Spend 8-days exploring an authentic and picture-perfect region of Greece
The 8-Day Self-Guided Pelion Peninsula Hiking Tour invites you to discover the lush green mountainous peninsula of Pelion on mainland Greece. Walk from village to village via old, cobbled paths, through forests and along coastal paths, flanked by mountains and sea. Enjoy the picturesque, turquoise bays that invite you to swim and this land of the mythical Centaurs, half human, half horse.
As you explore the mountainous peninsula of Pelion, you’ll uncover its magic every step of the way! According to Greek mythology, this land was once inhabited by Centaurs, creatures that are half human, half horse, with great knowledge and wisdom. The Centaur Cheiron, according to myth, has given knowledge to the God of Medicine Asklepios about medical plants and herbs that grew and still grow on Mt. Pelion today!
You’ll walk through this historical, densely forested landscape where you’ll find streambeds with plane trees and ferns. Beech forests cover the higher areas like a bright green blanket, as you walk at your own pace through apple and olive groves and mountain villages overlooking the glittering Aegean sea.
Discover this authentic region of Greece for yourself. Book the Pelion Peninsula Hiking Tour today!
Highlights of the Pelion Peninsula Hiking Tour
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Pelion Peninsula Hiking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Portaria
Arrival in Portaria from Volos, Thessaloniki or Athens airport.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Portaria
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Circular Walk from Portaria
Today your adventure begins with a beautiful loop from Portaria. You’ll walk to the traditional mountain village Makrinitsa first, with its characteristic stone houses and slated roofs. Making your way through the maquis vegetation, you’ll smell the aromas of fresh thyme and oregano filling the air as you explore an idyllic church. Through forests you’ll then head uphill before descending towards Portaria, whilst enjoying views over Volos city. The last stretch to Portaria leads you through a lush green gorge, making for a beautiful final section for today.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Portaria
Distance: 4.5 hours, 13 km, 550m ascent, 550m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Transfer to Chania and Walk to Agios Ioannis
From Portaria, you will be taken to the start of the footpath from Chania to Kissos, or to the village of Kissos (you will skip the Chania-Kissos section). From Chania, you descend via the eastern side of the ridge on an old donkey trail, through beech forest. Through a park-like landscape you end up in the pretty village of Kissos. In the village you will find the church Agia Marina, which dates back to the 17th century and is said to be the most beautiful church of the Pelion Peninsula. Kissos is also a great place for lunch.
After lunch, you will walk along an idyllic footpath to the village of Mouresi. The lush vegetation along the way might make you wonder if you are actually in Greece. In Mouresi, you continue down the old kalderimi to the seaside resort of Agios Ioannis, where you will find a lovely sandy beach.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Agios Ioannis
Distance: 2-3 hours, 5-8 km, 0-170m ascent, 650-680m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Circular Walk Agios Ioannis
Today you can opt for a relaxing day on the beach or embark on a nice circular walk. After a short stretch on tarmac, you will follow an old paved path up through dense forest and descend to the beautiful beach of Vanikas.
There is an optional loop to the Agii Saranti beach, further northwest. From Vanikas beach it’s back uphill and inland, before making the final descent to Plaka beach and walking along the coast back to Agios Ioannis.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Agios Ioannis
Distance: 4.5-6 hours, 11.7-15.2km, 540-740m ascent, 540-740m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Walk to Tsangarada via Damouchari and Fakistra Beach
Another beautiful day of walking awaits you as you set out along the coast this morning via a pleasant, cobbled path to reach the hamlet of Damouchari, a tiny fishing village in a bay. Though tiny it was once of strategic importance in earlier times, when it was the only natural harbor on the entire coast between Volos and Katerini. Today the bay provides a natural swimming pool with a pleasant pebble beach.
From Damouchari you’ll continue along the coast to Fakistra Beach where there is a possibility to visit the ‘Hidden School’ in a cave. From here you’ll walk uphill on a path, now and then crossing the tarmac road, to reach Tsangarda, a wide stretched village with numerous churches and squares.
From the terrace of your hotel in Agia Paraskevi, you can see the village square with its 1000-year-old plane trees.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Agia Paraskevi
Distance: 4 hours, 8km, 700m ascent, 300m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Walk from the Village of Tsangarada to Milies
Today you will cross the mountain range at 700m elevation towards the south. First you’ll walk through the lush village of Tsangarada alongside old churches and squares. Then you will ascend through forest to cross the ridge. Continuing via old mule tracks, you’ll walk through limestone landscapes covered with chestnut and beech trees. You’ll then descend to the picturesque mountain village of Milies whilst enjoying great views over the Pagasitic Gulf. Around Milies you’ll find many old olive groves and an array of natural beauty.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Milies
Distance: 4.5 hours, 12km, 350m ascent, 400m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Walk to Koropi
For your final walk, you’ll descend this morning via old, cobbled paths from Milies towards the coast all the while enjoying brilliant views. The last section before reaching the coastal village of Koropi is via dirt roads through expansive olive groves. From Koropi you walk to the nearby touristic village of Kala Nera, where you can enjoy lunch in the shadow of the big plane tree on the village square. Then you ascend via cobbled paths via a hamlet until the narrow-gauge railway tracks, that you follow until Milies. The tracks are 200-300m above sea level. Wherever mule tracks cross the tracks, stone road bridges have been built demonstrating fascinating civil engineering features from the past. You will also walk past the cave where, according to mythology, the centaur Cheiron taught Asklepios about medical plants and herbs.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Milies
Distance: 4hours, 12km, 475m ascent, 475m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Departure
After breakfast this morning your tour comes to an end. Travel to Thessaloniki, Volos or Athens airport to depart.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
The departure is available on any day of the week. Prices below are per person:
Departure on March 28th – April 29th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $995 USD
- Single room (groups of 2+): $850 USD
- Sharing a double/twin room: $625 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $525 USD
Departure on April 30th – May 6th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,125 USD
- Single room: $950 USD
- Sharing a double/twin room: $695 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $625 USD
Departure on May 7th – June 19th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $995 USD
- Single room (groups of 2+): $850 USD
- Sharing a double/twin room: $625 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $525 USD
Departure on June 20th – 23rd, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,125 USD
- Single room: $950 USD
- Sharing a double/twin room: $695 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $625 USD
Departure on June 24th – July 25th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,050 USD
- Single room: $895 USD
- Sharing a double/twin room: $675 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $550 USD
Departure on July 26th – August 31st, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,150 USD
- Single room: $995 USD
- Sharing a double/twin room: $725 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $650 USD
Departure on September 1st – 3rd, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,050 USD
- Single room: $895 USD
- Sharing a double/twin room: $675 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $550 USD
Departure on September 4th – October 26th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $995 USD
- Single room (groups of 2+): $850 USD
- Sharing a double/twin room: $625 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $525 USD
Accommodation on Pelion Peninsula Hiking Tour
This tour is based in hotels. Hotels on this trip are 2 and 4-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Standard rooms are of double occupancy. Solo travellers might be required to pay an additional supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Xenia Portaria Hotel in Portaria
Enjoy endless views over the stunning Pagasetic Gulf and Mount Centaurs during your stay at this upscaled hotel featuring an outdoor pool and modern amenities.
Eleana Hotel in Agios Ioannis
This seaside hotel, situated on a quiet, tranquil street is surrounded by gardens and endless views of the mountains and sea.
The Lost Unicorn Hotel in Agia Paraskevi
This rural village hotel is set in a charming 19th-century mansion and is set in an oasis of greenery and flowers.
Dryalos Hotel in Milies
A well-located hotel in Milies featuring a hot tub and modern amenities.
What’s Included in the Pelion Peninsula Hiking Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included throughout the tour.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes luggage transfers and you’ll be walking from one overnight location to another by yourself. Personal transportation is not included, except for one transfer on day 3.
Also Included
- Transfer from hotel on day 3 to the starting point of the walk
- Digital route notes and maps
- GPS App
Not included
- Any personal transfers
- Lunches and dinners
- Entrance fees and visits to monasteries and monuments
- Travel insurance
- Guide services
- Tourist tax (paid locally, between 0.5 and 4 EUR per night)
- Physical paper Maps
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Optional activities or excursions
- Printed tour materials (in addition to digital)
Frequently Asked Questions about Pelion Peninsula Hiking Tour
S-Cape Travel Greece is a Greek outdoor company, established in 1994 and member of the S-Cape Group of companies since 2010.
At S-Cape Greece you find a varied portfolio of active and adventure trips that offer you a hands-on experience of Greece, having time to slowing down and appreciate the details: view the sites and landscapes, savor the specialties, meet and mingle with the locals and learn about the culture.
All our trips and itineraries are developed by our team of professional walkers and cyclists who have a keen eye for great trails, exciting itineraries, breath-taking scenery and good quality accommodation that share our vision on sustainable travel.
If you travel on one of our self-guided trips, you receive a Destination Manual with information on the country and a state-of-the-art Road Book with detailed route description, turn by turn diagrams of each crossing and explanatory text. On top, you can navigate the route in your own smartphone via our excellent S-Cape Travel App.
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Maria has worked in the Athens office of S-Cape for nearly 4 years. She’s discovered an even deeper love for her country through the process of helping others explore it.
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