Hiking – Trekking

Hiking is the most popular alternative activity for all ages and everyone has the opportunity to choose the hiking routes that suit him. Pelion consists of 24 picturesque and preserved villages its of which had a network of paths constituting the main communication point between the villages and the city of Volos. It is an outdoor mountain activity that attracts more and more visitors. Pelion is the ideal for hiking trips of any time for the year helping its visitors to admire the Pelion landscape and discover its well-hidden treasures. There is an extensive hiking network that enables hikers to explore the hidden and mythological aspects of traditional villages. The hiking trails are mainly on an extensive network of cobbled streets and on narrow forest roads with lush vegetation. There are several elevation differences, with few downhill and uphill routes available. Preparing for the hike of your choice involves searching for information on the internet, special hiking maps or the support of one of the many maintain guides active in the area.

NECESSARY EQUIPMENT:

• Hiking boots or good sneakers
• Waterproof/Windproof
• Backpack
• Hiking poles
• Suitable clothing (depending on weather conditions)
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Pharmacy
• Flashlight
• Sanitary ware
• Trash bag
• Snack-Water

HIKING POINTS IN PELION

Centaur Trail: This is a circular route of approximately 2,7 km with a duration of 1,5 – 2 hours (with stops). It is an ideal route for beginners and is suitable for all ages. The path spreads between plants, streams and wooden bridge. The route starts from the chapel of Agia Marina and follows the points: Agios Nikolaos chapel, Mana fountains, Portaria square and ends again in the chapel of Agia Marina. The colors of the landscape are magical, more vibrant during the spring months and more melancholic in the autumn. The path is signposted for the exact course of visitors. It is a mythical course where contact with the natural landscape is reciprocal.

Village Trail: This is a 30 km route with a duration of 9 hours (with stops). It is a hiking trail unites successive villages, exploiting and highlighting the natural beauty of the landscape inviting the visitor to explore the “Mountain of Centaur”. The route is clean and signposted and most villages provide accommodation, catering and transportation. The hike starts from Aidonofolies or Fytoko and follows the villages Portaria, Makrinitsa, Stagiates, Drakeia, Agios Vlasios, Agios Lavrentios and ends at Ano Lechonia.

            More and different difficulty options are available, such as climbing from Volos to Makrinitsa or Portaria and Chania, near the top of Pelion. From Portaria can someone follow a route with beautiful villages, to the seaside village of Lechonia in the Pagasitic Gulf or to the Eastern Pelion, to Tsagarada and then to Damouhari Port and Papa Nero beach in the Aegean. Wonderful routes are also developed in the southern part of Pelion up to the village of Trikeri.

Click here for more information:

• True Adventure, https://www.trueadventure.gr
• Mountain Activities, https://www.facebook.com/mountainactivitiespelion/
• Outdoor Activities School Magitsis, https://www.magitsis.gr
• Nature Experience, http://natureexperience.gr/
• Walking Holidays, https://www.walkingholidays.gr
• Hellas Smile, http://www.hellassmile.gr
• Hike Away, http://hikeaway.gr/
• Pelion Scout, https://www.pelionscout.com
• Pelion Secrets (cooperation with Pelion Scout), http://www.pelionsecrets.com/
• Amanita Guest House, https://www.amanita.gr/en/
• Eco Greco-Pelion Des Roses,  https://pelionnaturalsoap.gr/ – http://peliondesroses.gr/

Useful blogs:                  

• Walks on Pelion http://www.pilionwalks.com/
• Walking in Pelion http://walking-pelion.blogspot.com/
• Friends of Kalderimi http://www.friendsofthekalderimi.org/