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A Follow the Leader Trip with Erik Perez-New for 2008!

Travel back in time—way back—to experience the Greece of the ancient Gods. This hiking-intensive trip will have you strolling through the temples and gazing down from the summits where Athena, Zeus, and the Twelve Olympians of myth were thought to reside. Erik Perez is our guide for this trip, and in addition to being one of our most senior leaders he is also an expert in both history and mountaineering. He’ll lead you to the top of Mount Olympus (9,568'), to the depths of the Vikos Gorge, the “Grand Canyon” of Greece, and to Meteora, where dozens of monasteries are clustered together, many of them built directly atop spectacular sandstone pillars. Vigorous hikes through the spectacular countryside give you the opportunity to experience Greece on a more profound level than most tourists. In-depth cultural explorations of the famous landmarks of Athens round out this unique and beautiful journey into the cradle of Western civilization.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Hiking-intensive exploration of Mount Olympus, Meteora, and the Vikos Gorge, with an optional summit attempt of Mount Olympus!
• In-depth cultural tours of Athens as well as hikes among monasteries spread through the countryside
• Trip is led by Erik Perez, one of our most senior guides and a perennial guest favorite!

For years I have been fascinated by Mount Olympus, the highest peak in Greece and the “Throne of the Gods.” I finally had a chance to climb it when I attended a conference last summer on guiding in the famous rock climbing area of Meteora. I was blown away with the beauty of the Greek countryside and the grandeur of its mountains, by the hospitality and friendliness of the Greek people, and above all, how gorgeous, challenging, and mountainous Mount Olympus really is. I can’t wait to climb it again with MTS guests! - Erik Perez

Day 1 - Arrive in Athens, Greece.

Day 2 - Sightseeing in Athens, including the Acropolis, Agora, and other monuments of the ancient city.

Day 3 - Fly to Ioannina and drive across the Pindos Mountains to Monodendri, a charming hillside village at the entrance of the great Vikos Gorge. Afternoon hike to the local monastery.

Day 4 - Hike in the spectacular Vikos Gorge, with its lazy turquoise pools of water and traditional stone villages where time has stood still. Overnight in Micro Papingo.

Day 5 - Roundtrip hike through forested terrain, then alpine pastureland to starkly beautiful Dragon Lakes (6,888'), on the peak of Astraka (7,992'). En route we’ll have great views of Aoos, Mount Smolikas (8,650'), and the impressive serrated crest of Gamila (the camel) peak.

Day 6 - Transfer to Kalambaka and the site of Meteora. Upon arrival, hike to a nearby monastery, then descend to Kastraki for dinner in a local taverna.

Day 7 - All day hike around the rock towers of Meteora to see some of the clifftop monasteries, built by the monks in the 13th-15th centuries.

Day 8 - Drive to the village of Litochoro at the foot of Mount Olympus. Optional afternoon hike.

Day 9 - Steep 5,000-foot ascent to a hut on the Plateau of the Muses.

Day 10 - Early morning optional hike to the summit of Mytikas, the highest peak on Olympus. (The mountain’s massif has a series of six summits—the highest is Mytikas at 9,568'.) Descend, stopping for lunch at a mountain hut. Return to Litochoro.

Day 11 - Transfer to Thessalonica (Thessaloniki), Greece’s second-largest city and the capital of Greek Macedonia. Fly to Athens and depart.

Photo Credits
©Anne Wood (MTS Staff)