Hiking 2 days in Tzoumerka on Nov. 16-17

The Tzoumerkas, or Athamani Mountains, are one of the largest mountain ranges in western Greece. They pass through the prefectures of Ioannina and Arta and embrace a set of beautiful villages.

Landscapes of wild beauty, with stone-built villages, monasteries and churches hanging in caves and rocks. Rivers, gorges, waterfalls, compose a unique setting, exciting for mountain lovers and nature lovers of all kinds.

It used to take a whole trip to get there, but now, with the Ionia Odos, the Rio-Antirion bridge, as well as the interventions that have been made in Athens-Patra are much more accessible.

In modern Greek history, Tzoumerka became particularly famous, even famous because it was one of the largest centers of the Greek Kleftouria, as well as a famous armatoliki. Their steep mountainous nature as well as the presence of large and numerous herders were favorable conditions for the Thieves. Each stable essentially constituted an organized logistics of the so-called "packs" (armed corps) of the Thieves. And in the so-called tseligats, where the tseligates were the leaders of the herders' homelands, they themselves were the main informants of the thieves. On the steep ridges of this mountain complex, it was very natural for a strong liberal spirit to develop, which the Sultans themselves recognized by granting various privileges, such as in Zagorochoria.

During the period of the Ottoman rule, the villages of Tzoumerka were characterized as "free" and called by the nickname "Kefalochoria". In the era of Ali Pasha, Tzoumerka was a great armatoliki from which many famous captains emerged, most notably the brave Katsantonis. After the death of Ali Pasha, out of the approximately 30 villages of the Tzoumerkas only four managed to save some of their old privileges and these were Kalarrites, Sirrakos, Matsouki and Melissourgoi which were a center of economic and spiritual development of the wider area of Epirus.

Sirrako, Kalarrites and Katsanochoria, and between them, the Arachthos and Kalarritis rivers create a habitat of unique beauty and charm, on the fascinating relief of Pindos. Accommodations and taverns in the area can meet the requirements of even the most "difficult" travelers.

It is a unique travel destination throughout the year, a place of coolness and peace during the summer, all white, snowy and wild during the winter. The distance between them is not more than 1,500 meters. They are connected by a beautiful path, but to get from one to the other by car, you need to drive about 40 minutes and go up and down ravines through the Kalarritis river. Before the villages of the area were liberated from the Turks, this path was the passage from the Greek to the Turkish side.

The walks along the banks of the Kalarritis river are of exceptional beauty. Gargling and spotless, it ends up in Arachthos.

Where the two villages roughly meet, is the famous and largest single-arched bridge in the Balkans, the bridge of Plaka. It is the bridge that was destroyed a few years ago by the rushing waters of the river, but very quickly it was put back in its place with most of the materials collected from the riverbeds.

1st day

Our meeting will take place in the square of the mountain village of Athamania Trikala where we will settle in the only guesthouse in the area. We put the essentials in our backpack (if it's summer, a swimsuit and a towel) and we start to explore and cool off in the Moutsiaritis River and its Springs.

Steno, as the locals call it, is a place unknown to most of the world, but it is a gorge of incomparable beauty.

Return to the village for dinner and organization of the following day.

4 – 5 hours of hiking

2nd day

Early in the morning we enjoy our breakfast in the quiet of the area, arrange our things and with our cars we proceed to the village of Matsouki from where we will start our ascent to the highest peak of the Tzoumerka, Kakarditsa with an altitude of 2429m.

Starting from the square, we will pass by the water mill of the village and the chapel of Agios Athanasios before the path begins to climb and reach us on the dirt roads that end up in the elevated stables of the area at an altitude of 1850m. The break at this point is necessary before our last ascent and the approach to the West Ridge of Kakarditsa with an altitude of 2190m, where following it, we gain the remaining altitude and reach the top.

Along with the classic photos of the peak, our eye reaches the area of Acheloos, Trigia, Peristeri and of course Arachthos and the entire massif of Tzoumerka.

Return to the village for the necessary recovery and of course the study of our next excursion.

8 – 9 hours of hiking

Cost 165 euros / person