Lake Plastira – Zagoria: Explore the Mountains and the wild rivers [7days]

Early in the morning, we depart with direction the dreamy Lake Plastira, a destination that harmonically combines serenity with adventure. We will first visit the Dam of the artificial lake and enjoy the stunning views. After lunch in one of the traditional taverns around the lake, we will explore the endless natural beauty of the area on a hydro-bike or canoe/kayak! For those of you that prefer mountain biking, there are numerous trails around the lake. Later in the afternoon, we depart for the beautiful mountainous traditional village of Elati. On our way there, we will make a stop at the beautiful arch stone bridge of Saint Vissarion, built in the 1527. You are free to enjoy a walk by the riverside, a refreshing tea/coffee by the bridge or buy herbs, honey, and traditional drinks by local vendors. Once in Elati, you can explore the village, admire the traditional architecture of stone-made houses, and enjoy the delicious local cuisine in one of the village’s family run tavernas.

After breakfast, we will drive to Pertouli meadows, a beautiful plateau, surrounded by mountains with dense forests, rivers, and enormous fir trees, which we will explore while riding our horses! Coffee break, before we board our bus with destination the stunning area of Zagori (approx. 2:50 hr.). In the afternoon, we will reach Monodendri village, and we will first visit the Rizarios School of Handicrafts to find out how local women make traditional handmade carpets and textiles. We will then take a short hiking path to Agia Paraskevi church and the impressive cliff-hanging trail that follows! (Hike duration: 1 hour, level of difficulty: easy) Visit Oxya viewpoint and the stone forest comes next. In the evening, we will check in our traditional guesthouse in Vitsa village and enjoy homemade dinner.

After breakfast, we will drive towards Kapesovo village. From there, following the beautiful stone trail of Vradeto steps, we will reach the highest village of Zagori, Vradeto (1450m) and 2km later at Beloi viewpoint (1650m), where we can enjoy striking panoramic views over the gorge! (Hike duration: 3-4 hrs., level of difficulty: moderate) After lunch in one of the local small cafes/restaurants, we will explore hiking 6 of the most important and beautiful arch stone bridges of the area (Hike duration: 2 – 4 hrs., level of difficulty: easy to moderate). Dinner and overnight in Vitsa village.

This morning, we will take one of the best and most impressive hiking trails in all the Zagori area! We start our hike from the village of Vitsa, descending the Vitsa steps, all the way down into Vikos ravine, one of the deepest canyons in the world. We hike parallel to the stream and walk right into the heart of the National Park. The surrounding environment is a paradise for nature lovers that can observe the rich flora and fauna. The gorge is shelter for a lot of wild animals, such as pray birds, bears and wild boars. We will have a nice break for snacks at the spring of Klima and then continue until our next stop at Voidomatis springs. We rest before the small steep ascend to Vikos village (about 40 minutes). From Vikos village, we transfer to Papigo village, for dinner and overnight.

Prepare yourselves for rafting in one of the clearest rivers in Europe! Starting from the beautiful stone bridge of Aristi, we will cross the National Park of Vikos – Aoos, while rafting across Voidomatis river. This is an easy route, ideal for everyone, yet very impressive because of the river’s crystal-clear waters and the surrounding natural landscape. In the afternoon, we will depart with destination the UNESCO Heritage Site of Meteora, also called the “stone forest”. Upon arrival in Meteora, we will enjoy a short, yet funny, hiking trail to the “Holly Spirit” pillar before we check in to our hotel.

What a better way to wake up rather than admiring the spectacular sandstone rocks of Meteora, rising over 400 m above the ground! After breakfast, we will explore this unique landscape and the impressive top-cliff monasteries beyond the ordinary way! We will follow the ancient paths that the monks used to follow, through the steep rocks, visit some of the monasteries and admire the breathtaking views. In the afternoon, we depart for our way back to Athens. For those of you having a late evening flight from Athens International Airport, you can be transferred straight to the airport or you can enjoy your last night in beautiful Athens.