Hiking in Tzoumerka (Athamanika) – Pramanta Refuge – Kefalovriso Waterfall – Melissourgoi Refuge – Pramanta Refuge (family friendly)

On September 14, 2022September 10, 2022 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking1 Comment

Summer time in Greece, means sun and high temperatures and most of the people visit the seaside and the islands of the country. Though, for me, summer time means a visit to one of my favourite -amongst others- areas of mainland Greece, Tzoumerka (or Athamanika).

Like every time I visit the area, I use as a base the Pramanta Mountain Refuge which is located few kilometres far from the village of Pramanta and under the Strogoula peak. One of the nicest things of that location, is that you can use your tent surrounded by the beautiful forest, with stunning view of Strogoula and by having all the comforts of the mountain refuge.

Hiking_Tzoumerka_Athamanika_Pramanta_Refuge_Kefalobriso_Waterfall_Melisourgi_Refuge_114556_234 — Strogoula

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Hiking in Gyftokambos and Sarakatsani huts – Zagori – North Pindos

On August 2, 2021August 2, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking4 Comments

After a short stay in the foothills of Strogoula, we decided to move northern and visit one of our favourite mountainous destinations of Greece, Tymfi. Though, about a month ago, we have been again in Tymfi, from the side of Konitsa, this time we decided to visit Gyftokambos and the famous Sarakatsani huts.

Prior of arriving in Gyftokambos, we have got the info that in the area there is a lovely location to stay overnight and we certainly did not loose our chances to visit the area.

Tymfi_Zagori_Gyftokambos_Sarakatsan_142044_569 — Free In Zagori

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Hiking in Tzoumerka (Athamanika) – Pramanta Refuge – Kefalovriso Waterfall – Melissourgoi Refuge

On July 7, 2021July 2, 2021 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking12 Comments

There are a lot of mapped hiking routes at Tzoumerka, with special markings, both for advanced and beginners in hiking. A very easy hike is the one that starts from the Pramanta Mountain Refuge till Kefalovriso Waterfall. The waterfall of Kefalovriso, the highest of Greece (350 m.)

Hiking_in_Tzoumerka_Athamanika_Pramanta_Kefalovriso_Waterafall_Melissourgoi_190403_399 — Kefalovriso Waterfall

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Hiking and Wild Camping on Mount Giona (Mt. Aselinon)

On September 8, 2020August 30, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking3 Comments

One more summer is almost coming to the end and just before Autumn starts I have visited the fifth tallest mountain of Greece, Mount Giona (Mt. Aselinon). Although the main purpose of this visit was to climb to the highest peak, Pyramida 2.510 m. via Alpina, I have also enjoyed some nice hiking and wild camping in the beautiful and serene alpine fields.

In fact, due to the fact my last visit on this mountain was in 2017, I had forgot how beautiful is to be in such elevation and to enjoy the views and the peace that Mt. Giona can offer. The lofty mountains of the south Pindus range and the exalted emotions the utter wilderness of such mountains do always re-generate the human soul.

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Wild Camping in Lake Doxa (family friendly)

On June 23, 2020June 15, 2020 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & TrekkingLeave a comment

Lake Doxa is an artificial lake in western Corinthia, Greece. It is situated at an elevation of 900 m, in the municipal unit Feneos, near the village ancient Feneos. Construction was completed in the late 1990s. It is fed and drained by the small river Doxa, which empties into the plain of Feneos. In the heart of the lake on a small peninsula features a small church of Agios Fanourios. The Saint George Monastery in Feneos was relocated to higher ground, north of the lake. The lake is surrounded by pine forests.

We have already been in this location several times either for an overnight or as a starting point for several hiking and mountaineering activities.

Lake_Doxa_Wild_Camping_102209_920 — Karavi Peak, Nisi Peak and Madero Peak as seen from Lake Doxa

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

On June 11, 2018June 11, 2018 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking14 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.01 | Anthochori – Tsoukarela Peak – Verliga Alpine Lake

On May 30, 2018 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & Trekking10 Comments

It’s almost summer and it’s perfect time for Long Distance mountain crossing. This time, we have decided to visit one of the nicest mountainous areas of Greece and specifically, the area of south Pindos.

The Pindos (also Pindus or Pindhos) (Greek: Πίνδος) mountain range is located in northern Greece. It is roughly 160 km long, with a maximum elevation of 2,637m (Mount Smolikas). Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the Pindos range is known colloquially as the spine of Greece. The mountain range stretches from near the Greek-Albanian border in Northern Epirus, entering the Epirus and Macedonia regions in northern Greece down to the north of the Peloponnese. Geologically it is an extension of the Dinaric Alps, which dominate the western region of the Balkan Peninsula.

Lakmos_Peristeri_Verliga_9204 — Starting point – Anthochori village

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Hiking in Agrafa – Panagia Pelekiti – Karamanoli – Neraida

On December 8, 2017December 7, 2017 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Hiking & TrekkingLeave a comment

Hiking in the Agrafa region is one of our favourite activities. Having already hiked and climbed Voutsikaki, Five Towers, Papadimitri, Pouli and Svoni, we have decided to visit another trail path in the mountainous region of Agrafa.

Agrafa is a mountainous region in Evrytania and Karditsa regional units in mainland Greece, consisting mainly of small villages. It is the southernmost part of the Pindus range. The Agrafa region is famous for its complete autonomy throughout the entire 400 years of Ottoman Turkish occupation of Greece. The word agrafa literally translates to unwritten which means unregistered or uncharted; because the Ottomans were unable to conquer this region, the area and its population were not recorded in the Sultan’s tax register. As a result the people were usually free to conduct their business and customs as they pleased without Ottoman influence.

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Fjällräven Silhuett p5 Baby Sleeping Bag – Review

On September 1, 2017March 19, 2018 By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear ReviewLeave a comment

This is a review that I wanted quite some time now to do, but by not being the real user of the product I was not sure how I could review it. Now, that the owner and user of this product can communicate easy and clear with us, I was also able to write about the Fjällräven Silhuett P5 Baby Sleeping Bag.