Mount Olympus walking holiday, Greece
• 2 nights in Mountain Huts • 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 picnic lunches, 7 dinners. • Luggage transfer • English-speaking tour guide / escort * Single supp.
- £ 195
Description of Mount Olympus walking holiday, Greece
Mythical Peaks and Monastic Heights – A Walking Adventure Through Northern Greece
Discover the natural majesty and spiritual soul of northern Greece on this exclusive small-group holiday that combines a guided ascent of Mount Olympus with immersive walking in the ethereal landscapes of Meteora. Thoughtfully curated for discerning travellers, this journey blends gentle adventure with cultural depth, refined accommodation and seamless logistics.
Your adventure begins in the foothill town of Litochoro, the gateway to Olympus National Park. After a warm welcome and introduction to your expert guide and fellow guests, set out on a gradual and scenic ascent of Mount Olympus, long revered as the throne of Zeus and home of the ancient gods. Trek through fragrant pine forests and alpine meadows, spending a night in a comfortable mountain refuge with the option of summiting Mytikas, the highest peak in Greece at 2,918 metres. From the top, soak in panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and the Thessalian plains—a moment of quiet exhilaration and shared achievement.
Following your descent, continue the journey westward to Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where centuries-old monasteries perch atop towering rock pinnacles. Stay in a refined guesthouse in the nearby town of Kastraki, where traditional Greek hospitality meets modern comfort.
Spend two days walking carefully chosen trails through this otherworldly landscape, combining natural beauty with cultural discovery. Visit hidden hermitages, active monasteries and scenic viewpoints, accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide who brings the region’s rich history and spiritual heritage to life.
With a maximum group size designed to preserve a sense of intimacy and connection, this holiday offers the ideal balance of physical activity, mindful exploration and elegant relaxation. All accommodation, meals, transfers and guiding are included, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience.
Whether you're drawn by mythology, the call of the mountains, or the awe-inspiring tranquillity of Meteora, this is a journey through Greece unlike any other—deeply moving, beautifully curated, and truly unforgettable.
The setting, just over 100kms from Thessaloniki, overlooking the Aegean, is spectacular and it’s easy to see why the 12 Olympian Greek gods decided to make Mt Olympus their home. As the first national park in Greece and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Mt Olympus has become fabled just as much for its flora and fauna as its mythical status; with habitat for birds of prey, especially, considered among Europe’s most important natural areas. Honey buzzards, bearded vultures, black vultures, Lanner falcons and golden eagles are all known to nest within the mountain’s shelves and crevices, and small groups are asked to pay close attention to mountain guide instructions whilst undertaking hikes at high altitude.
This walking holiday in Greece is designed for small groups (but can also be offered as a private hiking trip), with English-speaking, experienced and officially qualified mountain guides ensuring safety and a deeper understanding of the natural area is second to none. NB. hiking Mt Olympus can take place at any point between the beginning of July and the end of September (although this can vary slightly each season).
Walking itineraries have been carefully planned to feature Mount Olympus, Enipeas Gorge, the Muses Plateau and the UNESCO site of Meteora as well as utilising mountain huts to help you explore away from the usual tourist trails. Other overnight accommodation on this eight day tour includes good quality independent guesthouses and hotels which are usually small and often run by local families who will be happy to chat more about Greece and their own personal stories of walking on and around Mt Olympus.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Meet your guide in the village of Kastraki which is situated in amongst the spectacular Meteora rock formations. This evening's meal will be taken at a local taverna before spending your first night in Greece within the comfort of your Kastraki guesthouse. We can arrange a private transfer from Volos/Athens/Thessaloniki airports |
| Day 2: | Today's trekking time: 4 hours. After breakfast you'll be hiking among the UNESCO monoliths of Meteora where the precariously positioned Monastery of St Nicholas looks down from on high. Taking one of the ancient walking trails is the best way to avoid the crowds and recreate how the monks used to travel to the monastery hundreds of years ago. Today's trek is rated easy to moderate and includes lunch followed by an evening meal at the guesthouse in Kastraki. |
| Day 3: | You'll be leaving Kastraki this morning after breakfast and visiting one of six inhabited local monasteries before having lunch en-route to the town of Litochoro which can be found within the foothills of Mt Olympus. Upon arrival you'll check into your Litochoro guesthouse and enjoy an evening meal prior to spending your first night in Litochoro. |
| Day 4: | Today's trekking time: 5 hours. After breakfast you'll be invited to hike within Enipeas Gorge which forms a section of the E4 European long distance footpath. The whole area is incredibly beautiful with several waterfalls, rivers, bridges and lakes making for a fabulous backdrop to accompany today's alfresco lunch. Today's trek is rated at a moderate level and you'll return to Litochoro within good time for your evening meal. |
| Day 5: | Today's trekking time: 7 hours. Start today's trek from Gortsia before cutting through the forest land of Muses Plateau which leads to a high altitude (8,700 feet) mountain refuge hut. The alpine scenery that you'll encounter today is particularly beautiful with the Throne of Zeus (Stefani Peak on Mount Olympus) appearing over the plains of northern Greece against the shimmering blues and whites of the Aegean. Today's trek is rated at a moderate level and you'll take a packed lunch to eat during the day and take your evening meal and overnight stay at the mountain refuge. |
| Day 6: | Today's trekking time: 6 hours. After breakfast at the mountain refuge hut you'll walk around the base of peaks Mystikas and Stefani before joining the E4 European walking route on the ascent to Skala Peak at just below 9,5000 feet above sea level. After or before packed lunch you'll hike to a different mountain refuge hut at 7,900 feet for your evening meal and overnight stay. Today's trek is rated at a moderate level. |
| Day 7: | Soak up the alpine views before and after breakfast before finishing your descent towards the Monastery of Agios Dionisios and from there a 25 minute drive to Litochoro for your last evening. |
| Day 8: | Extend your stay in Litochoro or perhaps enjoy a few nights in Thessaloniki before heading home. We can arrange private transfers as necessary. |
Price information
• 2 nights in Mountain Huts • 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 picnic lunches, 7 dinners. • Luggage transfer • English-speaking tour guide / escort * Single supp.
- £ 195
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Travel guides
Reviews
1 Reviews of Mount Olympus walking holiday, Greece
Reviewed on 23 Sep 2017 by Anne Lincoln
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking up mt olympus
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You need sleeping bag liners for the refuge no linen supplied we were told otherwise and unpacked them
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes local guides and family run taverners used. food exceptional
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Top trip. The hotel in Athens was good but a more homely guest house would have been better.
Responsible Travel
Planet
Our local agency specialises in sustainable adventure and wildlife holidays in Greece. They offer diverse travel packages that allow for flexibility, affordability and variety. Our customers can choose from a small group trip or a completely tailor made option for minimum two persons.Our aim is to promote ecotourism and sustainable adventure holidays at the same time as providing a unique travel experience and allowing you to enjoy the fantastic nature and scenery of this part of Greece, a world away from busy tourist resorts.
Our treks and holidays throughout Greece, encompassing National Parks, Protected Environmental Areas, Archaeological Sites, Caves & Hot Springs - places that have great natural, geological, cultural, and historical value, and the local guides provide further information about the environment and the benefits of sustainable adventure holidays. All staff have a wide knowledge of local areas that you visit during the trips and, most importantly, they know how to protect them.
We strongly believe in the need to protect and enhance the places we travel to, and in the potential of responsible tourism, to be a positive force in environmental and cultural conservation.
People
100% of our guides and drivers in Greece are local people. We firmly believe that a local licensed guide can offer more insight into the countryside and region as a whole as well as enhancing the local economy. Their expertise and local knowledge will enhance your experience and understanding of the historical context and the environmental impact of your visit. This is preferable, in our opinion, than sending a guide from another country or even from elsewhere in Greece. All food on the included trek is bought locally, which provides employment for local shops. The accommodation used on the tour is in small, family run establishments which have been in business for many years. Many of these hotels are traditionally built, respecting the local architecture and surroundings. Food in the hotels is primarily sourced locally.Our local supplier supports Archelon - The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, and Arcturos - The Society for the Protection of Wildlife in Greece. Each year they plan to donate a percentage of the tour price to maintain ancient paths in the Zagoria area (Vikos National Park) and Pelion.
We ask all our customers to respect the fragile mountain environment by, for example, taking their litter away with them. All our trips are either in very small groups or tailor made for individuals to minimise the impact of large groups on this mountain region.
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