Day 1: Thessaloniki → Elafotopos
🚐 Transfer day
⏱️ Travel time: ~4.5–5 hrs (with stops)
🛏️ Accommodation: Guesthouse, Elafotopos
Departure from Thessaloniki and journey south into Epirus and the Zagori mountains. As the landscape shifts from plains to highlands, we arrive in the stone-built village of Elafotopos, our base for the week.
Highlights: First Epirus landscapes • Mountain arrival
Day 2: Elafotopos → Vikos Village → Papingo Village (Astraka Views)
📏 Distance: ~13.5 km
⬆️ Ascent: 850 m | ⬇️ Descent: 1,000 m
⏱️ Walking time: ~6 hrs
🛏️ Accommodation: Guesthouse, Elafotopos
We begin trekking from Elafotopos, following a cattle road for the first 3 km with Mount Stouros rising on our right. After approximately two and a half hours, we reach Vikos village, then descend toward the crystal-clear springs of the Voidomatis River. The trail continues toward Papingo, where the awe-inspiring limestone towers of Astraka suddenly dominate the skyline—one of Zagori’s most iconic and photogenic landscapes. Transfer back to Elafotopos.
Highlights: Vikos Gorge • Voidomatis River • Papingo Towers • Astraka Mountain
Day 3: Elafotopos → Stouros → Petrino Dasos (Stone Forest) → Oksia → Monodendri
📏 Distance: ~16 km
⬆️ Ascent: 600 m | ⬇️ Descent: 750 m
⏱️ Walking time: ~6 hrs
🛏️ Accommodation: Guesthouse, Elafotopos
A scenic mountain day climbing toward Stouros peak before entering the surreal landscape of Petrino Dasos, the “Stone Forest,” where eroded limestone formations resemble petrified figures from a tale. We continue to the picturesque village of Monodendri, enjoying breathtaking views from the Oksia viewpoint over Vikos Gorge. Return transfer to Elafotopos.
Highlights: Petrino Dasos (Stone Forest) • Monodendri • Gorge panoramas
Day 4: Vikos Gorge – Europe’s Deepest Gorge
📏 Distance: ~13 km
⬆️ Ascent: 800 m | ⬇️ Descent: 1,100 m
⏱️ Walking time: ~6–6.5 hrs
🛏️ Accommodation: Guesthouse, Elafotopos
Today we explore the legendary Vikos Gorge from within. The trail descends deep into the canyon, following riverbeds and forest paths before climbing back toward the highlands. A powerful day showcasing the raw scale, geology, and wild beauty of Epirus. Return to Elafotopos in the afternoon.
Highlights: Vikos Gorge interior • Wild canyon landscapes and flora • Mountain scale
Day 5: Vradeto Village → Beloi Viewpoint → Vradeto Steps → Kapesovo Village
📏 Distance: ~11 km
⬆️ Ascent: 530 m | ⬇️ Descent: 530 m
⏱️ Walking time: ~5 hrs
🛏️ Accommodation: Guesthouse, Elafotopos
A cultural and scenic highlight of the week. From Vradeto village, we walk to the Beloi viewpoint, perched high above Vikos Gorge and offering one of the most dramatic panoramas in Greece. We then descend the legendary Vradeto Steps—an 18th-century stone staircase and masterpiece of mountain engineering—toward Kapesovo village.
Highlights: Beloi viewpoint • Vradeto Steps • Zagori stone architecture
Day 6: Vitsa → Koukouli → Kipi → Dilofo → Vitsa Stone Bridges
📏 Distance: ~15 km
⬆️ Ascent: 720 m | ⬇️ Descent: 720 m
⏱️ Walking time: ~6 hrs
🛏️ Accommodation: Guesthouse, Elafotopos
A classic Zagori village-to-village walk linking some of the region’s most beautiful settlements. We follow ancient paths and cross iconic stone bridges, arched elegantly over rivers and ravines—symbols of Zagori’s architectural heritage.
Highlights: Village trails • Stone bridges • Zagori architecture
Day 7: Elafotopos → Thessaloniki
🚐 Transfer: Elafotopos → Thessaloniki (~5 hrs)
After a hearty breakfast, we say goodbye to the Zagori mountains and begin our return journey to Thessaloniki, carrying with us memories of stone paths, silence, and springtime Epirus.