Climbing in Leonidio

On June 25, 2018July 6, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Climbing13 Comments

Leonidio (Greek: Λεωνίδιο) is a town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kynouria, of which it is a municipal unit. The town of Leonidio, with a population of 3.826, emerges from a spectacular landscape, bound by two abrupt mountainsides enclosing the town from the north and south.

The River Dafnon passes through the town, and its banks are linked with three bridges. The town is capital of the Tsakonia region, notable for its cultural and linguistic particularities, and the settlement itself offers striking and picturesque architecture; now a protected architectural site, there are very strict regulations for building within the town’s limits.

Climbing_Leonidio_Greece_9689 — Plaka beach – Leonidio

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Hiking in picturesque villages Kallarites and Syrrako

On June 18, 2018August 31, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking7 Comments

The region of Pindos is an amazing place and full of pleasant surprises. Having been in this region several times, I have also decided to do a small hike between two beautiful picturesque villages, Kallarites and Syrrako.

This hike was done just few hours after the completion of the Lakmos mountain crossing and after a very peaceful night I have stayed on the Alpine lake of Verliga.

Kallarites_Syrakko_9311 — From Kallarites to Syrrako

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Verliga alpine lake – Wild camping on Greece’s secret paradise

On June 11, 2018August 28, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking15 Comments

The word paradise develops in Western languages from the Greek word paradeisos. In the western culture the concept of paradise developed in two related levels. The first was scriptural and thus a part of religious belief: paradise is either a place for life after death—often serving as a more tangible and concrete substitute for the vaguer term heaven —or the setting for a primal, idealized epoch in human history: the Garden of Eden.

The second way in which the concept developed was through the actual physical depiction or recreation of the religious image of paradise on earth, either in the form of actual gardens or through the use of certain types of garden imagery, and this is exactly what the alpine lake of Verliga is about.

Lakmos_Peristeri_Verliga_9251 — Approaching Verliga lake

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Hiking in South Pindos – Lakmos Mountain Pt.02 | Verliga Alpine Lake – Megas Trapos – Baros – Kallarites

On June 5, 2018September 22, 2025 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking6 Comments

The second day of Lakmos (Peristeri) mountain crossing started rather early. I woke up at 5:45 in order to prepare breakfast and break down the campsite. The early morning sky was beautiful and the water of the alpine lake Verliga peaceful. My breakfast was rather simple (oatmeal with dried fruits) but very enjoyable in such a magical landscape.

On the previous day, we have covered around 10 kilometres of distance and rather good elevation gain, instead the second day, we had to cover a distance of about 12 kilometres.