6-day – “Easter / Spring adventure I”

After we have been introduced to the place’s history by visiting the cultural center and museum, we go off rafting in the Pinios river, which flows deep below the village. Our rafting base is only 20’ drive from Ambelakia. The rafting route – the Vernezi route – is very enjoyable with exciting rapids, rising the adrenaline and the feeling of team work very high! This excitement will last for about 1.30’ hours. We change back in to our dry clothes, enjoy a picnic lunch at our rafting base before transferred back to your accommodation in Ambelakia. Duration of the activity, 1.30’ hours. Overall activity’s duration, 4.00’ to 4.30’ hours, including the gearing up time, briefing, local transfers, stops, picnic e.c.t.

Today you have a choice between Hiking to the top of Mt. Kissavos (Ossa) to 1978m and a ”Via Cordata” route in the historical and beautiful Tempi valley.

Hiking: By road, we move to the village of Spilia and the walk starts from here. The route progresses on the south west slopes of the mountain. It starts at 850m and finishes at 1978m at the summit. It is a very interesting route with great views all along, not to speak of the view from the summit itself, where you are rewarded with moments of fulfillment and tranquility while admiring stunning panoramic views. Mt. Olympus – the mountain of the twelve gods – rises impressively before us to the north, Mt. Pelion – the land of the mythical centaurs – to the south, the Aegean Sea and the coast along which Jason and the Argonauts sailed going for the golden fleece, to the east and in clear weather – not very unlikely – the huge pyramid of Mt. Athos emerging out of the sea in the very distance to the east. We are standing atop the land with very strong vibrations of myths, legends and history. Drinks and light lunch on the summit. Altitude covered, 1128m.

Then, we descend via the northeast ridge to the Kanalos location at 1604m for another relaxed hour of easy walk. From there, transferred by road to our Mt. Kissavos base where we are to spend the night in a hostel type wood cabin, on the north east forested slopes of the mountain at 370m with great views of Mt. Olumpus and the Aegean Sea. Have a hot shower, a well-earned supper and a good rest.

Approximate total net walking time, 5.00’ to 5.30’ hours moderate / demanding. Overall activity’s duration, 6.30’ to 7.00’ hours, including the gearing up time, briefing, local transfers, stops, picnic e.c.t.

Via Cordata / Ferrata, up the ”Apollo Ridge”: The ridge is located at the north cliff side of the Tempi valley just opposite and below Ambelakia village, geologically considered to be on Lower Olympus. We are transferred to the starting point of the walk-in (20’ by road from your accommodation in Anbelakia). The walk-in follows the old railway line alongside the river Pinios, with great views all along the hike. Duration of walk-in, 15 – 20’, easy.

Description of the Via Cordata / Ferrata route: Start at 20m above sea level – Finish at 240m. Gained altitude 220m. Length of route, 290m. The route consists mainly of long sections of narrow ridge scrambling and shorter sections and “steps” of actual climbing of III+ to IV- grade on typical limestone rock. The ridge scrambling is a typical Via Cordata with the protection of fixed ropes while the climbing sections are additionally protected with cable, making it a combination of Via Cordata and Via Ferrata for extra safety and ease. The views of the gorge with the river and far down below are just breathtaking. Duration of the Via Cordata route, 3.00’ to 4.00’ hours. After having enjoyed some time on the top of the ridge and have a picnic lunch, we take the return hiking trail (0.50’ to 1.00’ hours) back to the starting point and our vehicle for the return to our Mt. Kissavos base, where we are to spend the night in a hostel type wood cabin, on the north east forested slopes of the mountain at 370m with great views of Mt. Olumpus and the Aegean Sea. Have a hot shower, a well-earned supper and a good rest.

Duration of the actual activity, 4.20’ to 5.20’ hours. Overall activity’s duration, 5.30’ to 6.30’ hours, including the gearing up time, briefing, local transfers, stops, picnic e.c.t.

After breakfast we leave the wood cabin and move by forest dirt road through dense forest, along the eastern side of the mountain. The activity today is canyoning and our destination is the Kalypso canyon. This canyon is a nature’s wonder. A completely different world from what we have experienced up to now. Geared up, we walk up the slope for about 20’ and get into the canyon. An amazing environment of waterfalls, crystal clear pools and dense vegetation welcome us. While in the Canyon, we continue walking and scrambling up stream for another 10’, until we reach the great waterfall, 75m high! It is indeed a unique and exceptional spot! After having a drink and cookies at the spot, we make our way down stream to start the real canyoning in the Kalypso II section with a series of jumps, waterslides, dives, fly-foxing over pools and abseiling alongside waterfalls. At the finishing point we have a picnic lunch in the forest before we return to the base and the cabin for the night.

The canyoning session takes about 4.00’ – 4.30’ hours. Overall activity’s duration, 6.00’ to 6.30’ hours, including the gearing up time, briefing, local transfers, stops, picnic e.c.t.

Note that the Via Cordata can be the alternative option to canyoning if the weather conditions (mainly temperatures of the time) advocate towards it.

Sea Kayaking. This is a sea kayaking ride along the Mt. Kissavos coast route, exploring a very beautiful coast line in the sea kayaks. Duration of paddling, 2.00’ to 2.30’ hours. Overall activity’s duration, 4.30’ to 5.30’ hours, including the gearing up time, briefing, local transfers, stops, picnic e.c.t.

Sea-kayaking & Sea-cave abseiling. We explore in our kayaks the amazing sea caves of Veneton and swim in marvelous isolated beaches. Along the ride we stop at a small cove, and after the abseiling briefing, a 15min walk brings us to the top of the big cave and its roof hole. The sight is just breathtaking. You live through a unique experience as you abseil in space 35m down to the turquoise water. After swimming and diving in the cave, return to the path and the kayaks to continue our kayak ride and the sea cave exploration. For more about this one – day activity, here. Paddling time 2.30’ hours. Overall activity’s duration, can well exceed the 8.00’hours, including the gearing up time, briefing, local transfers, stops, picnic e.c.t.

The last night’s accommodation can be in a hotel either in the Mt. Kissavos area if the first choice is taken or a little to the south – Mt. Pelion area – if the second choice is taken. This will also depend on your destination or departure airport of the next day.  

Departure with memories.

Things you should know

Meals & Meal Plan: This trip is organized on a half board basis, as breakfast goes with your accommodation and lunch will be a picnic meal with traditional Greek dishes and tastes prepared with great care by the Olympos Trek team, usually during or after the activity, being included in the price. Two evening meals, one welcome and one farewell, are included in the price.  The rest of the evening meals are not included in the price and will be taken in local restaurants as this will give you a perfect opportunity to sample real Greek hospitality and delicious food, typical of the region. Water and juices for the children are included with the activity but alcoholic drinks for the adults are not.

Transport: From the airport to your accommodation in Litochoro, in case you do not have your own or hired means of transport (rented vehicle), the best suggested way is the public transport (train or bus), as our area of activities and the accommodation establishments are very close to the main road and rail streams of transport on the eastern side of the country. The nearest airport is the Makedonia airport of Thessaloniki, 1.00’ hour by train or bus to Nei Porior Rapsani train stations, being very close to the activities area and the various accommodation establishments. The “Proastiakos” train runs almost every hour from Thessaloniki to the above destination for 18.00€ return. From the airport you take the bus (number 78) to the main train or bus station in Thessaloniki. It takes 20’ to 30’ and costs €01.00. The buses also run in the same manner, though a bit more expensive than the train. They run from Thessaloniki central bus station via Katerini where you change bus to Litochoro or to Leptokaria.

If you land at “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport in Athens, the train seems to be again the best option. Only the journey in this case takes 4.15’ to 5.00’ hours, depending up on the train you are using. From the airport you take the metro or the Proastiakos train to the “Stathmos Larisis” (Larisa’s station) in Athens, from where you take the train to Larisa, where you change train (take the ”Proastiakos” train) to Litochoro.

Note that during the activities / holiday, all local transfers will be provided by us, from your accommodation to the activity’s location starting point and back to your accommodation and this is included in the price. If you have your own means of transport, you come to the prearranged meeting point for the day’s activity.

Group size and Staff: Maximum group size is 16 people and minimum 4. This trip is led by Olympos Trek and supported by expert local instructors / guides with great knowllege of the local conditions.

Health: No specific requirements on this tour. If you are reasonably fit and in good health, have a sense of adventure and basically swim (for canyoning), any previous experience is not necessary.

Insurance: It is a prerequisite of booking any Olympos Trek outdoor activity program that you possess adequate insurance with certain requirements that must be met by your policy.

Responsible Tourism: Tourism has an effect on any area, it is essential to minimise the negative impact that we may cause. We do not allow our clients or staff to damage the physical environment by leaving litter or rubbish lying around. Anything we take in to an area we must take out again.

Pricing policy:

Our multi activity holiday programs / trips are meant mainly for you who “Plan your own holiday” or for you who want to “Do it yourself”. By being retailers and providers at the same time on these actual programs, we are able to deliver and provide a personalized service at an excellent price, without compromising on the quality of our activities. As local activity suppliers, our expert knowledge of the area ensures for you a more personal feel and direct communication with us and the area, thus, more control on your behalf, over your holiday.

Our multi activity holiday programs / activity combinations are designed and put in place for every different proposal / program in such a way, that only our experience and knowledge concerning the local conditions could achieve towards your maximum enjoyment. It took long sessions of evaluating various elements and parameters like the group’s type – individuals/family/children’s age groups – the activities’ level and the time period in relation to the weather conditions, before reaching the desired outcome. We believe that we have succeeded there achieving the harmony we were seeking. Our clients’ comments which have helped us a lot towards it, are in favor of this. We are grateful to them!

Just take the advantage of this work, at prices that you will find nowhere else for such full, well designed, high-quality multi-activity holiday programs!

So, the above Prices apply mainly to the independent traveler, who will have their own means of transport, thus, come independently from their accommodation to the meeting point for every activity and back, with our and our website’s directions at all times. During the booking procedure and contact with us you will also be given all the information / directions needed to get from the airport to your accommodation. The “Google Maps – our activities Destinations” in our website will help you a lot towards it. We take care of the appropriate accommodation for you, being close and handy to the activities area.

As it is explained below (“Things you should know” at “Transport”), if you do not have your own means of transport, the transfers from the arrival stations to your accommodation and back, as well as the transfers from the accommodation to the activity’s location and back, will be done by us at an extra cost.

Note that if you are less than 4 persons without other participants in your actual available dates, we can do the full program exclusively for you if you wish, at an additional 25% if you are 3 persons and 45% if you are 2 persons on the activities price. This means an 18.5% for 3 persons and 33.5% for 2 persons on the above total (activities + accommodation) prices.