DURATION
3 nights
LOCATION
Greece
ANNUAL LEAVE
2 days off work
SEASON
Jun-Oct
GROUP SIZE
Up to 8 people
MEETING POINT
Thessaloniki Macedonia International Airport
ACCOMMODATION
Classic
Guesthouse · Mountain hut
DIFFICULTY
Challenging
This is a proper challenge, so you should be an experienced hiker with a good level of fitness.
Climb to the summit of Mt Olympus (2918m), one of the world's most famous peaks
Explore the beautiful and varied landscape of the legendary home of the Greek gods
Ascend and descend along different trails to ensure a unique and unforgettable experience each day
Day 1
Arrive into Thessaloniki, and then head to Litochoro
Arrive on any flight into the coastal city of Thessaloniki - the second largest city in Greece and considered to be Greece's cultural capital. It is a fantastic place to explore on foot, and we recommend you fly in early if you have time.
Your host will then pick you up at around 17:00 for your 1.5 hour transfer to Litochoro: a small town at the base of Mount Olympus. You'll then have time to get settled into your Guest House and head out for dinner with the group.
Day 2
Ascend to the refuge and look out over the "Plateau of Muses"
Hiking
8-9hrs · 12km · 1600m up
It's an early start as you set off around 0800 to drive to the trailhead at Prionia (1100m.) Meander through a forest of pine, fir and birch and meet hikers from all over the world, before breaking through the treeline and getting a stunning view of the many summits of Mount Olympus. Push on to the refuge at (2650m) and relax with a hot meal and a view over the Plateau of Muses.
Day 3
Summit Mount Olympus (Mytikas 2918m)
Hiking
8-9hrs · 12km · 268m up · 1800m down
After an early breakfast, your guide will decide which of the two potential summits to attempt based on weather conditions and the group's fitness. The first option is to ascend Skala Peak (2882m) and cross a narrow ridge to the adjacent Skolio Peak (2911m). The tougher option is to attempt the mountain's highest summit, Mytikas (2918m,) but with a couple of hundred metres of exposed scrambling at the end, this route will be a challenge. Either way, you'll enjoy some incredible views over the surrounding gorges and peaks before descending along a different trail to the Gkortsia trailhead, where you’ll return to Litochoro. Celebrate your summit success with a cold beer and a relaxing afternoon.
Day 4
Time to head home
After breakfast, your transfer back to Thessaloniki will leave at 0930, leaving you enough time to get any flight home from around 1230 onwards, or enjoy exploring Thessaloniki itself.
Included
Guides
Local, English-speaking mountain guide
Accommodation
2 nights in a guesthouse, 1 night in a mountain refuge
Transfers
Transfers to / from Thessaloniki Airport, and everything in between
Equipment
Helmet, harness and rope
Not Included
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Flights to and from the meeting point
Some meals as described
Visas where required
Day 1
Guesthouse · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Mountain hut · Mixed dorm
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3
Guesthouse · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Departure day
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Refuges on Mount Olympus serve simple, hearty meals for around €10 - €15 per person. Breakfast usually consists of bread, butter, marmalade, honey, cheese, coffee/tea/milk and chocolate spreads. Lunch is often sandwiches, fruits, eggs, energy snack and chocolate, while dinners usually offer some combination of soup, pasta with sauce, lentils with rice, beef with pasta, rice or mashed potatoes, and sausage with pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.
What is the accommodation like?
Litochoro
You will be staying in a guesthouse in Litochoro.
Mount Olympus
Kakkalos Refuge or Apostolidis Refuge (depending on availability)
You'll stay in a rustic but comfortable mountain refuge above the treeline in a mixed dorm. Mattresses and warm blankets are provided and there is a common room where you can mingle with the other hikers and take meals. Alternatively, you can camp outside. Please note that the refuge does not have a shower and isn't connected to the electricity grid, with power supplied by solar panels and generators that are only available for a few hours each day (usually from dusk until around 10 or 11pm.)
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, it is possible to request a private room upgrade on Days 1 and 3 on the trip - when you are in Litochoro. See Optional Extras for pricing. Please request this at the time of booking (subject to availability).
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)
17:00 on Day 1
Ends
Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)
12:00 on Day 4
Transfers
Your host will pick you up at Thessaloniki Airport at 17:00 on Day 1, and drop you back at 12:00 on Day 4. It takes around 1.5 hours to get to Litochoro.
Alternatively if you want to explore Thessaloniki as part of your trip: you can be collected from Aristotelous Square in central Thessaloniki at 17:30 on Day 1, and / or dropped back there at 11:00 on Day 4.
Travel options
There are direct flights to Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) from across Europe, or you can connect in Athens for more flexible options. If you arrive early or are staying on late: it takes around 30 minutes to get to Thessaloniki City Centre by taxi.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
- Helmet
- Harness
- Rope
What's available to hire?
- Trekking poles, Trekking boots, flashlights, Ice Axe, Crampons, Gaiters, Goggles, Jackets, Pants, Sleeping bag, Sleeping bag liner (these items can be hired and paid for locally. Please contact your host for any questions regarding hiring your equipment)
What do I need to bring?
- Large, comfortable backpack (40L) with padded straps and waist belt (internal frame preferred)
- Waterproof liner for keeping clothing dry
- Sturdy, worn in trekking shoes
- Good waterproof top with hood
- Warm clothes, both for windy / cold daytime conditions and for the cool evenings (fleece tops or similar)
- Shorts and long trousers for walking, preferably quick-drying material (cotton or poly-cotton not denim)
- Sweatshirts or T-shirts for walking, at least one with long sleeves and collar (against sun-burn)
- Sheet, sleeping bag or similar (e.g. duvet cover) for the night, although blankets will also be available.
- Sunglasses, towel, sun hat or cap, sun block
- Wash bag and simple first aid kit (plasters or blister kit, aspirin or similar, antiseptic)
- Camera
- Torch (head torch if you have one)
- Walking sticks
- Your own personal water bottle
Litochoro village extra night (double/twin room)
Payable Before Departure
Litochoro village extra night (double/twin room)
…
Litochoro village extra night (single room)
Payable Before Departure
Litochoro village extra night (single room)
…
in Litochoro only (not in the mountain hut)
Payable Before Departure
in Litochoro only (not in the mountain hut)
… Per Person
Private transfer from Thessaloniki city or airport to Litochoro village (per vehicle per way)
Payable Before Departure
Private transfer from Thessaloniki city or airport to Litochoro village (per vehicle per way)
…
Mount Olympus
A great blend of physical endeavour, thrill and beauty in one. A majestic place that felt spiritual in all its glory.
We had an amazing trip up Mt Olympus, very well organised from start to finish. Our guides (Alex and Ioannis) were professional and we felt safe throughout. Hotel on the 1st and last night was very nice, and the mountain refuge accommodation during the hike was clean and comfortable. The ascent up on the 1st day was tough, as it was a long and continuous ascent with very little flat parts of the hike, but there was plenty of time for breaks to take on water and food. The scramble to the summit was quite exposed, but I would describe it as a grade 1 scramble, which was relatively easy with good feet and handholds and it felt safe with ropes, helmets and harnesses used for the ascent and descent.
The climb is a proper challenge but totally worth it! The local guide is patient and clear, and we had loads of fun and laugh along the way!
Fantastic experience would definitely recommend
Where do I start !! This experience has been phenomenal and I will be forever grateful for the memories that I made on Mount Olympus, I was a female solo traveller so didn’t really know what to expect and was a little nervous as this was my first time using Much Better Adventures but I needn’t have worried, from the pick up at the airport on Day 1 to the transfer back to the airport on Day 3 everything worked like clockwork!! Yanis and Saki ( our guides) we’re incredible and couldn’t have done enough for us up on the mountain, the experience on Olympus was AMAZING and we were spoilt with the views and being told the history of the gods on Olympus .. the hike itself is quite challenging especially in the heat but Yanis made sure we took plenty of breaks and kept hydrated. The Refuge on the mountain that we stayed at was clean and offered great food, there is no shower available but the toilet facilities were super clean!! We were blessed with the most beautiful Sunset and Sunrise on the top of mountain that was breath taking and something I will always remember.
Absolutely superb most amazing views and fantastic summit can't wait to book my next adventure
The trip was incredible ! I was in very safe capable hands and would love to do it again! Great laughs and team couldn't ask for a better trip! onwards to booking more!!!
Once again a great trip! Hot and hard work but the views were worth it. Great guides and new friends made, even had a bonus summit after dinner on the first night.
Fantastic trip and worth every penny. The guides and accommodation were great! First of many with much better adventures.
We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 188kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
This is a proper challenge, so you should be an experienced hiker with a good level of fitness. Both days involve long hikes with a full pack and as much as 1600m of elevation, while the summit of Mytikas requires some scrambling, so previous experience of this is recommended, but not essential. Ropes will be used for additional safety, but are not technically required to reach the summit. If any member of the group does not want to do this part of the trip, the second-highest peak of Mount Olympus, Skolio, (2,911m) offers an equally amazing view and can be reached by an easy/medium difficulty hiking path, without steep sections. The rest of the route is along a hiking path of medium difficulty, with several impressive drops close by that might be scary for those with a fear of heights.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Mount Olympus has a large elevation range, which makes the weather highly variable. Summer temperatures generally range between 0 and 20 °C, with cooler temperatures occurring near the top, especially at night. Strong winds are typical above the treeline, while most days are sunny or partly sunny, with thunderstorms occurring roughly a third of the days during summer. Before you travel, your host will be happy to assist with any queries on the mountain conditions and the best clothing and equipment for your trip; some items will be available for hire on arrival, see the Kit List section above for more details.
There is a mountain spring in Prionia and another around 45 minutes further on where you can refuel your bottle. There are no other springs close to the hiking routes so bringing enough water with you is essential. Alternatively you can buy a bottle of water at the refuge for €1 - €2, however, please remember to take this with you when you leave the mountain to keep this beautiful landscape as clean and perfect as possible.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice, however, we would suggest €50 per day as a guideline for each group.
Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Any excess luggage can be safely left at your local host's trekking office in Litochoro.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.
Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.
Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
Pay In Installments
You can choose to pay for this trip in as many installments as you like, with no interest or fees.
Full Financial Protection
Your money is safe. Every booking is fully financially protected.
