The ancient trail to the Gods - Olympus

See alternate routes that also reach the summit of Mount Olympus. Explore the mountain beyond the typical tourist routes to find its hidden treasures.

Small groups led by experts who are familiar with the routes are used. Our goal is not merely to get from one location to another but to uncover the history that lies beneath every footstep.

Day 1: Meeting at Koromilia refuge

On the first day, we will meet each other in the afternoon at the shelter of Koromilia where we will spend the night. On the first night, there will be information about the route and equipment check. We will enjoy our dinner and our wine on the wonderful balcony, recharging our batteries.

• Accommodation: in a mountain hut in bunks or in a 2-person tent (we provide the tent and the mattress)
• Meals: no meals included

Day 2: Koromilia – Muses Plateau

Our day will begin early but with an incredible view, as the refuge faces east and the sunrise will give us an absolutely wonderful morning. Our route today is demanding because we have to cover 11 kilometers, but it is compensated by the beauty of the dense forest that begins with beech trees in a beautiful stream and then moves up a ridge to Petrostrouga, which will take us about 3 hours to reach. We will rest at the Petrostrouga refuge before continuing on our path to the Muses’ plateau. Starting from Petrostrouga, the path moves through a dense forest of centuries-old rombola for a few meters until 2200, when the alpine zone begins timidly. We’ll have an unobstructed view of Thermaikos Gulf and the alpine landscape above us from here on out. The throne of Zeus and the impressive Muses plateau emerge slowly just before we reach the top of Skourta. From here, we can see the path that moves along the edge of Laimos and the passage of Ioss Apostolidis; the Muses’ plateau is not far away. After passing through the Ioss pass, our route will take us first to the Kakalos shelter and then to the Apostolidis shelter, where we will visit both and spend the night in one of them. This was the moment we realized the path that the ancient Greeks also took to honor and sacrifice the Olympian gods. Cold beer and relaxation with the galaxy hugging the Muses’ plateau.

• Hiking time: 7-8 hours
• Distance: 11 km
• Gain altitude: 1780 meters
• Accommodation: bunk beds in a mountain refuge
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Muses Plateau to the Orlias stream

It would be a shame to miss out on one of Greece’s most spectacular sunrises now that you have visited the Muses plateau for the first time. The atmosphere is sanctimony from the chapel at the top of Prophet Ilias, and the view of the Olympus Riviera and Thermaikos Gulf is breathtaking. As the sun rises on the horizon, its rays first appear, as the sun hides behind Athos, to generously offer us an incredible sunrise that bathes Zeus’ throne and the Muses’ plateau in a few minutes. After having a fantastic time, we return to the refuge to get our breakfast and our belongings.

We’ll return to Koromilia via the same route, but the view is special because as you descend, as soon as you reach Skourta’s plateau, you feel like you’re walking in space! We gradually leave the alpine landscape and enter the forest with rombola as we approach Petrostrouga, where a stop is a must. After a brief rest, we will set out for Koromilia, passing through the dense forest that will keep us cool. And the Koromilia shelter will have a brief rest and snack stop before continuing on to the path that leads to the Red Rock with its amazing waterfall! The brave can dive into the icy water! to cool off, although all of us surely put our feet in the icy waters to recover. That was it, another hour of descent from the red rock and we’d be on the road, waiting for the car to return us to our vehicles or to Thessaloniki.

• Hiking time: 5-7 hours
• Distance: 17.5km
• Gain altitude: 300 meters
• Meals: Breakfast
• Minimum number of participants: 4 people
• Difficulty: 3/5