The Peloponnese Peninsula, just south-west of Athens, extends from Greece’s mainland like an elegant, outstretched hand. The wrist is bound to the rest of the body by the Corinth Canal, its fingers are a collection of pretty peninsulas, the veins are an array of mountain-fed streams and rivers, and the muscles are rippling mountain ranges. The Peloponnese is also bedecked with ancient jewels, from monasteries to the ancient city of Mycenae. Such as the Menalon Trail, an ancient mule trail that has connected monasteries and villages since the 16th century. Or Messinia on the south-west finger, where we’ve placed a beautiful ring for cycling holidays. Take our hand and we’ll guide you through it.
The Menalon Trail in the Peloponnese
This 75km trail takes you through the aptly named Arcadia region on the Peloponnese because, as well as being a place name, the word arcadia is defined as an image or idea of life in the countryside that is believed to be perfect. It covers the western Menalon massif and Mylaon Valley, traverses walnut and olive groves and leads you to ancient architecture such as the Old Philosophou Monastery. There is also an option to climb up to the summit of Mount Pliovouni, the highest peak of the trail, at 1,643m. This is Hellenic heritage at its most heavenly, created and cared for voluntarily by local communities. All credit to them, the Menalon Trail is recognised by the European Ramblers Association as having ‘leading quality’ status, and it’s well signposted and maintained.
How long does it take to walk the Menalon Trail?
The Menalon Trail is divided into eight sections, starting in the south in Stemnitsa, a goldsmiths’ town in ancient times and pure gold as a sendoff point for this adventure too. On our self-guided walking holiday you have eight days to complete it, starting in Stemnitsa in the south, then heading north along an arc through Arcadia that ends in the village of Lagkadia. This last stop is sometimes called the hanging village as it’s built on a rich, wooded slope of the Menalon massif, at an altitude of 1,000m.
Highlights of the Menalon Trail
Stemnista
The starting village of Stemnitsa is exquisitely elevated at 1,080m, with traditional terracotta-roofed houses sprinkled over the slopes of Mount Klinitsa. Many of these villages specialised in different crafts and skills, and this one has handed down gold and silversmithing through the generations. There is even a silversmith school, in a village with only 100 residents. So don’t head off on the trail too quickly, and check out the fine work of local people that’s worthy of recognition. Stemnista is the perfect place to buy a travel charm for your journey, and seek out hidden treasure in ancient alleyways. There is also a folk museum, but it has been closed for renovations until further notice.
Lousios Gorge
If you could pack the landscapes and love of the Peloponnese into one small package, Lousios would be it. Although not so small, because this deep gorge is 15km long having been cut out by the river of the same name, with 16 stone bridges to cross it. Similar to the famous Mount Athos, one of the most monastic regions in northern Greece, the gorge is peppered with places of worship, with more details below. This sacred saunter takes place on day two of the Menalon Trail, following ancient mule trails through holm and oak groves. You stop off at monasteries, while also learning about the industrial, not just spiritual heritage of the area, with old water mills along the way. Their main use was for tobacco and gunpowder production, which feels a world away from the goldsmiths of the day before.
“If you’re after pillow menus I’d give it a decade or two. If, however, you seek hospitality, soul food and wild beauty, the Menalon fits the bill.” – James Stewart, travel writer, The Times.
Old and New Philosophou Monastery
As part of your walk in Louisos Gorge, just where the river narrows around Philosophou Bridge, you follow a mule trail up to the Old Philosophou Monastery dating to 963AD. Which is pretty old, but it must have been a Byzantine beauty in its day. It’s now a ruin, and a vertiginous one, so you need to tread carefully to take in its historic magnificence carved into the cliff. Further on along the trail is the New Philosophou Monastery, which is a baby in comparison, constructed in 1691. This is still a working monastery and so, although the Menalon Trail goes through it, there isn’t access to all areas, although you do get to see the impressive frescoes all over the Orthodox chapel. As a sign of cultural respect, you’re advised to wear long trousers or a skirt if visiting, rather than shorts.
Prodromos Monastery
Another place to worship on high, this clifftop monastery dates back to the 16th century and overlooks Louisos Gorge in statement fashion. Make sure you get there before 13.00 as it’s only open in the morning for visits. But when you get there, you are welcomed by monks who serve coffee and loukoumia sweets before showing you around this mammoth construction, built inside a hollow of a 600m cliff. The main church on site dates back to 1167, and as well as being bedecked with frescoes that have been added over the centuries, it has an altar built into the rock.
Mount Pliovouni
This is the highest summit on the Menalon Trail, at 1,643m, and there’s an option to trek here on day three of the trail. If you do, it’s a journey of the senses, with the smell of moss-covered limestone and pine-fresh air, an invigorating wind in your face, and sights of the magnificent limestone crags and peaks beyond.
Peloponnese villages
You walk through nine main villages along the Menalon Trail, which means that you are never short of opportunities to dig deeper into the archaeological and cultural heritage of the region. We’re focussing on the ones where you spend a night along the trail and we’ve already mentioned Stemnista, which sets the bar of Greek gorgeousness pretty high. You’ll be elated by Elati which pops up at the end of your hike to Mount Pliovouni. It has only one taverna and no shops, and is as peaceful as the Peloponnese gets, with only the sound of Zoodochos Pigi’s church bell ringing out from time to time. In contrast, Vytina is a hive of activity, as it’s gateway to the local ski centre on Mount Menalon, and has plenty of restaurants, tavernas and everyday life going on.
Nymfasia is tucked neatly into the Mylaon valley and has a stunning stone church at its centre. It also has a handsome monastery, Kernitsa, just 2km from the centre, which is your wakeup walk after a night in the village. Valtesiniko is another perfect Peloponnese spot to lay your head, in the Ela Valley. Surrounded by forested slopes and farmland, pastures and plateaus, it has ten churches, so it’s not surprising that the artisanal expertise in this village is wood carving. The last night of the trail is spent in Lagkadia, another vertiginous creation wedged into the Gortynian mountains, it was famously part of the route that athletes took from the Peloponnese to Olympia.
Cycling in Messinia on the Peloponnese Peninsula
Our cyclists head much further south on the Peloponnese Peninsula, where we have an epic itinerary which encircles one of the Peloponnese’s dramatic digits. This really is an odyssey for coastal cyclists, as it clings to the coasts, but dips into some inland idyllic hideaways, bringing you back to the Ionian Sea on regular occasions. Staying within the sound of the waves every night. We have two versions of this Messinia cycling extravaganza, one self-guided and the other guided. They both start and end in the coastal town of Kalamata, follow trails through olive groves, to beaches such as Bouka or Voidokilia, or to historic sites such as Koroni or Methoni Castle. Both are seven days long, and both offer options to have e-bikes, making this epic tour totally electric.
When is the best time to visit the Peloponnese Peninsula?
Our Menalon Trail walking holiday is available between January and November, taking a quick break over the Christmas holidays. But it’s also a perfect place to ring in the new year. During April, May, October and November, you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20-25C. Our Messinia cycling holidays run between April and October, with the guided one on set dates as it is a small group tour. The hottest months are June, July, August and September, with an average maximum temperature of 31C. The coldest month is February, with an average maximum temperature of 15C (59C), but still double figures.
“We absolutely loved our experience walking the Menalon Trail. So well looked after and clearly marked. We did this in the first week of June with temperatures rising but never unbearably so. Much of the trail is in shady pine forested areas. A lot of climbing and descending but if you are relatively fit and carry plenty of water, no problem at all. The villages we passed through were just beautiful and the local people were so kind and welcoming.” – a five-star review from Coral and Paul in Kent, England.
We hope that this guide has pepped up your desire to visit the Peloponnese. As mentioned above, the Menalon Trail is run by volunteers from the local community, and your tour includes a €10 contribution to their non-profit organisation maintaining the Menalon Trail. If you donate €20 on their website, you get the official badge and printed map, although we will send you all the maps and directions too of course. But the official one is a perfect souvenir of a perfect place. For more information on travelling in Greece, you may enjoy our blogs, Six of the best hikes in Greece, Guide to the Zagori region, Walking on the Greek Islands, Mount Olympus is the ultimate Greek odyssey and Best time to go to Greece. For more information on all our Greece tours, please don’t hesitate to contact our adventure specialists.
