2-days Hiking Trip in Vardousia on Jun. 22-23

One of the mountains that the world of alternative tourism loves is the Vardousia Mountains. Vardousia (or Korakas) is a mountain complex that includes the southernmost tip of Pindos in Central Greece. It rises to the northwest of Fokida with a small part of the mountain extending to Fthiotida. It is the second highest mountain of Roumeli after Giona, with a height of 2,495 meters (Korakas peak).

Vardousia consists of three groups of peaks, the northern, the western and the southern. The northern complex is characterized by smooth peaks, the western one presents many steep and independent peaks, while the southern one, which is also the highest, forms a steep and long ridge. It is one of the few mountain ranges in Greece that have an alpine character.

The mountain range is defined by the Morno, Evino and Kokkinototamos rivers and has a rich flora. Many parts of the mountain are ideal for climbers, while two mountain refuges operate on the slopes of Skordis.

Extremely interesting is the road route that starts from Pauliani in Fthiotida and as it moves parallel to the Mornos river bed it offers access to the villages on the eastern edges of Vardousia such as Athanasios Diakos, Kato Mousounista and Koniakos.

Going up from the shores of the Corinthian Gulf, Galaxidi or Eratini, the road, after an idiosyncratic elevator route, brings us with plenty of turns to Lidoriki and the basin of the artificial lake of Mornos.

From the shores of Lake Mornos, the most interesting route starts from the dam in the direction of the village of Krokyleio, birthplace of the general and writer Makrigiannis. The continuation of the mountain course will bring us to the stone neighborhoods of the village of Pentagiou. Maria the Pentagiotissa, one of the most ambiguous female personalities, lived here in the 19th century. Her story was made into a movie in 1957 with Aliki Vougiouklakis as the protagonist.

1st day

Our meeting will take place in the square of Ano Mousounitsa (Athanassios Diakos) at 11:00, where will also be our starting point for this 2-day hike in Vardousia. We load our backpacks and start our hike in the endless green of nature that leads us to the shelter of EOS Amfissa and to the Pitimaliko position at 1,960m.

With a few minutes' stops in the places of Giatakia and Zirelia, we reach the iconostasis under the hill of Prophet Ilias where the forest gives the baton to the alpine landscape and the companionship of the Vardousia massif accompanies us all the way to the shelter.

Time for lunch and rest at the lodge.

Dinner, discussion and planning of the next day.

3-4 hours of hiking

2nd day

Breakfast in the warmth of the refuge and with a view that enchants, we start our ascent towards the peak of Korakas (2,495m).

Our route moves through the classic Portes and Mega Kampo route where we will get lost in the magical view of the top.

Commemorative photos and return to the shelter for a hot chocolate and continue to the village of Ano Mousounitsa at the foot of the mountain for recovery and discussion of the next excursions.

8-9 hours of hiking

Cost 145 euros / person