Overview
A seven day, self-guided adventure climbing Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, at 2,918m. You actually get several summits for the price of one on Mount Olympus, as it’s made up of 52 peaks. No wonder it was home of the Greek gods. There are many heavenly pursuits on this trip, with the likes of Enipeas Gorge and Agios Dionysios Monastery en route to the summits, or Muses Plateau and Giosis Pass on the way down. Staying at mountain huts for the ascent, you take on Skala summit (2,866m) and Skolio summit (2,911m), the latter being the highest point reached on this tour.
- Litochoro
- Mount Olympus
- Agios Dionysios Monastery
- Muses Plateau
- Olympus National Park
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Litochoro
Arrive in Litochoro, a town at the foot of Mount Olympus, popular with hikers and visitors to Olympos National Park. If time allows, take a stroll through the town or perhaps visit Litochoro Maritime Museum.
- Accommodation: Guesthouse Xenonas Papanikolaou or similar
Day 2: Agios Dionysios Monastery | 9.6km
Today’s route follows the Enipeas River into Enipeas Gorge, towards the ruins of the Agios Dionysios Monastery. The route involves a 900m ascent up to the ruins, but the walk is not long, meaning there is plenty of time to stop along the way and take in the views. The monastery was founded in the 16th century, however, it was heavily bombed during World War Two, leading to its relocation to a new, lower site in 1950. After today’s walk, a transfer takes you from the ruins back to Litochoro.
- Walking for the day: 9.6km, 4h, ↑900m ↓350m
- Accommodation: Guesthouse Xenonas Papanikolaou or similar
Day 3: Mountain hut A | 8.8km
Begin the day with a transfer back to the ruins of the Agios Dionysios Monastery, the starting point of today’s walk. The trail passes the Chapel of Saint Dionysios, located under an overhanging rock, where the monk Agios Dionysios (the founder of the monastery) lived during his time as a hermit. Today’s route follows the well-known E4 European Path, heading through Enipeas Gorge and along the river, which can be crossed using the wooden bridges or stepping stones. Although the walk involves several ascents on the way up to mountain hut A, the views of the turquoise blue river and surrounding landscape make your efforts worthwhile.
- Walking for the day: 8.8km, 4h, ↑1,300m ↓90m
- Accommodation: Mountain hut A (Spilios Agapitos Refuge)
Day 4: Mount Olympus summits – Muses Plateau – Zonaria | 11km
A challenging ascent across mountainous terrain leads up to the Skala summit (2,866m). From here, there are views of the imposing Mytikas summit (2,918m), the highest peak of Mount Olympus. Continue on the trail, heading over the ridge to the Skolio summit (2,911m), the highest point reached on this tour and the third highest summit of Mount Olympus. Take a well-earned break here and write your name in the summit register. The next section of the walk crosses an area of the mountain known as Zonaria, before reaching Muses Plateau, where this evening’s mountain refuge is located.
- Walking for the day: 11km, 6h, ↑1,230m ↓650m
- Accommodation: Mountain hut C (Christos Kakkalos Refuge)
Day 5: Muses Plateau – Koromilia Refuge | 10.5km
Today’s route is less demanding than the previous days. Setting off from Muses Plateau, follow the trail to Giosis Pass, before descending to Lemos Ridge. Continue your descent of the mountain, stopping to take in the views on your way down. The route leads through woodland, providing some shade for the final stretch of today’s walk, before reaching Koromilia Refuge.
- Walking for the day: 10.5km, 4.45h ↑55m ↓1,675m
- Accommodation: Koromilia Refuge
Day 6: Koromilia Refuge – Church of Agios Konstantinos | 4km
Leave Koromilia Refuge and head east, continuing your descent down steep trails and passing through areas of woodland along the way. In between the trees, the views from this section overlook the surrounding plains and extend right out to sea. Take a well-deserved break by Orlias Stream, before continuing on the trail towards the Church of Agios Konstantinos. Today’s route ends with a transfer from the church back to your accommodation in Litochoro. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing at the nearby beach or trying out the local cuisine.
- Walking for the day: 4km, 1.45h, ↑0m ↓735m
- Accommodation: Guesthouse Xenonas Papanikolaou or similar
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast, or extend your stay with an extra night.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour varies from a comfortable guesthouse in Litochoro (three nights), to mountain huts on Mount Olympus (three nights), staying in mixed-gender dormitories with bunk beds and shared facilities (sleeping bag liners required).
Click to view default hotels
- Guesthouse Xenonas Papanikolaou
- Mountain hut A (Spilios Agapitos Refuge)
- Mountain hut C (Christos Kakkalos Refuge)
- Koromilia Refuge
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular accommodation being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with an accommodation of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days, usually consisting of a traditional breakfast using locally-sourced ingredients. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your accommodation the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area. The mountain huts can provide packed lunches and simple dinners (usually three options), both to be paid for locally. It is recommended to bring snacks for the days in the mountains.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is graded moderate to strenuous with 5–7h of walking per day (read more about difficulty grades). Daily ascents and descents range between 500m and 1,000m. Routes follow stony footpaths and cobbled kalderimi, with some steep and exposed sections. The terrain is rough but well defined. This trip is not suitable for those with vertigo and is best suited to experienced mountain hikers who are comfortable navigating challenging alpine terrain and changing mountain conditions. Good fitness and previous experience in mountainous terrain are essential.
Weather and trail conditions should be checked before setting out each day, and walkers should consult the mountain refuge regarding their planned route and current trail conditions. Even during the summer season, particularly in June and September, snow can remain on higher sections of Mount Olympus, which may make some routes temporarily unsafe or impassable. If snow, adverse weather, or other hazards are encountered, it is strongly advised that you contact both the mountain refuge and local representative before starting the walk to discuss current conditions and possible alternative routes.
Detailed route notes, maps, and 24/7 local assistance are provided. More information on navigation is included in your holiday pack. For more information, see our blog Hiking safety tips for mountain landscapes.
When to go
This trip is available from mid-June until mid-September. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season. Please note that Koromilia Hut is open every day from 15 June until 10 September and the rest of the year they only accept overnights on Saturdays.
The climate in Greece is Mediterranean continental and depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary. The period of June-October usually offers pleasant conditions for walking with average temperatures of 23-27C, although it can reach up to 31C in August. For more information, see our blog on the Best time to go to Greece.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
The recommended airport for this tour is Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia (SKG), which is well connected to major UK and European airports.
By train or bus
Daily buses are available from Thessaloniki to Litochoro (payable locally). The buses run regularly (every 50mins), with one change in Kateríni. Alternatively, there are regular trains between Litochoro and Thessaloniki. The journey is around 1h and 5min and tickets can be purchased from us.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers when changing hotels
- Transfer from Agios Dionysios Monastery to Litochoro on day two
- Transfer from Litochoro to Agios Dionysios Monastery on day three
- Transfer from Church of Agios Konstantinos to Litochoro on day six
- Detailed digital tour materials: a roadbook containing maps, step-by-step route descriptions and a smartphone navigation app with GPS tracks. Please note, that the information pack for this tour is digital only and will be emailed to you prior to departure. Physical documents are not able to be mailed or provided locally
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers.
- Extra nights in Litochoro before or after the tour
- Private arrival and departure transfers to/from Litochoro
