3 Days Hike Olympus

3 Days Hike Olympus is a three-day hiking tour allowing you to enjoy the mythical mountain and reach its peaks at a good pace.

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located in northern Greece comprising a natural boundary between the prefectures of Macedonia and Thessaly. Mount Olympus’ highest point is the summit of Mytikas at 2918m. Since ancient times, Mount Olympus has proved a difficult crossing point for numerous aspiring conquerors of the Greek territory. It is a place of divine beauty, notable in Greek mythology as home of the Greek Gods. Its proximity to the coastline overlooking the Aegean Sea offers breathtaking views and a characteristic silvery mist that creates a unique atmosphere. 1938 it was declared Greece’s first National Park due to its exceptional biodiversity and rich flora. A monumental natural landscape with thickly forested slopes and steep rocky and cloud-covered peaks, hosting more than 1.500 plant species, some of them rare and endemic, as well as wolves, jackals, deer, and some endangered bird and butterfly species. The mountain is uninhabited, however there are 4 organized mountain huts offering shelter and food to its visitors, that stream from all over the world to admire its beauties. It has an extensive network of trails, its total length exceeding 160klm.

In case you are seeking a more demanding and faster tour check our 2 Days Olympus Hike Tour or even our 1 day Olympus Ascend.

NOTES:

Starting and finishing point of the tour is the village of Litochoro in the foothills of Mount Olympus.

Coming from abroad, the closest airport is in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, from where Litochoro is not more than a 1,5 hours’ drive (91,5klm/56miles). Coming from Athens, it is an approximate 5-6 hours’ drive (415klm/257miles) and thus it would be best to arrive a day in advance and spend the night in Litochoro. In case you need assistance with hotel bookings, or any other services required we would be pleased to be of assistance.

From Mid May to Mid June in case of heavy snowfall in the paths, we offer an alternative route from Petrostrouga to Spilios Agapitos to the peaks and back to Prionia.

ITINERARY:

DAY 1: LITOCHORO & HIKE TO MOUNTAIN HUT SPILIOS AGAPITOS, ALT. 2,100 METERS.

Estimated hiking Time: 3 – 4 hours.

Arrive in Litochoro main square (Trekking Hellas Base) to meet the guide and the rest of the hiking group. Transfer to Prionia, from where we begin our hike, at an altitude of 1,100 meters. The route from Prionia to Spilios Agapitos mountain hut is the most widely used hiking trail on Mount Olympus and part of the E4 European Path. Prionia is the highest point accessible by car. The biggest part of this hike goes through thick forests of pine, beech and fir trees, and is in good condition. We make our way up to an altitude of 2,100 meters and reach the mountain hut Spilios Agapitos.

DAY 2: PEAK ASCENT & HIKE TO MOUNTAIN HUT CH.KAKALOS OR GIOSOS APOSTOLIDIS, ALT. 2,700 METERS.

Estimated hiking Time: 6 – 7 hours.

Setting off from the mountain hut, a meandering trail brings us just below the mountains’ main summits. From here we have 2 options, depending on the fitness level of our participants and local weather conditions at the time. Our first option is to climb to Skala at an altitude of 2,882 meters, cross a narrow ridge and then climb to the summit of Skolio at an altitude of 2,911 meters (4-5 hours hiking and/or scramble on narrow paths with an altitude gain of 800 meters). Our second option, provided weather allows and snow conditions are right, is to ascent the highest summit, Mytikas at an altitude of 2,917 meters, following a narrow gorge (this part requires around 1 km of scrambling).

After summitting we head back, descending by following the same route.  Along the way we cross the spectacular precipice under the summit of Stefani called the Throne of Zeus and reach the Plateau of the Muses. We spend the night in one of the two mountain huts (2-3 hours hiking).

DAY 3: PLATEAU OF MUSES - PETROSTROUGKA MOUNTAIN HUT ALT 1,940 M. - GKORTSIA.

Estimated hiking time: 5 – 6 hours.

Leaving the summit behind us, today is an easy-going day. Before starting our descend, we climb a small peak, named Profitis Ilias, just above our mountain hut. Profitis Ilias offers breathtaking views of Mount Olympus’ summits. Heading back, this time we take a different trail that leads us to the mountain hut of the Hellenic Rescue Team in Petrostrouga at an altitude of 1,940 meters. After our 2-hour hike to Petrostrouga we take a break and enjoy lunch. Our hiking destination for the day is Gortsia, another 2-3 hours away. From Gortsia we get a transfer back to Litochoro.

Difficulty level of hike/day:

• Day 1: difficulty level 3
• Day 2: difficulty level 4
• Day 3: difficulty level 3

Period of Operation: End / Mid May to October

Price:

• 330€/pp for 4 participants
• 400€/pp for min 3 participants
• 500€/pp for min 2 participants (for fewer or more participants please contact us)

Participation requirements

On this tour we walk for about 3-4 hours on the first day, 6-7 hours the next day, and 8-9 hours on the third and last day, mostly following good forest trails. Above the tree line, the terrain varies from grassy uplands to rocky ridges, with some scrambling required for the peak ascents. A good level of fitness and experience is required to climb the peak and the guide reserves the right to make the final decision on whether to summit.