Description - What to expect

Zagoria Trek Itinerary

◾ Arrival day
You are picked up at Ioannina airport and transferred by bus to Tsepelovo, the largest of the Zagoria cluster villages. Upon your arrival, your tour leader will brief you and give you an outline of your Zagoria trek adventure ahead. Overnight in Tsepelovo.

◾ Day one: Tsepelovo - Vradeto - Beloi - Tsepelovo. (4-hour trek)
Start your Zagoria trek from Tsepelovo (1050 m) ascending towards Vradeto (1450m), the highest of Zagoria village. Follow a beautiful trail, overlooking the riverbed of the impressive Vikos Gorge to arrive at the Beloy viewpoint (1650m). From there you can admire almost the entire Vikos Gorge and view the distant trails about to follow the next day. Return to the village of Vradeto and continue downhill to the village of Kapesovo. Walk down the famous Vradeto Steps (a stone path built in the 16th century at the slopes of Vikos Gorge) and from there get a transfer back to Tsepelovo to rest and relax in a traditional guesthouse.

◾ Day two: Tsepelovo - Kipi - Koukouli - Vitsa. (5-hour trek)
Start the second day of your Zagoria trek with a descent to the trailhead of the Vikos Gorge, marked by a stone bridge built in the year 980 A.D, called “Paliogefyra”. Continue through a beech and pine tree forest and watch out for tracks of bears passing on your path. Your trekking ends in the village of Kipi for lunch at a local taverna. From Kipi continue trekking up the stairs of Koukouli (stone steps like in Vradeto) to explore the unique architecture of this picturesque village. Hike down into the Vikos Gorge again, crossing the “Misiou” bridge, and take the old Vitsa steps up in order to reach the villages of Vitsa and Monodendri, build right at the edge of the gorge wall. Overnight in a traditional mansion in Vitsa.

◾ Day three: Vitsa village - Vikos village (7-hour trek)
Early in the morning, continue your Zagoria trek descending the old Vitsa stairs into the Vikos Gorge. Walking on the riverbed admire the rare varieties of wild birds and flowers that have found shelter in the gorge. Right above our heads stand the impressive walls of the gorge, rising steeply and majestically to 1.000 or more vertical meters. After about 4 hours of walking, reach the Voidomatis river springs. Early in the afternoon, you will arrive in the village of Vikos where you will spend the night.

◾ Day four: Vikos - Papigo (4-hour trek)
Following the old ascending path, you will be able to view in the distance the beautiful ravines around Papigo. Above you, the “Towers of Papigo” are rising abruptly to treacherous heights. Take a dip in the natural pool before you have a rest in a traditional guesthouse.

◾ Day five: Papigo-mountain shelter-Dragon Lake-Papigo (3-hour trek)
Follow the trail, through juniper scrubs, to the Alpine zone to the mountain shelter of Astraka. Watch to your north the distant Albanian mountains. After lunch at the shelter you will have the option for a further ascent to the Tsoumani (Sarakatsani) sheepfolds and pastures up to the scenic Dragon Lake (2100m), perched on the edge of the northern escarpment of Mt Gamila (2497 m), one of the great peaks of the Pindos mountain range. Descent once again to your base in Papigo for an overnight. In the evening enjoy a delicious Greek dinner in one of the local tavernas.

◾ Day six: Explore the lake city of Ioannina
End your Zagoria trek with a transfer from Papigo to the beautiful city of Ioannina. Visit the charming island at the center of the lake that seems like floating. Take your time to explore the city and do your last-minute shopping. Overnight in a hotel in Ioannina.

◾ Departure day: You will be taken to the airport of Ioannina for your departure or assisted with directions and advice if you are continuing your trip to other parts of the country.