Hike, Kayak and Raft Greece's Wild North
Gallivant around Greece's best-kept secrets, exploring high peaks, gorges, forests and rivers in the Pindus Mountains
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, English-speaking mountain guides, rafting guides and kayaking guidesHotel & Mountain hut
7 nights in boutique hotels and guesthouses, 1 night in a mountain refugeMeals
8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinnersTransfers
Airport transfers and everything in betweenEquipment
All your gear for kayaking and raftingSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
Hike through Vikos Gorge, along hidden trails between Zagori villages and to the fabled mountain lake of Drakolimni
Explore ancient paths around the phenomenal rock formations and gravity-defying monasteries of Meteora
Raft through the lush ecosystem of the crystalline Voidomatis River, and take a dip in the emerald rock pools of Ovires
Sea kayak along the sun-drenched Athenian Riviera – an azure stretch of coastline on the fringe of Greece's capital
Key Information
Day 1
Arrive in Athens
Meet up with your host at Athens international Airport, then take in the sights of the metropolis as you are transferred to your hotel in a lively part of central Athens. Meet up with your fellow adventurers and head out to a local taverna for a welcome dinner and a chat through the adventure ahead of you. Go easy on the ouzo! There’s a cracking road trip first thing tomorrow.
Day 2
Road trip to Zagori region
Hiking
Driving
Tuck into breakfast at the hotel before hopping in the van and settling in for the drive north towards the Pindus Mountains. After few hours watching Greece go by out of the window, you’ll get your first taste of the stunning Zagori region. Head out for a hike at one of the area’s most famous spots – the Vradeto Steps – and on to Beloi, an incredible natural balcony with an unrivalled view of the Vikos Gorge. Descend a stone trail for an hour to end the hike at the village of Kapesovo. Enjoy dinner of local Zagori dishes and bed down ahead of a big hike day tomorrow.
Day 3
Cross Vikos Gorge
Hiking
Northern Greece is packed full of incredible hikes which fly a little below the radar. Vikos Gorge is up there with the best day hikes in Europe – its trails meander in the shadow of towering 1000m+ walls through the second-deepest gorge in the world (only the Grand Canyon is deeper). This is a truly wild ecosystem, providing a sanctuary to myriad wildlife including European brown bears. After breakfast, you’ll hop over to the village of Monodendri to set off into the heart of the gorge. Hit the trailhead and hike all the way down to the canyon’s base, following one of the Voidomatis River's tributaries, flanked by the huge walls of the gorge. Enjoy a couple of breaks along the route to take in the surroundings before eventually tackling the big uphill section, to reach the gorge’s exit.
Day 4
Hike to Dragon Lake
Hiking
The Vikos Gorge warmed you up: now it's time for the biggest hike of the trip. Rise early, head towards Drakolimni to find the trailhead and set off uphill from here, eating into a good chunk of the ascent on your way to the Astracas Shelter at 1930m. You'll pass through dense forest areas before the landscape changes as you reach the alpine zone of Mount Tymphe. After four hours or so you’ll reach a shelter where you can stop for lunch before tackling the final push to Drakolimni. The views up here are some of the best found anywhere in Greece. Soak up this memorable spot as the light fades, then drop down to the mountain refuge for a well-earned dinner and sleep.
Day 5
Descend the mountain and relax at natural pools
Hiking
Wake up in this unique spot, sip a coffee taking in the solitude, then tackle an easy-going three-hour descent down the mountain. Back at the van, you’ll roll along to Konitsa, stopping en route at the natural pools of Ovires for a dip in the emerald waters. This quaint rural town at the foothills of Mount Trapezitsa sits right above the mouth of the Aoos Gorge. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore, take in the old single-arched stone bridge and enjoy the serenity of the beautiful River Aoos.

Day 6
Raft the Voidomatis River
Rafting
Driving
Today you'll head to the banks of the Voidomatis River to get kitted out for a rafting trip down this pristine natural wonder winding through Vikos-Aoos National Park. The Voidomatis is known for being one of Europe's cleanest rivers, testament to the wild and relatively untouched area that it flows through from the source in the Vikos Gorge. Navigate a series of fun Class I and II rapids – as far as rafting days go, this is lower on the adrenaline scale with more emphasis on exploring a magical wild place, stopping for swims in the inviting waters as you go. After a few hours on the water, you'll hop in the van for a couple of hours to reach your next adventure spot: the iconic UNESCO-listed site of Meteora. Settle in here and enjoy a delicious Greek dinner at a local taverna.
Day 7
Hike Meteora
Hiking
Driving
The Greek word 'Meteora' means 'suspended in the air' – an apt name for this incredible place, famous for its towering rock pillars and the monasteries perched impossibly on top of them. Today you'll hike along an ancient trail that was crafted by monks during the Middle Ages, back when the monasteries were still in use. The trail winds through stunning scenery to the summit of one of Meteora's tallest rock formations for the ultimate vista of one of Greece's must-see landscapes. Reaching this spot is a fitting end to your time in Northern Greece, and after the hike you'll settle in for the ride back to Athens.
Day 8
Sea kayaking on the Athens Riviera
Kayaking
No trip to Greece is complete without some time spent exploring its coastal gems. After a leisurely breakfast to let you catch your breath after all the adventuring of the past week, you'll head to the often-overlooked coastline outside of the capital. You're in for a day of sea kayaking along the Athenian Riviera, which runs between Piraeus and Cape Sounion. Paddle the azure waters of the Aegean Sea, hugging the coast to find hidden beaches for dreamy sea swims. Back in downtown Athens later in the afternoon, soak up the capital's atmosphere and head out for an evening walk through the charming Plaka district and enjoy a farewell dinner, to toast an incredible eight days of Greek galavanting. You have permission to indulge in the ouzo to your heart's content tonight!
*Please note: in the event of poor weather affecting the sea conditions, your host will arrange a canyoning outing in a region close to Athens, instead of sea kayaking on the Athenian Riviera.
Day 9
Farewell to Greece
Your adventure ends today after breakfast as your host transfers you to Athens Airport in time for your onward flight.
Alternatively, in 2025, you can opt to extend your time in Greece and join our Island Hopping in the Cyclades adventure visiting the islands of Naxos, Tinos and Koufonisia.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Athens International Airport
16:00 on Day 1
Ends
Athens International Airport
12:00 on Day 9
Transfers
On Day 1, your host will meet you on arrival at Athens International Airport at 16:00 (4pm) for the included group transfer downtown to your hotel in the Plaka district of Athens' old town. Your guide will do a welcome briefing before dinner at around 7pm. If you're catching a later flight, you should allow 1hr for the airport to hotel transfer and ideally you should aim to arrive in Athens no later than 6pm.
On Day 9, your host will provide a group transfer to arrive back to Athens International Airport at 12:00. Group airport transfers are included if you arrive on Day 1 and depart on Day 9; if you are arriving a few days earlier or departing a few days later, your host can arrange private airport transfers for an additional fee – see Optional Extras for prices.
Travel options
Athens International Airport is a major international hub, with daily direct flights from airports across the UK, Europe and east coast of North America.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5 – Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 7
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 8
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 9
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Breakfast at the guesthouses will offer a wide selection of breads, fruits, yoghurt, muesli, plus Greek pies and cakes, tea, coffee and juice. The included dinners will be taken at traditional local tavernas with various classic Greek and regional options to choose from. Zagori pie is a must-try in the north, while gemista is a delight for vegans and vegetarians: plump, sun-ripened tomatoes and peppers stuffed with a flavourful mixture of rice, herbs, and vegetables which offers a taste of the Epirus region's culinary heritage. Not all dinners in the trip are included: eating out in Greece is a delight, and the spots you'll stay in throughout the trip will have lovely tavernas, cafes and restaurants for you to explore each evening at your own pace. You should budget €15-25 euros per dinner depending on how many courses you fancy, not including drinks.
On the days when lunch isn't included, you can buy a packed lunch ahead of each day's adventuring from the guesthouses or from local bakeries in the villages. You should budget €7-10 for each lunch not included.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for – please just request this on your passenger info form. Please note that vegan options can be limited in this part of Greece.
What is the accommodation like?
Athens
Your time in the Greek mountains is sandwiched by a night in Athens at the start and end of your trip. Your hotel will be located in the centre of Athens which makes for a great launchpad to see some of the city's premier sights such as the Acropolis, Archeological Museum, Temple of Zeus, Plaka and many more. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with en suite bathrooms (couples can request a double room).
The hotels used vary depending on the departure date but are all of a similar good standard, your host will advise the exact arrangements for your trip two weeks before, properties such as Hotel Arethusa, Ilisia Hotel, B21 Residence, and Boss Hotel.
Zagori Villages
During your time in the Zagori region you'll bunk down in a local, traditional guesthouse. Usually this will be the Taxiarches Hotel located in the village Aristi, or Guesthouse Selini in the mountain village of Vitsa. The guesthouses offer rustic Greek charm and hospitality, along with twin-share rooms with en suite bathrooms.
Dragon Lake
You'll bunk down in a mountain refuge for one night after your hike up to Dragon Lake area of the Pindus Mountains. Located at an altitude of 1950m, Astraka Refuge belongs to the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing and makes for a great overnight in this remote spot. You'll be sleeping in a mixed-sex dormitory – the refuge has different-sized dorm rooms ranging from eight to twenty beds. Your host will do their best to take the smallest dorm rooms possible, depending on availability and the size of the group. The refuge provides bedding, pillows and blankets, but you'll need to bring your own sleeping bag liner. The refuge has its own restaurant with good options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Konitsa
Konitsa is a picturesque village and your launchpad for rafting the Voidomatis River. The Grand Hotel Dentro awaits after your stay in the mountain refuge, offering a comfortable night with traditional rural Greek hospitality. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with en suite bathrooms.
Meteora
Hotel Meteoritis is your stopover while exploring the stunning Meteora region. A newly built and very comfortable hotel with amazing views of the rock formations, you'll stay in twin-share rooms with en suite bathrooms.
On rare occasions your host may arrange a different property, of similar style and standard, for your group to stay in. Any changes will be advised by your host in their pre-departure communications to the group.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking and be aware this does not cover the night at Astraka Refuge, as only dorm rooms are available here.
This trip has been rated as Moderate
This adventure involves up to six hours of hiking per day, so you'll need to be happy spending full days on your feet. This will sometimes mean uneven trails with a decent chunk of elevation gain to manage. Some of the hikes involve river crossings, so bring waterproof hiking shoes and/or a pair of sandals with ankle straps. The hardest day will be Day 4 with nearly 1500m of elevation to get through to reach Drakolimni; however, the group will take it steady with plenty of stops and the epic scenery is quite the distraction if you find your legs hurting towards the end! The rafting is easygoing, rated Class I-II depending on water levels, and you won't need any experience.
What will I need to carry?
You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you, and then a small daysack to carry personal items during each day of activity.
The months of May, June, September and October are by far the most pleasant to visit most parts of Greece. In Zagori and Meteora in these months, daytime temperatures average between 20°C/68°F and 28°C/82°F and most days are clear and sunny with low chances of rainfall. In the early and late season months of May and October it can get chilly at night in this mountainous part of Northern Greece, so bring adequate layers. The hottest months are July and August when temperatures can reach 40°C/104°F. These months are also the busiest months in terms of visitors, so we only run trips in early July and right at the end of August into September, to make sure you have the best conditions possible.
Great trip
This was our first time using MBA and we definitely will do again based on this trip. Northern Greece was lovely. The itinerary well thought out. The hikes were in beautiful spots with opportunities to cool off in the July heat in rivers and canyons. Really enjoyed the mix of activities, hiking, swimming, rafting, sea kayaking. We did a lot, saw a lot, ate a lot of delicious food and enjoyed the company of like minded travellers in our group.
Great trip. Would thoroughly recommend.
Great trip. Would thoroughly recommend. Loved hiking through beautiful scenery. Gorge and mountains didn’t disappoint. Enjoyed the night in the refuge with stunning sunset. Great to mix the trip up with water sports too. Fantastic food, drink and accommodation. Mike was a super guide. V informative. Nothing was too much trouble for him either. I look forward to another trip next year.
A non-stop adventure
This trip was absolutely jam packed from start to finish! The hikes were challenging whilst still being enjoyable, and with a slow enough pace to enjoy the scenery. Our guide Mike was there every step of the way and couldn’t have done more for us! The food was fabulous (even as a sometimes tricky to cater for vegan) and the rafting and kayaking were great additions to diversify the trip. Just prepare yourself for the heat if you go mid summer like we did!
Fantastic
From start to finish this trip delivered on every level. The Vikos Gorge, the climb to the Dragon Lake and stay at the mountain range were the hiking highlights for me. The rafting was a good opportunity to get the feet and legs in some cold water. What made the trip so very special was the guide Kostas - the places he took us to, his knowledge of flora and fauna, history and geology was wonderful. Kostas treated us to local delicacies. He was everything you would look for making the pace right for the people on the trip (I was slowest), making sure all our needs were sorted - I could go on and on he was a legend I would happily go on any trip Kostas was leading. We visited local businesses for stays and meals which was good. Finally the food - just wow - heaps of it and the quality was out of this world. Be prepared to eat late thats what happens in Greece but there you go. I was very lucky that the rest of the people on the trip were also great company. Highly recommended & Kostas again wonderful performance.
So much more than just hiking!
The Pindus mountains are beautiful! I had no idea how gorgeous they would be. We did the June tour so the weather was ideal and there were wildflowers EVERYWHERE! Not sure I had really appreciated the concept of a real wildflower meadow before this. The activities on this tour are so so good - the gorge walks and spring pools are amazing and then you have a totally different but equally beautiful hike up to the dragon lake and then a total change in (in scenery and temperature 😅) in Meteora. The rafting is actually very relaxing because the scenery is gorgeous and the water is not fast at all. The star of the trip for me though was the food! I realised I hadn’t taken a single photo of it because we all just dived straight in as soon as it reached the table 😂. Our guide Kostas was basically everything you could possibly want in a guide and clearly takes his role (both in ensuring you have a good time and in keeping you safe) very seriously. As well as main role of guide he also acts as car DJ, first aider, local food connoisseur, hype man, wild life expert, Greek language teacher and many more - he’s a non-stop Greek tour guide force! The accommodation was all nice, the ones in the north were really nice though with stunning views over the mountains with your breakfast. The stay in the mountain hut was actually so nice, I slept incredibly well but I would say definitely worth bringing your ear plugs. Also worth taking a pack of cards or game to play with the other guests. The sunrise over the mountains in the morning is not to be missed!
10/10 experience
This was my first trip to the north of Greece and my first trip with Much Better Adventures. There were no reviews when we booked, but I am so glad we did. A truly unforgettable adventure with an incredible guide, Kostas, who really delivered an amazing experience. I would absolutely say this was great value for money, and the itinerary, the food, the accommodation and the guiding made it all worthwhile.
The hiking was spectacular. The walk along the gorge was so beautiful, and the pools we stopped at were as breathtaking as the coldness of the water. The hike up the mountain was not what I was expecting, sub alpine forest giving way to lush grass before arriving at the mountain hut. The walk up to the dragon lake took us through the glacial valley, past wild horses up to the dragon lake where we could see Albania. The mountain villages were beautiful and so scenic. In terms of difficulty - none of the walks were that challenging or technical, and with a good level of fitness you would be fine.
The rafting was extremely easy and was more of a lazy river experience, but an incredible experience nonetheless. The water was a stunning blue, and there was time to jump off some rocks. Sea kayaking was good, with a trip round a nearby island with a stop at one of the islands beaches. This was fairly so-so and I would have preferred to have spent another day in the mountains.
The food and accommodation didn’t disappoint, from village tavernas to rustic home cooked food, everything was delicious and in huge portions. Kostas ordered each time, making sure we got a taste of everything Greece had to offer. The stay at the mountain hut was particularly memorable. Each place we stayed in the mountains was unique in its own way.
I can’t understate how much Kostas made the trip - he was such a helpful guide, with great stories, great advice, and went out of his way to make sure our time in Greece was the best it could be.
Overall, an experience I won’t forget and I’ll be sure to try out other trips with MBA.