Things to do in Zagori

Drive to Trekking Hellas rafting base in Klidonia, on the main road from Aristi village to Papingo village. There, the rafting team will welcome at 10:00am and provide you with the necessary safety equipment. When ready, a minibus will transfer you to the starting location, the bridge of Aristi-Papigo. During the transfer you will have impressive views of Mt. Tymphi, Astraka towers and Papigo villages. A safety briefing will follow, some river practice and off you go! During the descent, you will stop for optional refreshing dives in Voidomatis' crystal clear waters and visit the deserted 16th-century Agioi Anargyroi monastery. On the final part of the experience, you will paddle under Klidonia stone bridge's artificial waterfalls. The descent finishes shortly after Klidonia’s bridge just below Trekking Hellas rafting base. One thing is certain; by the time you reach the end, at approximately 13:00pm, you’ll wish you could start all over again!

We start our 2-hour descent at the Aristi Bridge after we get ourselves fully equipped with specialized rafting equipment. No previous rafting experience needed, the river being Class II. We slide and wade through some of the clearest (and coldest) waters in Europe, through pristine nature shone by Oriental plane trees in a place seeped in history. It was the place of a late Ice Age (actually 17.500-9.500 years ago) where hunters’ settlement that dominated the area, the seat of various monasteries and the site of a murder that plunged the area in a deadly blood feud that lasted for years and destroyed a prosperous village in the process. At the end of the ride we pass below the stone Klidonia bridge (last rebuilt in 1853) and then hop over an artificial dam that creates an exciting rapid. Alpine Zone staff will be waiting for you at the Alpine Zone base, offering traditional syrup sweets, water and washing room/changing room facilities.

Travel through wonderful scenery to the beautiful mountain villages of Zagoria and see the breathtaking Vikos Gorge. The stone-arched bridges that criss-cross the Zagori region played a vital role in linking communities. Today, many of these bridges, which date from the 18th and 19th centuries, can be seen from the modern roadside. Chance to get up close to some of the oldest and most impressive ones like Kokkori bridge, dating from 1750, which is backed by a pinnacle stack and spans a high arch above the Voidomatis river, and bridge of Kalogeriko, three-stringer bridge that was built in 1814. It is one of the few three-stringer bridge that exist which has given it particular fame. The bridge serve the residents of the two villages in their transportation and it is one of the most photographed bridges of Zagori. It will surely impress you. Visit to the Monodendri, one of the most beautiful Zagorian villages and enjoy a traditional lunch in the middle of the day. Near Monodendri, you will enjoy the walk to the abandoned monastery of Agia Paraskevi, built in 15th century, providing an impressive view of the entire village. These tiny sleepy villages nestle beneath pine-clad towering peaks, are made up of humble stone cottages and grand mansions that were once connected only by paths and old stone bridges. Admire the large Vikos Gorge and learn about its history from your guide

To start your rafting experience, you will need to visit our fully equipped base in the village of Kleidonia. Our base features changing rooms, showers, toilets, a small café, and ample parking space for your car. At the base, we will provide you with all the necessary equipment for rafting, including neoprene uniforms (if required), neoprene shoes, anoraks (if required), helmets, life jackets, and paddles. We will then transport you to the starting point of the rafting, which is approximately a 20-minute drive away, using our own cars. Prior to the activity, our experienced guides will conduct a safety briefing and provide instructions on navigating the river.During the trip, our team will take numerous photos of you, which will be sent to you free of charge at the end of the experience.

For many extreme sports fans, canyoning is the top of all the field activities since it combines hiking in a wild scenery, sloping down a vertical cliff (rappel) on a waterfall using special equipment. Choosing canyoning you will realize the real dimension of the sport beyond the ordinary perception, in a virgin, natural environment. Explore at your own pace while gaining access to water sculptured gorges. Description: We start from the church of Megalo Papigko village in Zagori and then we are going down the path, leading to the sources of Voidomatis River. After 10 minutes of easy walking, we are at the first rappel. The first 3 rappels are close together with a height of about 4 to 7 meters. The 4th, and last rappel, is 17 meters and from there, climbing a wind ladder, we are again before the 4th rappel and we are ready for the 30-minute long way back, via a path that ends at the starting point. No previous experience is required, and we provide all necessary technical gear and equipment (except for your shoes, each individual need to have a pair of hiking shoes)

Enjoy a light 3-hour hike with a trek leader from the Chapel of Profitis Ilias to the Beloi viewpoint in the Pindus Mountains, offering breathtaking panoramas of the limestone and dolomite rocks and virgin vegetation. Visitors to the Zagori area will often hear about Vradeto, the highest village in the region. But there is more to see than a mountain village. A stunning ride through varied landscapes leads to this small, picturesque place, from where you’ll start your hike of about 3.6 miles (6 kilometers). Suitable for the entire family, this is one of the easiest hiking routes in the Pindus Mountains, home to the world’s deepest gorge. After you’ve taken in views of the entire length of the Vikos Gorge, return to Vradeto for a short coffee break at the traditional kafenion (café), where you can see a photo exhibition. Next, you will walk the famous Vradeto rocksteps, a traditional stone-made path that used to connect Vradeto with the rest of the region’s settlements. End your tour close to the village of Kapesovo, where a transfer will be waiting to take you back to the meeting point.

Vikos gorge is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Greece. The gorge consists of limestone and dolomite formations dating back to 150 million years ago and vertical walls extending up to a height of 1700 m. The hike starts from Monodendri village with a 45-minute descent towards the river bed. The trail is ascending and descending surrounded by steep mountain tops and dense forests of deciduous trees and 1800 plant species. Before ascending to Vikos village, visit the Voidomati Springs, Greece's cleanest and coldest river, with an average all year temperature of 8.5°C. If you are brave you might want to try the experience of a very refreshing dive in the crystal clear waters during summer months. The hike finishes at Vikos village, after a 1-hour ascent from the Voidomatis springs.

Meet in the center of Kipoi village and set off on the hiking trail with your guide. Discover a vast network of ancient footpaths of the Zagori region, which were built to connect its 46 villages in previous centuries. Cross several impressive stone bridges of the area, built in the 17th-18th century and which are usually known by the name of the benefactor who paid for their construction. Arrive at the picturesque village of Koukouli. Visit a small museum with a selection of specimens of rare flora from the Vikos gorge. Discover rare plant collections that grow on the canyon’s rocks and learn about the ‘Doctors of Vikos’. Next, walk back towards the village of Kipoi, following the very old stone path of Koukouli, also known as the ‘Koukouli Steps’. Finish the hike back in the center of the village.

Experience the varied terrain and vistas of the Vikos Gorge in the Pindus Mountains and see untouched and untamed nature. Vikos Gorge is listed as the deepest gorge in the world by the Guinness Book of Records, and is famous for its unique natural beauty and crystal-clear waters. The full-day hike starts from the village of Monodendri on the southern rim of the gorge. It's a restored stone village of walled courtyards with fortress-like gates. Follow a signposted path near the open-air theater at the top of the trail, from where the path drops steeply to the Voidomatis River. Walk the course of the river through the shade, with sparkling water as your companion. After about 4 hours, you will reach the Voidomatis River springs. Continue through the woods for a while, hiking uphill to exit at Vikos village. The tour covers a distance of about 7.5 miles (12.6 kilometers), passing towering rocks and virgin vegetation. Upon arrival at Vikos, a transfer will be waiting to take you back to Monodendri.

We start from the church of Megalo Papigko village in Zagori and we are going down the path leading to the sources of Voidomatis River. After 10 minutes of easy walking, we are already there and start on the 1st rappel. The first 3 rappels are close together, with a height of about 4 to 7 meters. The 4th rappel is 17 meters and the first with enough difficulty. The remaining 5 rappels are a bit more demanding with the highest reaching 30 meters, again close to each other, and with the adrenaline pumping. Completing the rappels, we find on the left the 45-minute path that leads us to the starting point. No previous experience is required, and we provide all necessary technical gear and equipment (except for your shoes, each individual need to have a pair of hiking shoes)