Hike & Raft the Vikos-Aoös Circuit

9
Greece
7 Days
6B 1L 4D
From€1,100 EUR
Hike & Raft the Vikos-Aoös Circuit
Hike & Raft the Vikos-Aoös Circuit

A spectacular journey hiking and rafting through the Vikos-Aoös National Park, home to one of the world's deepest gorges.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Athens and meet your Guide

Meet the group and your head guide at the hotel in Athens (50mins train from the airport). In the evening we'll head out to explore a lively area of downtown Athens, grabbing dinner in a fantastic local tavern.

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After a traditional breakfast, we head towards the Zagori region where our hike begins. Until 1974 the village was connected to the rest of the world only by the famous Vradeto steps.

During the hike, we visit Beloi, a natural balcony that offers the best and most imposing view of Vikos Gorge. In the afternoon, there's some free time to explore the village and enjoy a lunch with local delicatessens.

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We start the day with a hike over to the traditional village of Monodendri. Weaving and winding our way through the gorge, we're now deep in the National Park of Vikos-Aoos, a magnificent area with great ecological value.

In the afternoon, we hike through Vikos, with breathtaking views of the valley. Then we head down to Papigko village, where we spend the night.

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It's an early start today as we head towards Dracolimni. The hike begins through forests, before entering the alpine zone of Mt. Tymphe.

Hiking through the mesmerising landscape, we end the day at the refuge, surrounded by the impressive Greek mountains.

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We kick off our day after breakfast, heading down the same path we used to get to Papigko village. On the way to Konitsa, there's a pit stop at Ovires natural swimming pools. You can swim in the crystal clear waters, cool off under small waterfalls, and enjoy the serenity of this hidden gem.

Once we're done at Ovires, we roll into Konitsa and check into a local hotel. You have the afternoon to explore and grab some lunch.

Before dinner, we head to the famous Konitsa arched Bridge for the most epic sunset around!

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Morning grub at the hotel is a must. Then it's time to dive into the Voidomatis River – the cleanest river in Europe- for some rafting (no experience required!).

Afterwards, we sadly have to make our way back to Athens, where we spend our last night.

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After breakfast, our adventure comes to an end and we say goodbye!

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What's Included

Included
  • Professional local guide.
  • Accommodation: 6 nights (twin shared) in hostels, family-run hotels & mountain refuges.
  • Meals: 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners.
  • Specialist equipment.
  • Luggage transfer.
Not Included
  • International & local flights.
  • Visa (if applicable).
  • Travel insurance.
  • Airport transfers.
Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

Rated 5.0

9 verified reviews

Ian
Ian

(Oct 2024)

Thé trip was excellent and people I went with and our guide were outstanding.

Nicola
Nicola

(May 2024)

Konstantinos’s level of service, local knowledge and expertise were second to none, and he planned every detail meticulously. As a nervous car passenger, he put my mind at ease and ensured that we arrived our destination safely, with plenty of stops on the way. We stayed at some lovely guest houses, which I wouldn’t have been able to even begin to know how to book, and he chose some excellent, varied food for us to try every day. I’m particularly interested in wildlife, and Kostas was able to answer all of my questions. Oh, and the scenery was spectacular!

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Denise
Denise

(May 2024)

Fantastic trip all round. The hiking days were amazing, I loved the rafting as it was a chilled version of rafting and food and wine were fantastic everywhere. Greece is a beautiful country and I got to experience it with a great group. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide than Kostas!! The only thing that could have been improved slightly was the transport, there was only 4 of us in the group and a car isn’t very comfortable on long journeys with 3 adults in the back!

Sonya
Sonya

(Sep 2023)

I did enjoy a lot hiking in that location in Greece, the gorge was truly amazing although I did not expect the walk will be so long.. Just worth it.. our guides were very very friendly and everything organised to perfection.. Bear in mind the food when you are in Greece.. so so delicious.. I highly recommend going and enjoying the amazing views and doing the rafting and swimming in the natural pools of course.. Thank you Constantinos, Sirago and Hermis.. you were the best guides for me!

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Pam
Pam

(Sep 2023)

This is a truly amazing trip. I did it with my 3 grown up kids in September/ October and met a really fabulous group of people. The guides led by Kostas were 100% brilliant, reliable, informative, knowledgeable and such fun. Their enthusiasm for the Greek treks is infectious. They made huge efforts to ensure we saw the real Greece, experienced some local foods, the culture and countryside. The treks weren’t difficult but you do need a fair level of fitness. The zip line and tree house are no longer part of this trip but the rafting more than makes up for it - the guides on the days rafting were really entertaining and made the experience so enjoyable. We even had the chance to jump from rocks into the river. The views and sunsets were spectacular and the little touches from Kostas and his team made our trip quite amazing. Highly recommend this adventure. Would advise time in Athens as well to see the sights. We also extended our trip and had a few days on Aegina, just off the mainland, if you can do something like this it’s adds to the experience. Well done and huge thanks Kostas, Shira and Hermes

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FAQs

Before you go

You’ll need a moderate level of fitness - on this trip, you'll be hiking for around 6hrs per day (with regular breaks).

Please see the 'inclusions and exclusions' section above.

• Hiking shoes/boots • Shoes for the evening and city • Head torch • Daypack or backpack • Water bottles • Clothes for hiking • Clothes for the evening • Swimsuit • Towel • Waterproof jacket • Hat • Sunscreen • Toiletries • Any personal medication • Camera, book (optional)

- Visit 8 traditional villages in the area of Zagori and surrounds - Hike one of the deepest gorges in the world - Hike Vradeto steps, a very old stone structure trail with stunning views - Raft in the calm and crystal clear waters of Voidomatis river - Hike up to the amazing dragon lake - Taste traditional local delicatessens

On your trip

You'll stay in cosy hostels, family-run hotels, and mountain refuges. The accommodation is based on double occupancy. If travelling by yourself, you'll be paired up with another hiker. The sleeping arrangement at the mountain hut (Day 4) is dormitory-style. Free wifi is available in most of the hotels. Warm showers are available at the hotels but not at the mountain hut.

Day 1: 1-2 hrs Day 2: 3 hrs, 9km, 670m of height gained Day 3: 6 hrs, 12.5km, 600m height gained Day 4: 6 hrs, 12km, 1100m height gained Day 5: 3 hrs, 6km, 900m height loss Day 6: N/A Day 7: N/A

Day 1: Welcome dinner Day 2: Breakfast, dinner Day 3: Breakfast, dinner Day 4: Breakfast Day 5: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Day 6: Breakfast Day 7: Breakfast All meals are locally made with the best ingredients in the area.

We recommend that you bring 100-150 euros for the whole trip. It's best to bring cash (or get it out at the airport), as the remote huts sometimes struggle with card payments.

Accommodation in the mountain hut is very basic, and typical of other remote mountain refuges (e.g. the French/Swiss alpine club huts) around the world. It has mixed dormitories with bunk beds and shared facilities. No hot water is available for showers.

On the last day, your guide will drop you off at the central square of Athens Syntagma or Monastiraki. From here, you can take the metro or taxi to the airport or your next spot in the city.

Airport transfers can be arranged with your local Host at cost. Message your Host after booking from your dashboard, or put this on your trip form. * Airport transfers usually cost EUR50 cash paid directly to the driver. Afterhours (between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM is usually a little more expensive (EUR80). The cheaper alternative is to take the bus from Syntagma Square. You can check bus schedules on athensairportbus.com.

Start: You'll meet your guide at the hotel upon arrival. You are free to arrive at the hotel at anytime on Day 1. Your guide will confirm the hotel address in Athens after booking. End: You'll end the trip back at the hotel in Athens after breakfast on Day 7 of the itinerary.

For everyday use, a day pack of 25-30 litres is what you need. Larger backpacks (not exceeding 60 litres) stay in the car and are only carried to your hotel daily. This excludes the day we sleep at the mountain hut when we don't have access to them.

Depending on the weather and the season of the year your guide adjusts the program accordingly.

The water levels in the lake fluctuate with the changing seasons, with more water typically seen in spring and early summer, and lower levels in late summer and fall. However, the scenery remains breathtaking throughout the year, and occasionally, you may be fortunate to witness wild horses in the vicinity of the lake.

Private air conditioned van .

The distance is approximately 500km, which is about 5-6hrs of driving .

Depending on the season of the year, the springs of the river may experience partial drying, particularly from late July until the end of October. There is a possibility to visit an alternate location to view them, but this would require an additional 1.5 hours of hiking. The decision to do so will be based on the group's dynamics and your guide.

Other FAQs

Yes, it is. The extra cost for a single supplement is EUR240 per person. Please note that in the mountain hut (Day 4) there are no single rooms, so the single supplement is not possible for this night. To book your own room, please let your Host know in advance. You can message via your dashboard or fill out the information in your Guest Trip after booking.

Your head guide is Konstantinos

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run Nomadspath, based in Athens.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Konstantinos