If you love hiking through nature, Greece has everything you could want. Mountains that disappear into the clouds, gorges that cut through nature, routes that form part of the E4 hiking trail and former shepherds’ paths that link remote island settlements. You name it…. you’ll find it here.
Mytikas, Mt Olympus
The classic ascent to the top of Mt Olympus starts from Prionia at 1,100m. This is the highest point you can drive to before setting out for the 2,917m of Mytikas, or either of the other two peaks of the mountain of the gods. Or you could opt for a gentler hike from Litochoro by the coast, following the beautiful Epineas Gorge to Prionia.
Vikos Gorge
One of Europe’s deepest and longest gorges, this is a must for nature lovers. The descent from Monodendri and the ascent to Vikos is steep, but the walk above the Aoos River in the heart of the Vikos-Aoos National Park is fairly even and not too demanding. The six-hour trek is mostly shaded. Wildflowers cover the slopes in spring and you can even take a dip in icy waters if you’re truly brave.
Pelion
This thickly wooded mountain, with its two coastlines, lush ravines, well-maintained traditional paths and stone bridges is one of the most satisfying places in Greece to hike.
Mt Taygetos
On the Laconia side alone, the network of signed paths on the tallest mountain in the Peloponnese surpasses 90km of varying length and degrees of difficulty. The Messinia side has a comparable network and includes the stunning Koskarakas, Viros and Ridomos gorges.
The Samaria Gorge
Hikers by the thousands come here from all over the world in summer to trek the most famous gorge in Crete and to experience the power of nature close at hand.
Hiking the spectacular Samaria Gorge in Chania
