Hiking the Spartan Trail

Hiking the Spartan Trail

No other part in Greece combines scenic hiking trails in stupendous mountain scenery overlooking the sea with an incredible wealth of cultural heritage and notable archaeological sites and monuments. This is the place where gods and heroes walked the earth for the first time. Filoxenia (hospitality) is very strong here, the food, olive oil and wine are Greece's best. Locals claim to have the best of everything to give and that’s no myth. This is where the remains of the famous classical city of Sparta are, against the impressive backdrop of the Taygetos mountains, the highest mountain in the Peloponnese. The Spartan trail, as part of the European walking route E4 is a meeting point for naturalists, photography lovers, hikers, mountaineers and climbers from all over the world. Beautiful forests, fragrant shrubs, gorges and ravines make hiking here a fascinating experience.

Day 1 – Arrive in Sparta

Arrival day. Get any flight arriving to Kalamata or Athens airports. Meet your guide at the airport for a drive to your hotel in the town of Mystras a suberb of Sparta. Group meeting and briefing about the next days followed by a dinner together.

Accommodation: Hotel in Mystras

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 – The Byzantine Town of Mystras

Morning meeting with your guide at your hotel’s lobby. Our first hiking day starts from the overwhelming castle town of Mystras built during the Byzantine period.

Trail distance: 12 kilometers

Ascend:800 meters,

Time: 6 hours. 

Rating: Easy to moderate

Accommodation: Family owned guesthouse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunchbox, Dinner

Day 3 – Hiking the E4 Trail

After breakfast, we fill our flasks with fresh water from the fountains of Anavriti and start our ascent heading to the mountain refuge that will accommodate us for tonight. 

Trail distance: 15 kilometers

Ascend: 1200 meters

Time: 7 hours. 

Rating: Easy to moderate

Accommodation: Mountain Refuge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunchbox, Dinner

Day 4 - Hiking at the Summit

After breakfast we start a difficult and ultimately rewarding hike to the highest peak of the mountain at 2407 meters. Our summit is rewarded with spectacular views of the mountain range,into the Spartan valley of Evrotas and to the Mediterranean Sea.

Trail distance: 12 kilometers

Ascend: 1100 meters

Time: 8 hours. 

Rating: Moderate

Accommodation: Mountain Hut

Meals: Breakfast, Lunchbox, Dinner

Day 5 – Hiking the Royal Trail

 A region so remote that conquerors through time left it alone. This part of the trail was frequently used by ancient Spartans as an access route to the sea. It passes through Vasiliki (Royal) forest where an amazing diversity is found with Pinus Negra, the black pine tree dominating this ancient forest.

Trail distance: 19 kilometers

Descend: 1150 meters

Time: 8 hours. 

Rating: Moderate

Accommodation: Family Owned Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunchbox, Dinner

Day 6 – Departure         

Awake and energize with a breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Our last day is a relaxing day where either we can take time to swim and explore the town of Kardamyli. Your trip ends about noon either catching a transfer to the airport or extend your travels.

Meals: Breakfast