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7628

3 days / 2 nights

Period of Operation : End of May to October

Litochoro

Min Participants : 1

Max People : 7

Tour Description

This is the amazing Mount Olympus Hikers Delight Tour, our well-paced and rewarding way to experience the grandeur of Greece’s most legendary mountain.

Mount Olympus, also transliterated as Olympos and marked on Greek maps as Oros Olympos, is the highest mountain in Greece. Located within the Olympus Range on the border of Thessaly and Macedonia, between the regional units of Pieria and Larissa, it rises approximately 80 km (50 mi) southwest of Thessaloniki. Mount Olympus boasts 52 peaks, dramatic gorges, and exceptional biodiversity. Its highest summit, Mytikas, meaning “nose”, reaches 2,917 metres (9,570 ft), making it one of Europe’s most prominent peaks.

From its steep and rocky summit, first ascended just over a century ago, Zeus, the king of the gods in ancient Greek mythology, was believed to hurl his thunderbolts at humankind and the Titans. These legendary stories have made Olympus one of the most iconic mountains in the world.

The mountain’s eastern slopes form Greece’s first National Park, established in the 1930s and now protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The area is home to a remarkable variety of flora and fauna, including numerous endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.

Apart from the mountain refuges, there are no permanent settlements on Olympus. These welcoming refuges offer hikers and mountaineers from around the world a warm and authentic mountain atmosphere, providing the perfect setting to share stories and experiences after a memorable day on the trails.

Level of difficulty

3/5 – Moderate

Level requirements

Suitable for fit and active hikers. The itinerary includes significant elevation gain, high-altitude hiking, and an optional ascent of Mytikas, Greece’s highest peak, which involves hands-on scrambling and may be subject to weather conditions and guide assessment.

Itinerary

Day 1Litochoro – Prionia – Spilios Agapitos Refuge (2,100 m) / Estimated Walking Time: 3–4 hours

Meet your guide in Litochoro and transfer to Prionia (1,100 m), the highest point on Mount Olympus accessible by road. From here, we begin our ascent along the most popular hiking trail on Olympus, which forms part of the European E4 long-distance path.

The route climbs steadily through dense forests of black pine, beech, and fir, offering shade and beautiful mountain scenery. Following a well-maintained trail, we gain approximately 1,000 metres in elevation before reaching Spilios Agapitos Refuge (Refuge A) at 2,100 m, where we spend the night.

Day 2Summit Day – Skala, Skolio or Mytikas – Plateau of the Muses – Christos Kakkalos Refuge (2,650 m) Estimated Walking Time: 6–8 hours

After breakfast, we continue our ascent above the tree line towards the high alpine zone of Mount Olympus. A zigzagging trail leads us to Skala Peak (2,866 m), the gateway to the mountain’s highest summits.

Depending on weather conditions, trail conditions, and the group’s experience, we have two options:

Ascend Skolio Peak (2,911 m), Greece’s second-highest summit, via a spectacular ridge walk.
Continue to Mytikas (2,918 m), the highest peak in Greece. The final ascent follows the famous Louki couloir and involves sustained scrambling on steep, rocky terrain. This section requires sure-footedness, a head for heights, and good physical condition.

After enjoying breathtaking views from the summit area, we descend back to the main trail and traverse beneath the imposing cliffs of Stefani (2,909 m), known as the “Throne of Zeus.” We then reach the Plateau of the Muses, one of the most spectacular alpine landscapes in Greece.

Tonight we stay at Christos Kakkalos Refuge (2,650 m), perched on the plateau and offering unforgettable sunset views over the peaks.

Day 3Plateau of the Muses – Profitis Ilias – Petrostrouga Refuge – Gortsia – Litochoro Estimated Walking Time: 5–6 hours

Before beginning our descent, we make a short excursion to Profitis Ilias (2,803 m), home to the highest chapel in Greece and offering magnificent panoramic views of the Olympus massif and the Aegean Sea.

We then descend via a different route through alpine terrain and mountain pine forests to Petrostrouga Refuge (1,940 m), operated by the Hellenic Rescue Team. Here we can relax and enjoy a break before continuing our descent.

The trail continues through beautiful pine forests to Gortsia (approximately 1,120 m), where our hike concludes. A short transfer brings us back to Litochoro, marking the end of our Mount Olympus adventure.

Photos

Pricing

Price is based on a minimum attendance of 2 people (for less or more participants please contact us).

Price Includes

Accommodation in mountain huts on Mt. Olympus (or in 4-season tents)
English speaking guide
All necessary equipment

Price Excludes

Personal expenses
Drinks and beverages
Meals
Optional gratuities to leader, guides and local staff
Transportation to and from Litochoro before the start of the tour and after its conclusion is not included. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to the meeting point in Litochoro and onward travel following the tour.

Optional

FB supplement: €100 / person
Includes: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunch packs, 2 dinners
HB supplement: €60 / person
Includes: 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners

Recommended Gear

Large, comfortable rucksack (40-50 litres) with padded straps and waist belt, internal frame preferred; waterproof liner recommended to keep clothing, etc. dry inside
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 polycotton 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 overnights in the refuge, although blankets will be available
Sunglasses, towel, sun hat or cap, sun block
Penknife
Water bottle
Wash bag and simple first aid kit (plasters or blister kit, aspirin or similar, antiseptic)
Photographers: bring your cameras
Torch (head torch if you have one)
Walking sticks

The lighter you pack, the easier you travel. Use your best judgment and pack as lightly as possible, remember that you must carry everything you bring on all the days’ walk. You will appreciate light luggage towards the end of your trip.

Mandatory Gear

For the Olympus refuge, following items are mandatory:

Each participant must have its own toiletries. There is ONLY cold water to wash!
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), along with a bag to put your shoes into a locker.
Torch for nighttime

*NOTICE! All visitors to the refuges are now required to take their own rubbish, and dispose of responsibly. This includes all plastics, glass, food and sweet wrappers/food tins brought with you.