If there is a place in Greece where you can see nature and spirituality come together in the most spectacular way, it is Meteora . This place gives you two options: either stand under the rocks and admire the monasteries and the wonderful geological formations or… put on your most comfortable shoes and explore one of the most magical hiking spots in Greece on your own.
The scenery is impressive, but don’t be fooled. The magic of Meteora lies in the fact that their paths can be walked even by families. Most of them have a very gentle slope (200-500m), while the beauty of the landscape will make you walk 8 km without feeling the slightest fatigue.
The trails are in such good condition that you can follow them alone, but if you want to discover all the hidden “secrets”, it is better to choose an organized hiking group. In this way you will have the opportunity to walk the same paths as the monks who came here 15 centuries ago and to explore the caves in which they sought their refuge. In addition, you will be lucky enough to visit at least one monastery and you will see with your own eyes why this place has been declared There are many paths you can follow but ideally you can start from Kastraki , a village north of Kalambaka.
How do you start? You cross the path that starts from Agios Nikolaos , the monastery of the village, and head towards the cave of Agios Georgios of Mantila. Tip: get your camera ready for the colorful scarves pinned to the rock by climbers – the sight is fantastic.
Then the path takes you to the ruined monastery of Pantokrator , passes you through a lush forest to the restored monastery of Ypapanti and reaches the two largest monasteries of the rock, the Holy Monastery of Megalo Meteoros and the Holy Monastery of Varlaam.
In addition, there are other paths that lead you to the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary or the Holy Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Batova .
If you have signed up for a guided tour, you will have the opportunity to learn which plants and herbs are edible.
If you do your hike in the afternoon, find a good spot to enjoy the most cinematic sunset of your life!Olympus welcomes all its visitors. Those who come to “conquer” the realm of the gods and those who seek a leisurely experience of hiking through its divine nature.Do you think the ancient Greek gods randomly chose Olympus as their kingdom? As you will see for yourself, probably not… The highest mountain in Greece has always caused and continues to cause the admiration of its visitors. It is not only the rich, wild fauna and flora that you will encounter here. It is the mysterious atmosphere created by its gorges and caves, plateaus and cloud-hugging peaks.
And the people showed their adoration for this place very quickly. Olympus became the first national park in Greece and was incorporated into the E4 hiking trail , giving all of us the opportunity to enjoy the view from its peaks, along with 1,700 species of plants and animals that live on its slopes.
You don’t need to reach an altitude of 2,917m, to Mytikas , the legendary throne of Zeus, to experience the greatness of Olympus. There are many routes to follow with or without a guide. More popular is the first route that crosses the beautiful Enipea valley from the foot of the mountain to one of the shelters.
As you go up you will find that the terrain, the climate and the vegetation change. Oaks and low bushes alternate with deciduous trees, pines and firs, but also with the rare century-old rombolo tree (Bosnian pine) until you reach above 2,500 meters, where you will encounter only low vegetation and in spring, countless species wild flowers. Enipeas river valley
The route from Mylos, just outside Litochoro, to Prionia (the highest point you can reach by car) is one of the most popular for hikers. Wooden bridges connect sections of a 10 km long path. in the densely wooded valley, which is part of the hiking route E4, up to Prionia (altitude 1,100m). During the route you will enjoy:
The cave of Agios Dionysios: Here they say that Agios Dionysios lived as a hermit.
The Monastery of Agios Dionysios: Hidden in the pine forest, it was built in the 15th century and destroyed by the Germans during World War II.
The Enipeas waterfalls: At their end there is a wonderful natural “pool” for swimming.
Shelter “Spilios Agapitos”
And Saws are a popular starting point. Here you will find car parking and other infrastructure. The route continues to the shelter “Spilios Agapitos” at 2,100m. (one of the many shelters on the mountain). Walking you will meet pines, beeches and firs, until you reach the shelter, which “hosts” a valley of impressive, ultra-aenovian rombolas. If you plan to climb to the top, this shelter is your ideal overnight stop.
Not one, but three peaks!
The weather conditions and your will to reach the end of the route will determine where your hike ends. The first peak is Skala (2,882m.). Once you get there, crossing a narrow ridge, you reach the second peak, which has the name Scolio (2,911m.). Alternatively, you can choose to proceed towards Mytikas (another 3 hours journey). However, do not insist on climbing further if the weather is not good. The last part of the route is quite difficult. With so many suitable climbing spots and a landscape – surrounded by rocks – that takes your breath away, Kalymnos has become the ultimate destination for climbers from all over the world.