8days Trekking Tour Vikos Gorge & Dragonlake

DISCOVERING AUTHENTIC GREEK VILLAGES IN THEIR MAGICAL SURROUNDINGS

Deep canyons, blue water rivers, mountain lakes, stone bridges, old monasteries and picturesque villages are only some of the highlights of this trekking tour through one of the most remote areas of Greece. The villages of Zagori  in North Western Greece are of an extraordinary beauty and well-known for their cobbled paths and traditional villages, all constructed with local stone by the famous stone masons of Epirus, considered the finest in all of Greece. Zagori is a part of the massive Pindos Mountain Range and is defined by Mitsikeli Mountain to the south west and the Aoos River to the East.

The Gorge of Vikos is not only the deeper in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records, but it also boasts the cleanest potable water in all of Europe. It is also home to over 1800 different plant species.

One of the many rewards you will find on this tour is our overnight stay at the Astraka Mountain Refuge, located almost 2000 meters above sea level. The magnificent views and the Dragon Lake will remain etched in your memory for years to come.

• Difficulty level: Moderate
• Min – Max Group Participants: 2 – 8 persons
• Tour Duration: 8 days – 7 nights
• Price per person: € 870 (Prices are based on double occupancy. Single supplement € 120)

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrival in Ioannina and transfer to Vitsa

You will meet your guide in Ioannina  ( Airport , bus station or hotel ) and we will transfer you to Vitsa, a picturesque village in Central Zagori. We check into our guesthouse for the overnight stay.

Meals: Dinner.Overnight stay in Vitsa.

DAY 2: Panoramic walking tour

After breakfast we will drive to Vradeto, from where today’s hike starts. First stop is Beloi, the best observation point of the gorge. We continue hiking back to Vradeto located at an altitude of 1340m/ 4396ft the highest among the villages of the area. We’ll hike down its famous stone staircase and continue to the village of Kapesovo for a short break. After our break we continue hiking through the small but quaint village of Kapesovo and enter an oak forest while walking downhill towards the gorge. Once inside the gorge and after a short distance we come upon a very old stone bridge and then ascend the stone staircase of Vitsa that leads to the homonymous village and our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner. Overnight stay in Vitsa

• Trekking altitude: 1200m – 1340m – 1450m – 960m – 750m – 945m
• Trekking time: approx. 8 hours
• Trekking difficulty level: Moderate/ Challenging

DAY 3: Vikos Gorge

Today we will hike through the magnificent Vikos gorge, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the world’s deepest canyon in proportion to its width. Starting from the village of Monodendri we follow the hiking trail into the gorge and after six hours of walking through lush vegetation in the shady canyon, we reach the  village of Vikos, From there we will have a transfer ( 5 min ) to the village of Aristi.

Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner. Overnight stay in Aristi.

• Trekking altitude: 1050m – 495m – 750m
• Trekking time: 6 hours
• Trekking difficulty level: Moderate

DAY 4: Voidomatis springs

After breakfast we will transfer again for 5 min to the village of Vikos and  we reach the picturesque village of Papigo after 3 hours walking in through the famous Voidomatis springs.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight stay in Mikro Papigo

• Trekking altitude: 750m – 495m – 960m
• Trekking time: 3 hours
• Trekking difficulty level: Easy

DAY 5: Mikro Papigo – Astraka – Dragon Lake

After breakfast we start hiking from the village of Mikro Papigo through mountainous terrain to reach the mountain refuge of Astraka, situated at an altitude of 1950m / 6397feet.

After our lunch break at the hut, we continue our hike to the Dragon lake, set on the edge of a cliff at an altitude of 2000m / 6562feet, enjoying the magnificent view to the peaks of the Pindos mountain range. After a nice refresh swimming we return back to our hut for the overnight

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight stay in Astraka Mountain Hostel

• Trekking altitude: 960m – 1935m – 2000m – 1935m
• Trekking time: 6 hours
• Trekking difficulty level: Moderate

DAY 6: Aoos Gorge

Today we will hike downwards from the mountain refuge till we reach the Monastery of Stomio, built in 1774 and enjoy the magnificent view. We will then enter the gorge of the river Aoos where we will have the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear waters of the river. At the end of our walking tour we will reach the famous stone bridge of Konitsa. The Arched Bridge, which was built between 1823 and 1871, with a height of 20m and a width of 40 meters, is the biggest in the Balkan region.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner. Overnight stay in Konitsa

• Trekking altitude: 1935m – 1800m- 650m – 465m
• Trekking time: 6 hours
• Trekking Difficulty Level: Moderate/Challenging

DAY 7: Voidomatis River and Ioannina

Todays walk is along a shady path, under willows and plane trees along the blue waters of the Voidomatis River. It is considered to ber the cleanest river in Europe, so clean that you can drink from it at any time during our walk.  In the evening we’ll all enjoy all together a farewell dinner at a local tavern next to the lake of Ioannina.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight stay in Ioannina

• Trekking altitude: 600m – 465m
• Trekking time: 2 hours
• Trekking Difficulty Level: Easy

DAY 8: Departure

After breakfast, we will transfer you  to the  Airport of Ioannina or to the  bus station or to the  city center.

Meals: Breakfast.