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This guidebook presents four specially devised treks in the mountains of Greece, showcasing its beautiful scenery, rich flora and cultural interest. The Peloponnese Way crosses the Peloponnese peninsula from Dhiakofto in the north to Pantazi beach in the south, via Tripoli. Taking in alpine meadows, a dramatic gorge and forest-clad slopes, the 220 km route can be walked in around a fortnight. The 460 km Píndos Way is a south-north traverse of Greece's mountain backbone, and can be walked in a month, or split into sections of around a week. With remote terrain, navigational challenge and fewer facilities on route, it is the toughest of the four treks but offers a unique chance to experience both the country's wilderness and traditional mountain life. A shorter 80 km Zagori trek can be enjoyed in its own right or incorporated into the Píndos Way, and the final route explores Mt Olympus, home of the ancient gods of Greek myth and the highest mountain in Greece. With clear mapping alongside detailed route description for each stage of the treks, as well as background information about the region and a Greek-English glossary.
Introduction
Traditional mountain life
A little history
Flowers and wildlife
Navigation and maps
Sleeping and eating
Dogs
Getting on with people
Weather and when to go
What to take
Emergency services
Access to the mountains
Using this guide
Part 1 The Peloponnese Way
Section 1 Dhiakoftó to Trípoli
Stage 1 Dhiakoftó to Méga Spílio monastery
Stage 2 Méga Spílio monastery to Áno Lousí
Stage 3 Áno Lousí to Tourládha
Stage 4 Near Tourládha to Dhára
Stage 5 Nimfasía to Vitína
Stage 6 Vitína to Kardharás or Kápsia
Stage 7 Kardharás or Kápsia to Trípoli
Section 2 Trípoli to Pantazí beach
Stage 8 Psilí Vrísi to Áyios Pétros
Stage 9 Malevís convent to Vamvakoú
Stage 10 Vamvakoú to Paleogoulás
Stage 11 Mistrás to Anavrití
Stage 12 Anavrití to Taïgetos mountain refuge
Stage 13 Taïgetos mountain refuge to Árna
Stage 14 Árna to Pantazí beach
Part 2 The Píndos Way
Section 1 Ámfissa to Karpenísi
Stage 1 Ámfissa to Víniani and Reká ravine
Stage 2 Mt Ghióna: Víniani to Láka Karvoúni refuge
Stage 3 Láka Karvoúni refuge to Sikiá
Stage 4 Sikiá to Athanásios Dhiákos/Áno Mousounítsa
Stage 5 Mt Vardhoúsia: Athanásios Dhiákos/Áno Mousounítsa to Yiourtáki sheepfold
Stage 6 Yiourtáki sheepfold to Mt Oxiá/Sarádena refuge
Stage 7 Mt Oxiá/Sarádena refuge to Kokália obelisk/Rákhes Timfristoú
Stage 8 Kokália obelisk/Rákhes Timfristoú to Karpenísi
Section 2 Karpenísi to Mesokhóra
Stage 9 Karpenísi to Kerasokhóri
Stage 10 Kerasokhóri to Varvariádha
Stage 11 Varvariádha to Epinianá
Stage 12 Epinianá to Spiliá monastery
Stage 13 Spiliá monastery to Petrotó
Stage 14 Petrotó to Kalí Kómi
Stage 15 Kalí Kómi to Moskhófito
Stage 15A Kalí Kómi to Mirófilo
Stage 16 Moskhófito to Mesokhóra
Stage 16A Mirófilo to Mesokhóra
Section 3 Mesokhóra to Métsovo
Stage 17 Mesokhóra to Gardhíki or Athamanía
Stage 18 Gardhíki or Athamanía to Matsoúki
Stage 19 Matsoúki to Kalarítes
Stage 20A Kalarítes to Khalíki ridge route
Stage 21 Khalíki to Métsovo
Section 4 Métsovo to the Albanian border
Stage 22 Métsovo to Vália Kálda
Stage 23 Vália Kálda to Vovoúsa
Stage 24 Vovoúsa to Dhístrato
Stage 24A Link: Vovoúsa to Skamnéli
Stage 25 Dhístrato to Samarína
Stage 25A Dhístrato to Palioséli
Stage 26 Samarína to Dhrakólimni
Stage 26A Palioséli to Dhrakólimni
Stage 27 Dhrakólimni to Ayía Paraskeví/Kerásovo
Stage 28 Ayía Paraskeví/Kerásovo to Kefalokhóri
Stage 29 Kefalokhóri to Aetomilítsa/Dénsko
Stage 30 Aetomilítsa/Dénsko to Mt Grámos summit
Part 3 Zagóri and Mt Gamíla
Stage 1 Tsepélovo to Kípi via Kapésovo and Koukoúli
Stage 1A Tsepélovo to Kípi via Khadzíou bridge
Stage 2 Kípi to Monodhéndhri
Stage 3 Monodhéndhri to Pápingo via Víkos gorge
Stage 4 Pápingo to Astráka refuge
Stage 5 Astráka refuge to Tsepélovo or Kapésovo
Stage 5A Astráka refuge to Kónitsa
Stage 6 Skamnéli to Kónitsa
Part 4 Mt Olympus
Stage 1 Priónia to Spílios Agapitós/Refuge A
Stage 2 Spílios Agapitós/Refuge A to Mítikas and Yiósos Apostolídhis/Refuge B
Stage 3 Yiósos Apostolídhis/Refuge B to Priónia
Stage 4 Priónia to Litókhoro
Appendix A Route summary tables
Appendix B Glossary
Appendix C Further reading
Appendix D Useful contacts
Tim Salmon first visited Greece in 1958. He has lived and worked in the country, visited countless times, written and translated books and articles, and made a film about shepherd life for Greek TV. Michael Cullen was born in Greece and spent his childhood there. In 1990 he set up his own trekking business and has spent most of the last 15 years researching and leading hikes throughout the country, as well as compiling walking guidebooks.
'The Mountains of Greece opens up the remote hinterland and the best mountains, with plenty of peak-bagging days alongside treks to historical sites such as Delphi. It also includes my all-time favourite, the Zagori Circuit. Taking into account that many of the 41 routes could be connected to become one long expedition, the potential for trekking is immense. Whatever your attitude, if you are a keen hillwalker who likes the idea of exploring a remote, often challenging landscape, as far from the 9-5 daily grind as you can get on this planet, this book is required reading.' (Walking World Ireland Magazine / Sept 2006) 'Cicerone guides have evolved into handy plastic covered, heavy duty-paged, pocket-sized handbooks. This one is bang up-to-date, introducing the way that communities in the mountains have disappeared or evolved, with consequent changes to the tracks. It gives good advise about how to deal with these largely deserted ranges. Can't wait to do some of these wild mountain treks.' (Irish Mountain Log magazine / Autumn 2006) Within the 350 plus pages of the book, there are literally years upon years of walking, making this one of the best value books on walking in existance. Just dream, some high level walking finished off with a few days next to the Aegean! The Aitchison-Jones Walker's Pocket Book 2007
