Hiking the Menalon Trail

Hiking the Menalon Trail

This 5 days hiking adventure will take you to the trails that unfold through the Menalon mountain, from the gorge of Lousios River to the western slopes of the valley of Mylaon River and the village of Vitina.

Experience a place of great natural beauty and historical importance. Settle at cosy rustic hotels and guesthouses in small picturesque villages and taste authentic Greek cuisine into one of the most stunning destinations this area has to offer. The program aims also to put participants close to the local way of living motivating them to mingle with local communities as this is an important factor of sustainable development of hiking tourism.
• 6 nights at Hotel and guesthouses
• 5 days of guided Hiking
• Professional, English-speaking local guide
• 6 breakfasts and 5 light lunches,6 dinners
• Kalamata or Athens Airport transfers
• All local transfers
• Taxes and fees

Daily plan:

Day 1 :Upon arrival to Athens airport you depart to Vitina village where you settle to your hotel. Evening meeting with your local representative in order to brief you and give you all necessary information for the following days.

Day 2 :From the first day we are given the opportunity to enjoy one of the most spectacular places of the region starting from Stemnitsa the village of goldsmiths and ending in Dimitsana the village of watermills. These are two of the most important settlements in the Peloponnese and one of the most picturesque of Arcadia. We end our journey at the Open-Air Water Power Museum, in Dimitsana, a place highlights the importance of water power in traditional society.

Day 3 : Starting from Dimitsana we cross the village passing by its most important buildings. We ascend gently arriving to the outskirts of the fir forest enjoying splendid views of the basin of Lousios river. We arrive at Zygostiti through a nice cobbled path that runs beside a series of threshing floors another important element in traditional society.

Day 4 :Our trail, partial a cobbled path and wooded path, leads us to springs where the villages of the western Mainalo are watered. Points that have been known since antiquity as this water never stopped flowing there since then. We continue on the old mulberry road linking the two villages, we walk into a section of riverine vegetation and plane trees, meeting the ruins of three watermills. We ascend to Vitina and we reach the central square. Vytina is the major village of the area and offering all the facilities and services.

Day 5 : Leaving Nymfasia back, the route enters in a beautiful oak forest, descending to the bridge of the women's monastery of Kernitsa, a large monastic complex with an abbey and ascetic houses nestled in an impressive monolith. Walking over a combination of cobble paths and dirt roads, we visit some of the ascetic houses that are built in fine spots of dense forest and fresh water springs. We continue on an old alley until we reach Magouliana, the highest inhabited village of Peloponnese at 1.275 m.

Day 6 : Our route starts from the square in Valtessiniko, we pass next to the impressive stone-built school and climb to the Byzantine Castle of the village. We continue maneuvering, and we pass under an impressive watermill complex. The trail crosses meadows with low vegetation and passes near fragrant cedar trees. We end up in Lagadia, a stone village that literally hangs on the cliff. This is the very end of our weeklong hiking adventure..

Day 7: Breakfast at the hotel and Transfer back to Athens or Kalamata Airpot.

 

Explore Messinia reserves the right to modify or cancel any outdoor activity due to bad weather or technical difficulties.