center)

Day 2 – Thessaloniki → Meteora (FULL DAY)

Apr 29 Wed

Early start ~7:00. Drive ~3h to Kastraki.
Morning (10:30-15:00): Monastery Circuit (T2).
Break + visit monasteries (modest clothing required).
Sunset (17:30-20:00): Sunset Trail to Holy Trinity (T1). Best light of the trip!

Total: ~6-8h trekking. Sunset at ~20:15 so plenty of time. Bring headlamp for return.

Meteora T2 – Monastery Circuit

4-5h

Duration

~8 km

Distance

500-600m

Elevation

Moderate

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX Meteora Trails M1+M2+M8

Check monastery hours. Modest clothing. Water at monasteries.

Meteora T1 – Sunset Trail (Holy Trinity)

2-3h

Duration

~4 km

Distance

400-500m

Elevation

Easy-Med

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX Meteora Trails M6

Perfect at sunset. Headlamp for return. 1L water.

🌙 Sleep: Kastraki (Meteora views guesthouse)

Day 3 – Meteora → Zagori via Metsovo

Apr 30 Thu

Morning: Drive 1h to Metsovo. Explore village, try metsovone cheese.
Lunch in Metsovo, drive 1h30 to Mikro Papingo.
Afternoon: Papingo Rock Pools (T3).

Zagori T3 – Papingo Rock Pools

3-4h

Duration

8.9 km

Distance

425m

Elevation

Moderate

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX

Natural rock pools at 1,073m. Very cold in late April! One-way trail, 858–1,073m altitude.

🌙 Sleep: Mikro Papingo (stone guesthouse, night 1 of 2)

Day 4 – Drakolimni (Dragon Lake)

May 1 Fri

THE HIGHLIGHT TREK. Start 7:00 AM. Mikro Papingo → Astraka Refuge (1,950m) → Drakolimni (2,050m).
Poles essential. Carry 2L water (refill at refuge).
Warning: possible snow above 1,800m.

Zagori T4 – Drakolimni (Dragon Lake)

6-8h

Duration

~14 km

Distance

1,200-1,400m

Elevation

Mod-Hard

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX

Most demanding trek. Snow above 1,800m. Poles essential. Start 7 AM. 2L water.

🌙 Sleep: Mikro Papingo (same guesthouse, night 2 of 2)

Day 5 – MEGA DAY: Vikos Gorge → Vradeto Steps + Beloi

May 2 Sat

Start 6:00 AM from Monodendri. Vikos Gorge full crossing (T6) – world's deepest canyon (Guinness!). Trail O31, walls up to 1,350m.
~12:00: Reach Vikos village. Instead of stopping, continue trekking up toward Vradeto.
~14:00: Vradeto Steps (T5) – 1,200 steps, 39 historic hairpins. Continue to Beloi viewpoint: jaw-dropping view of Vikos from 800m above.
~16:00: Walk to Kapesovo village. Stone bridges nearby – Kokkorou (Noutsos), Plakidas (Kalogeriko, 3-arch), and Misios.
Evening: Overnight in Kapesovo. Taverna dinner, well-deserved rest!

MEGA DAY: ~12h total. T3 difficulty. Start very early. Carry 3L water, snacks, headlamp.

🏆 Combined Route (Vikos → Vradeto → Beloi)

~12h

Duration

25.2 km

Distance

1,742m↑ 1,393m↓

Elevation

T3 Hard

Difficulty

1,412m

Max altitude

509m

Min altitude

Download GPX (combined route)

This is the full combined route. See individual segments below for Wikiloc references.

Zagori T6 – Vikos Gorge Crossing

6-7h

Duration

12 km

Distance

1,000↓+600↑

Elevation

Moderate

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX

World's deepest canyon (Guinness). Walls 1,350m. Trail O31. First segment of the day.

Zagori T5 – Vradeto Steps + Beloi

2-3h

Duration

4.6 km

Distance

350m

Elevation

Easy-Med

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX

1700s staircase. 1,200 steps, 39 hairpins. Vikos view from 800m above! Second segment after gorge.

🚗 Car logistics: Car parked at Vikos village. Pick it up next morning (Day 6) – walk or taxi from Kapesovo to Vikos village. Then drive Vikos → Konitsa → Litochoro, no backtracking!

🌙 Sleep: Kapesovo (well-deserved rest after 25km mega day!)

Day 6 – Kapesovo Bridges + Aoos Gorge → Litochoro

May 3 Sun

Morning: Leisurely walk around Kapesovo village. Visit the stone bridges nearby – Kokkorou (Noutsos), Plakidas (Kalogeriko, iconic 3-arch), and Misios. Beautiful photo spots!
~10:00: Walk or taxi to Vikos village to pick up the car. Drive to Konitsa (~50min) – linear route, no backtracking.
Late morning: Aoos Gorge trek (T9) from the iconic Konitsa Bridge. Turquoise Aoos River, 500m vertical cliffs, forested trail to Panagia Stomiou Monastery (built into cliff face).
Lunch: Back in Konitsa – try the local pies (pita) and grilled meats.
Afternoon: Drive to Litochoro (~3h30 via Egnatia Odos). Arrive evening, settle into hotel.

Zagori T9 – Aoos Gorge

2-3h

Duration

7.3 km

Distance

60m

Elevation

Easy

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX

Loop trail from Konitsa Bridge (443-509m). Turquoise river, cliff monastery. Easy & scenic!

🌙 Sleep: Litochoro (night 1 of 4)

Day 7 – Olympus: Lower Enipeas + Explore

May 4 Mon

Already in Litochoro (arrived previous evening from Konitsa).
Morning: Lower Enipeas Gorge – 2-3h warm-up. Wooden bridges, Zeus's Bath. Beautiful introduction to Olympus.
Afternoon: Explore Litochoro village, gear check for tomorrow. Rest day before the big Olympus push!

🌙 Sleep: Litochoro (night 2 of 4)

Day 8 – Mount Olympus (E4 to Refuge)

May 5 Tue

The Mountain of the Gods. Prionia (1,100m) → Spilios Agapitos refuge (2,040m). Classic E4 trail.
WARNING: Snow likely above refuge. DO NOT attempt Mytikas summit in early May!

Olympus T7 – Prionia → Spilios Agapitos

5-7h

Round trip

9 km

Distance

1,000m

Elevation

Moderate

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX

E4 trail. 1,100m to 2,040m. NO summit in May! Refuge has bar/restaurant.

🌙 Sleep: Litochoro (night 3 of 4)

Day 9 – Enipeas Gorge (full)

May 6 Wed

Full Enipeas (T8): Litochoro → Prionia. Agios Dionysios Monastery (1542), twin waterfalls, cave, Zeus's Bath. Underrated gem!

Olympus T8 – Enipeas Gorge (full)

5-7h

Duration

9 km

Distance

800m

Elevation

Moderate

Difficulty

Wikiloc GPX

Monastery (1542), twin waterfalls, cave, Zeus's Bath. Olympus' best kept secret.

🌙 Sleep: Litochoro (night 4 of 4)

Day 10 – Flexible Day

May 7 Thu

Pick your adventure:

Option A – Pelion Peninsula

Drive 2h30. Trek to Damouchari bay (2h, Mamma Mia! filming location). Mountain meets sea! + Unique combo. – 2h30 drive + 3h to airport next day.

Option B – Sithonia (Halkidiki)

Caribbean coves at Kavourotrypes. + Stunning beaches. – Water ~18°C in May. Good chill option.

Option C – Dion + Second Olympus trek

Explore Dion archaeological site at the foot of Olympus. Zeus temple ruins, mosaics. Or repeat E4 trail.

Option D – Prespa Lakes

Border lakes, pelicans, Byzantine hermitages. + Wild and remote. – 2h+ detour, needs 1.5 days. Better saved for another trip.

🌙 Sleep: Depends on choice (Litochoro / Volos / Sithonia)

Day 11 – Return Home

May 8 Fri

Transfer to Thessaloniki (~1h from Litochoro). Drop off car and fly home. If time: morning walk on the waterfront, last souvlaki.

Logistics

Everything you need

Rental Car

Pick up Thessaloniki airport Apr 28 evening, drop off May 8 morning. Compact SUV recommended. Fill up BEFORE Zagori. Cash for tolls.

Transfers

Route	Km	Time	Toll
Thessaloniki → Kalambaka	~230	~3h	~€15
Kalambaka → Metsovo → Papingo	~170	~2h30	free
Papingo → Monodendri	~35	~45min	free
Kapesovo → Konitsa	~50	~50min	free
Konitsa → Litochoro	~280	~3h30	~€20
Litochoro → Thessaloniki	~90	~1h	~€5

Weather (late Apr / early May)

Valleys: 15-25°C. Altitude: 5-15°C. Rain possible. Snow above 1,800m. Daylight 6:30-20:15.

Accommodation

Night	Where	Notes
Apr 28	Thessaloniki	Airport hotel
Apr 29	Kastraki	1 night, Meteora views
Apr 30 - May 1	Mikro Papingo	BOOK EARLY! 2 nights
May 2	Kapesovo	After mega day (Vikos+Vradeto+Beloi)
May 3-6	Litochoro	Hotel/B&B, 4 nights. Arrive evening after Aoos Gorge
May 7	TBD	Depends on Day 10

Gear

Hiking boots (broken in!) · Trekking poles · Waterproof jacket · Thermal layer · Headlamp · Sunscreen+hat · 2L bottle · Swimsuit

Apps

Wikiloc (offline GPX) · Meteora Trails (M1-M8) · Maps.me/OsmAnd · Google Maps offline

Emergency

112 · Ambulance 166 · Police 100 · Mountain rescue 1166 · mountolympus.gr

Tips

Cash only in Zagori tavernas. Buy snacks in Kalambaka/Ioannina. Spring water fountains everywhere.