One of Europe’s best-kept secrets is the Epirus Trail. With its 370 kilometers through the Pindos Mountains in northern Greece, it is the longest trail in Greece. The trail takes you through the Vikos Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander through ancient villages, explore monasteries, and walk on dusty trade roads whilst enjoying Greek cuisine along the way. However, you will not find gyros here. The region is known for its classic pies that today’s mountain residents still eat. The Epirus Trail is excellently marked and along the way, you can spend the night in one of the many accommodations, such as hotels and even a few mountain huts.
Zagori
The trail has no clear start and end point. It’s easy to start your tour anywhere in the Zagori region, where you will find plenty of accommodation options. For example, start in Monodendri and walk in six hours to the next village of Papingo. You walk through gorges, past rocks, and cover hilly terrain. After conquering the altimeters, you will arrive in the mountain village of Papingo from where you have a magnificent view of Tymfi: one of the highest mountains in Greece. If you still have some energy left, you can climb this peak in the upcoming days. From Papingo, you walk to Mikro Papingo and then to the mountain hut Astraka. You will ascend more than 1000 meters above the tree line along the way. From the hut, you can walk to Lake Dragon, one of the highlights of the trail, with its expansive views over the Pindos Mountains. The mountain hut is still supplied with donkeys and with a bit of luck, you will enjoy a beautiful sunset. From the hut, you walk towards Konitsa, one of the three towns you will encounter on the route.
Vikos Gorge
One of the other highlights is the Vikos Gorge. A part of the trail leads you through the largest gorge in the world. With a length of more than 20 kilometers, a width of 400 meters, and a height of 1600 meters, it is quite impressive. You walk through the Vikos-Aoos National Park and can cool off in one of the springs with clear blue water. If you climb up to the small village of Vikos, you have a great view of the entire gorge. Here you can enjoy a typical Greek meal on the terrace of a taverna.
Metsovo
The Epirus Trail also passes through Metsovo. This strategic place used to be the trade center of the region. In this ancient mountain town, traditions have been preserved and you can still meet the inhabitants in traditional dress. It is also known for its local wines and cheeses. Ideal for stocking up on some products for the next leg of your trip (but not too much wine, of course). Metsovo can also be a good base to further explore the region and start the trail.
Good to know
There is not necessarily a fixed route of the trail with stages that lead you from A to B. The great thing is that you can arrange the tour as you wish. The route runs along 30 villages and towns where you can spend the night. You can also deviate a little bit from the trail, where you will find many more options. You regularly pass tavernas where you can eat. On a few stages, you have to provide the food yourself, you can often buy this in the villages where you spend the night. The maps of the regions and the Epirus Trail are available in most tourist shops. You can also make a route plan using the link below.
In the summer and even in the spring and autumn, the temperature can rise considerably in northern Greece. Make sure you bring enough sunscreen and a cap to protect yourself against the sun. What always helps is to start early; this means that often you will have the trail to yourself and at most, you will encounter a shepherd!
Useful links
More info: Epirus Trail
Map: Topoguide
