We have adventures that range from one day tours, weekend getaways to multi-day treks. We explore the world on foot, by kayak, canoe or raft, bicycle, 4-wheel drive, ferries, sailing – motor sailer boats, or a combination of these vehicles! Beginners are more than welcomed. We can teach you to kayak or to safely summit a mountain.
This website provides full details of each trip. If you still have questions, please call us at +30 210 8014382 or e-mail us at info@aegeanoutdoors.com or make use of our amazing live chat.
Our travelers come from all over the world, mostly the US and Canada, love the outdoors and have a desire to experience it in Greece.
Our minimum is typically four and our maximum most of the times is 16 participants, but it varies from trip to trip.
We have plenty of trips that you can join and make new friends or we can arrange your own private experience!
The majority of the Aegean Outdoors trips can accommodate young people who are accompanied and supervised by a legal guardian and who can handle the physical and emotional requirements of the trip. Our Aegean Outdoors trained staff can discuss whether a trip is suitable for your child.
Aegean Outdoors has an “arsenal” of knowledgeable guides from all over Greece. People with a solid connection to nature, love for what they do and strong desire to share their knowledge and passion with you!
Usually all you need to bring is your personal gear. We provide a gear list outlining needed clothing and equipment for each trip on our website, here at the FAQ section. We provide the equipment for every activity included in our trips.
We take you to taverns, restaurants, etc. where the Greeks choose themselves for dining. We avoid “touristy” places and we select for you various dishes from the endless variety of the world famous and healthy Greek cuisine. Simple, nutritious and flavorsome, the food is one of the pleasures of travel through Greece. Rustic Greek Cuisine reflects the history and bounty of its diverse regions and relies in the fresh, seasonal home-grown produce and generally simple, unfussy cooking that brings out the rich flavors of the Mediterranean.
Greece is a Member-State of the European Union and has signed the Schengen Agreement. While traveling within the E.U., you only need your Identity card. However, a passport is necessary for a number of other transactions, such as currency exchange, purchases, etc.
Visas are not required by European citizens from countries that are part of the Schengen Area. Greece as a member of the Schengen Agreement, has abolished controls on common internal lands, at air and sea borders and allows Member-State citizens to travel around without a visa for a short stay period of up to three (3) months. However, keep in mind that airlines and other carriers require a valid passport and/or identity card.
U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. We do recommend to have six months of remaining validity on your passport.
Citizens coming from countries that have not yet joined Schengen Area may require a visa to enter Greece.
As tourism is a truly global industry, we recognize our obligation to operate our tours in a responsible and sustainable way.
Every member of the Aegean Outdoors Team sees this not only as an environmental issue, but an economic and social one as well. We are committed and dedicated to the well-being of the communities that host us and the natural environment that we are there to experience. We also believe that by following these policies we can provide a more rewarding and interesting experience to you our guests.
The following are the key points of our philosophy:
– Small groups have less impact on local communities and environments.
– Put money directly into the communities we visit, by using locally owned and run accommodations and eating locally produced food.
– We are careful to ensure that local staff and operators receive a fair rate for their services.
– We encourage our own staff to take an active interest in responsible and sustainable tourism and train them accordingly so that they can put our policies into practice, not only during our trips but in their daily life as well.
– We make sure that our practices help in the environmental conservation of the areas we visit.
– We provide our guests with advice and guidelines on how to respect the social, cultural and religious beliefs of local communities.
We recognize that travel can have a negative impact on nature, through increased carbon emissions, pollution, and exploiting ecosystems. We at Aegean Outdoors are actively working to avoid and minimize these negative effects. You have an important role to play in reducing your carbon footprint and prioritizing nature during your travels, by giving back to nature and minimizing your impact.
– Avoid using products and engaging in activities that harm ecosystems.
– Bring a reusable water bottle and coffee cup. Consider using reusable bottles with a filtration system.
– Carry reusable cutlery, Tupperware boxes, and straws.
– Use a reusable bag instead of plastic bags.
– Refrain from buying products wrapped in plastic, such as slippers or individually wrapped tea bags.
– Use refillable shampoo and shower gel bottles filled from home.
– Pay attention to what you flush down the toilet to avoid disposing of items that contain plastic, such as wet wipes.
– Avoid buying foods containing palm oil and souvenirs made from hardwoods like ebony and mahogany, which contribute to deforestation.
– Choose sunscreen that does not contain oxybenzone, octocrylene, and octinoxate, as well as nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, as these can be harmful to marine habitats.
– Consider traveling by train, which emits 80% less carbon than flying.
– Minimize domestic flights and explore other transportation options such as local buses or trains.
– Avoid consuming foods that are scarce locally to ensure food security for the residents.
– Reduce meat consumption by opting for plant-based alternatives with a lower carbon footprint.
– Look for certification labels like ‘MSC’ certified fish or ‘deforestation free’ products.
– Utilize leftovers efficiently by donating them to others or composting them to minimize waste going to landfills.
– Save documentation digitally on your device to reduce paper consumption.
– Conserve resources by turning off the A/C when leaving the room, reducing the use of in-room kettles, and taking shorter showers.
– If proper disposal facilities are not available, take recyclable waste back home with you.
It’s important to remember that when we support biodiversity and ecosystem regeneration, we can also make a positive impact on our travels by supporting local communities. By choosing to dine at locally owned restaurants, stay in locally owned hotels, purchase from local shops or visit local marketplaces, we not only get a more authentic local experience, but also provide employment opportunities and boost the local economy.
The total climbing season is between mid-June and late October. Sometimes, climbing season starts from mid-May, but this depends on last winter’s snow accumulation. Best climbing weeks are early July and early September. Mid-July to late August is also a good period, however may be too warm and there is always a high possibility of afternoon thunderstorms.
The weather conditions on Mt.Olympus are generally unpredictable and temperatures can vary widely. The local variations are the result of the impact of the sea and the rugged relief of the region. In the lower areas, (Litochoro and the foothills) the climate is typically Mediterranean, i.e. hot and dry in the summer, while humid and cold in the winter. Higher it is more humid and severe, with more intense phenomena. The temperature varies in the winter from -10 °C to 10 °C and in the summer from 0 °C to 20 °C, while winds are an almost everyday occurrence. Generally the temperature falls to 1 °C per 200m of altitude. As the altitude rises, the phenomena are more intense and the variations of temperature and humidity are often sudden. The coastal northeast slopes of Olympus, receive more rain than the continental northwest, so, as a result, there is a clear difference in vegetation. In some places the winds gather snow, 8–10 meters thick, (‘anemosouria’ in Greek), while in some deep ravines the snow is maintained all over the year. However, during the climbing season (June to October) these snow patches do not affect hikers. The weather may change several times in the same day. In summer, rainfalls are frequent, commonly as evening thunderstorms, many times accompanied by hail and strong winds.
| Route | Distance | Elevation Changes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Km’s | Miles | Meters | Feet | |
| Prionia – Spilios Agapitos | 6,5 Km’s | 4 miles | Ascend from 1.040m to 2.060 = +1.020m | Ascend from 3422 ft to 6742 ft = +3.320 ft |
| Spilios Agapitos – Mytikas – Kakalos Mountain Hut | 6,8 Km’s | 4,2 miles | Ascend from 2.060m to 2.918m = +858m Descend from 2.918m to 2.650m = – 268m |
Ascend from 6742 ft to 9460ft= +2.718 ft Descend from 9460ft to 8700ftm = – 760 ft |
| Kakalos Mountain Hut – Gortsia | 10 Km’s | 6,6 miles | Descend from 2.650m to 1.120m = -1630m | Descend from 8700ft to 3675ft = -5025 ft |
Except for the last 200m of vertical climb, involving the summit of Mytikas (2919m), which is a UIAA level 2 technical scrambling/climbing route, the rest of the route is easy or medium difficulty hiking path. Ropes though not necessary, are being used for extra safety. The second highest summit, Skolio, (2911m) is only 8 meters lower, has an equally amazing summit view, a summit log book, and can be reached by easy/medium difficulty hiking path, without any steep sections. Finally, on the hiking paths accessing the summits there are some sections of impressive drops next to the otherwise easy hiking path that could be scary for people with fear of heights, although they don’t pose any significant danger, as the path is relatively safe.
Scrambling experience is required if ascending to Mytikas is a must. It is not a pre requisite (eg we don’t ask people before hand) but experience shows that people who don’t have the experience might not make it. Ropes though not necessary, are being used for added safety.
Yes
Each guide can have 3-5 persons roped together (depending on weather conditions and experience level). But there is the option of climbing it in via-feratta style as well.
The trek of the mountain paths would be rated 2. The last part, the climb for Mytikas peak would be rated 4. The alternative climb to Skolio Summit, would be rated 2.
Travelers must carry all their equipment. There are no human porters available on the mountain. There is a mule caravan going up & down the refuges for the purpose of resupplying the Mountain Huts, and can load luggage at an additional charge. The caravan has specific times of arrival and departure from the Mountain Hut. It is also possible for mules to accompany the group on our specific timetable, but at a much higher additional charge, as this will involve the mule caravan following an additional, unplanned route. Certain sections of the mountain routes, like Zonaria path and Kofto path, connecting Refuge A’ with Kakkalos refuge, may not be physically accessible to mules.
There is mobile signal on about 60% of the route. In some areas you need to get to a specific location to have signal. There is no phone signal inside Enipeas Canyon, on the Plateau of the Muses nor on sections of the route between Gkortsia and Petrostruga.
In all mountain huts there are communal rooms with bank beds. You can also camp out of the mountain hut with your tent and use the mountain hut facilities.
Not in the price – bottled water is on sale in the Mountain Hut, rates 1-2€/bottle depending on size.
There is a mountain spring on Prionia. There is also one mountain spring (with less water supply) 45 minutes hiking over Prionia. There are no other mountain springs close to the hiking routes so buying bottle water is the only option.
Mountain huts have heating availability, either a fireplace or petrol heaters, but they are activated only when temperature falls below roughly 10 degrees Celsius. There are no clothes/boots drying facilities. Warm blankets are provided in all Mountain huts.
Mountain hut electricity is supplied by solar panels and generators, and is available for a few hours daily. Usually, electricity is available from dusk until about 10 or 11pm, and sometimes from dawn and for a few hours. The plugs are limited so it is preferred to have extra chargers with you especially if being part of a big group.
In some mountain huts, there are showers, but have snow-melt-water supply and temperature (always depending on water availability).
For the Olympus refuge, following items are mandatory, due to Covid-19:
Each participant must have its own toiletries
Sleeping-bag or 2 bed sheets and 1 pillowcase per person
Pair of slippers or second pair of clean smooth bottomed shoes for indoors (all visitors necessarily change their shoes when entering indoors)
Face mask
Torch for nighttime
The most famous island group in the Aegean Sea comprises some of the most beautiful islands in the world! Gorgeous sandy beaches, architecture in white and blue, traditional lifestyle, folk music, warm, hospitable people and barren landscapes with isolated chapels turn a trip to the Cyclades into a lifetime experience.
The name “Cyclades” refers to the islands forming a circle (the name in English means: “circular islands”) around the sacred island of Delos. According to the Greek mythology, Poseidon, God of the sea, furious at the Cyclades nymphs turned them into islands.
Millions of Greek and foreign visitors come to the Cyclades every year to enjoy the dazzling light and the crystal blue waters, in the quest of the paradise on earth.
The Cycladic Islands enjoy a Mediterranean climate, with an average temperature for the year of 18-19 C. The winters are mild and the summers – by Greek standards- cool, thanks to the beneficial effects of the seasonal winds known as the “meltemia ”.
Cycladic islands in summer with the naked rocks, the see plants and the total lack of vegetation combined with the deep blue of the Aegean Sea and the typical architectural style of the all-white houses, hide skillfully the wonderful secret of Greek nature: one of the richest floras in Europe and a large number of rare endemic plants, that will be found on the edge of rocks, on the most steep places surviving for centuries, unique, separated, isolated. Campanula laciniata, Muscari cycladicum, Campanula santorii, Centaurea oliveriana, the rare Fibigia lunaroides are only a few of endemic plants that can be found on Cycladic Islands.
Cyclades flora is not only rich in endemic plants but also in aromatic species. It is very easy for someone to find them, since these perfumes together with the blue and white are purely Greece.
It’ s the perfume of thyme, sage, mint, summer savory, lavender, rosemary; it’ s the perfume of Greece.
Spring, summer and early fall in the Cyclades are sunny and warm with about 50% humidity. Daytime temperatures average 70 to 80°F, though temperatures in the 90s are possible, especially in June, July and August. Nighttime temperatures average in the low 60s. Rain showers are rare. The summer months typically experience “meltemi”, a prevailing north wind that can be quite strong. Wearing a sun hat with a chin strap is advised; good sun protection is very important for this trip.
