Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

Greece: Zagoria & Mt. Olympus THE VIKOS GORGE, METEORA, AND THE ABODE OF ZEUS

Days 1-5 Ioánnina / Zagoria From Ioánnina, we head to Zagoria to hike orchid-lined paths to the villages of the Vikos Gorge, including Pápingo, nestled beneath limestone towers. We descend the famous Vradeto Stairs, a serpentine 17th century stone staircase leading to the tiny village of Kapésovo, and cross ancient stone bridges of double and even triple arches that span the upper gorge. One hike brings us up to gleaming Dragon Lake (6,800'), below the striking peaks of the Pindos. Between hikes, we swim in sun-warmed springs, relax in ancient village squares shaded by huge plane trees, and enjoy the local wines and herb-infused cuisine of this remarkable region. Days 6-8 Dodóna / Meteora Monasteries We explore Dodóna, home to the impressive amphitheater of the Oracle of Zeus, the first ancient oracle of Greece, then head to the famed World Heritage Site of Meteora, meaning “suspended in the air.” Monks of the Eastern Orthodox church built the hermitages of Meteora atop sheer pinnacles in the 13th and 14th centuries. We follow paths to these seemingly inaccessible sanctuaries, where some 60 monks still reside. Days 9-12 Mt. Olympus From Thessaloniki, we head to the village of Prionia and start our hike, ascending through the forest and up above treeline to the Spilio Agapitos Refuge (7,200'). The next day we hike to the rocky summit of Skala (9,403'), the main peak of this majestic sacred mountain. Depart on Day 12 via Thessaloniki.

HIGHLIGHTS • Hike to the traditional stone-built villages of Zagoria in the Pindos Mountains • Follow monks’ pathways up to the surreal clifftop monasteries of Meteora • Trek to the summit of Mt. Olympus, a fitting abode for the gods DETAILS • 12-day trip begins in Ioánnina and ends in Thessaloniki • 10 nights hotels and traditional guesthouses, 1 night in mountain refuge • All meals included except 1 lunch TRIP COST $3695 (10-16 members) $3995 (2-9 members) Single supplement: $350 Archaeological Sites of Classical Greece extension: from $1850 TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 + 5 6 7 9 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 2-8 hours a day, altitudes between 3,000-9,400 feet Our hikes bring you through the spectacular Vikos Gorge, to the spell-binding Meteora monasteries, and up Mt. Olympus, storied home of the gods. PHOTO: GATSI DATES May 6-17, 2018 Oct 7-18

KOSTAS VASILEIOU

Traditional Greece can still be found in Zagoria, where thousand-year-old villages are perched above the UNESCO-protected Vikos Gorge in the Pindos Mountains. We’ve created wonderful hikes along shepherds’ paths and across arched

“Wonderful—the history, hiking, and outstanding food and lodging make this an A+ trip.”

bridges spanning the gorge and leading to these unique hamlets. To reach the spectacular monasteries of Meteora, we’ll walk the monks’ paths up to these airy

Erin O., Anchorage AK

medieval sanctuaries. Our grand finale is our hike up Mt. Olympus (9,600'), storied home of the gods, where we gaze over the ancient world from the abode of Zeus, ruler of the sky. Along the way, we’ll fuel our hikes with northern Greece’s delicious culinary treats and sample renowned local wines from ancient vineyards.

FOR EVEN MORE DETAILS ON OUR EUROPEAN TRIPS VISIT WWW.WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM/TRIPS/EUROPE