Zagori
September 29th - October 4th 2024
Greece
Enjoy a remote, inspiring trek in the breathtaking beauty of Zagori, Greece. Immerse yourself in pristine landscapes, ancient stone bridges, and ancient forests. Hike through picturesque villages, savour local cuisine and discover hidden waterfalls. With stunning vistas at every turn, Zagori offers an unforgettable adventure for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts.
Zagori teems with diverse wildlife: brown bears, wild boar, wolves, and eagles. Sadly, all are shy and rarely spotted. However, you will still see many alpine flowers in this cooler, more hiking-friendly season.
Zagori's delectable cuisine features local cheeses, game meats, and traditional pies-all enjoyed in delightful village squares shaded by trees. Stay in warm, hospitable guest houses, blending rustic elegance with stunning views, ensuring a memorable Zagori experience.
Our itinerary is challenging but feasible. Highlights include the world's deepest to width Vikos Gorge, the stunning Dragons Lake, and incredible sunsets from Astra Refuge. Although a green level event with no wild camping and no need to carry heavy backpacks, this event should be considered amber in terms of physical challenge, as days are 6 hours of hiking per day with steep long descents and ascents.
Itinerary
DAY ONE: ARRIVE- PAPIGKO
Meet your team at Preveza Airport and transfer for three and a half hours to Papigko. Settle into your rustic accommodation, wander around the village, enjoy the views and then meet to enjoy traditional Greek food from the finest local produce.
DAY TWO: PAPIGKO TO ASTRAKA REFUGE
Start the day hiking for approximately an hour to the small village of Mikro Papigko, where we will stop for coffee. We will then ascend, stopping at sheltered watering stops at the Astraka Refuge. After lunch, those who wish to save their legs can enjoy the views while those still with a skip can hike to Dragons Lake, full of newts, before returning to the Astra Refuge for dinner and spectacular sunsets.
Distance to Astraka refugee: 6km / 1000m ascent/ Time 3.5-4 hours hiking. Extra distance to Dragon Lake: 5.5km / 450m ascent and descent.
DAY 3: ASTRAKA REFUGE TO TSEPELOVO
A challenging but spectacular day. Tremendous glacial landscape views descend into a stunning, breathtaking gorge. Using less frequented routes, we will enjoy a sense of isolation before descending past spectacular limescale features to the small mountain village of Tsepelovo.
Distance: 13km / 500m ascent/ 1350m descent/ approx. 6 hours.
DAY 4: TSEPELOVO TO MONODENDRI
Ascend a staired path looking down on scenic Tsepelvo until descending to Kapesovo. From here, you will drop into an ancient forest. You will then face your most challenging hiking as you enter the Vikos Gorge, hike around a small roped exposed section and take on the steep ascent into the most beautiful village of Monodendri.
Distance: 9km / 680m ascent/ 700m descent/ approx. 5 hours.
DAY 5: MONODENDRI TO PAPIGKO.
This is a big day to end. Descend into the stunning, vast Viko Gorge. Stop at the gorgeous blue springs to cool down before ascending to the most spectacular views of the trek. Some sections of this day are exposed. Limestone can be slippery if raining and some small areas are roped for safety.
Distance: 16km / 1300m ascent/ 1400m descent/ approx. 8.5 hours.
DAY 6: TRANSFER PAPIGKO TO PREVEZA AIRPORT- FLY HOME.
What Is included
Professional local guides
Tour operator from the UK
Transfers to and from Preveza Airport
Daily taxi transfer to next town to transport bags Breakfasts (not at the refuge)
Four nights shared in rustic 3-star accomodation One night at Mountain Hostel in a shared room
Logistics Zoom Seminar
Group shopping experience in London/ or personal Zoom call
Expedition preparation seminar- How not to get injured
What Is not included
Insurance
Alcoholic drinks
Breakfast at refuge
Snacks/ dinners
Additional incurred costs if you are unable to follow the set route
Extra guide costs if alternative routes are requested. Additional expenses incurred in an emergency/ illness
Your personal equipment
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Do I need to be experienced in trekking/expeditions?
The fact that we are transporting your bag by taxi and you will mainly have a good night's sleep in hotels/ guest houses makes this trek very forgiving. However, hiking is challenging; some scree slopes and a few exposed places exist. We strongly recommend attending our Snowdonia training weekend if you are not experienced. You don't need to camp on this unless you wish, but this trek is very remote in places and should not be underestimated. In terms of physical preparation, think of this event as an amber. We can lower this rating on a couple of days in places using a local taxi (at your expense), but you should arrive planning to be trek fit.
What equipment do I need?
We will send you a packing list and go through it on Zoom, but hiking boots, walking poles, a head torch, a sleeping liner for the refugee, a bag to carry your water, snacks, and waterproofs are essential. You will get good phone reception apart from in the most remote hiking parts.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be able to carry the weight you intend to be carry on your back (not what you intend to give the porters!) up the Watkins path on multiple days. Running 10km, hiking regularly for 6 hours with 1000m of ascent, cycling 3-4 hours at a steady pace will all prepare you. The training in Snowdonia in June will allow you to be assessed and still give you enough time to further prepare.
What will the weather be like?
The weather in October is perfect for hiking. 20-25°C and dropping to around 10°c at night. At the refugee, this can be zero degrees due to the altitude. Mountain weather is susceptible to quick changes, so please bring waterproofs and a warm layer.
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The total cost is £899. All bookings start with a one on one call with one of our qualified guides. This call is to make sure all your questions are answered so that all team members know about the expedition challenges and the commitment that must be made in preparation. You may also ask any further questions you may have around the expedition. After this call, a deposit of 30% will be sent to you to secure your place. The balance is due 50 days before the start of the expedition. For cancellations made within 30-40 days of the trip commencement date, Turn Wild reserves the right to retain 50% of the balance payment. For cancellations within 30 days of the departure date, Turn Wild will retain 100% of the total fee. For any further questions or to secure a place, please contact us via the details below. Thank you, and let your adventure begin!
Contact Ian on 07901 916 169 or Ian@turnwild.com. Find more about Turn Wild’s terms and conditions here.