The Secrets of Tymfi and Vikos NEW

After breakfast we transfer to Mikro Papingo, where our hike to the Astraka Refuge begins. Although nearly 950 m of ascent lies ahead, the steady climb and pleasant trail make for a comfortable hike. About three hours later we reach the saddle where the refuge sits. Before we even take off our backpacks, a breathtaking view of the surrounding peaks and deep valleys opens up before us.

To the refuge: ~5.5 km · +950 m · ~3 h

At the refuge we take a proper rest, check in and enjoy a well-earned coffee with a panoramic view. Then we head for the Dragon Lake, Drakolimni, an hour and a half’s walk from the refuge. This alpine gem, with its distinctive blue-green colour and eye-like shape, is home to the mysterious alpine newts, the tiny “dragons” of Tymfi. From its shore, dramatic sheer cliffs drop toward the Vikos Gorge and the highest peak of the range, Gamila. After soaking in the magic of this place, we return to the refuge for rest, a hot dinner and a cosy night amid the rugged yet majestic nature of Tymfi.

Overnight: Хижа Астрака Mountain hut

Баня в хижата

Хижа Астрака се намира в местността Радоволи, на седловината между върховете Астрака (2436 м) и Лапатос, в един от най-впечатляващите алпийски пейзажи в Гърция. Хижата принадлежи на Гръцката федерация по планинарство и катерене и е базата за всички маршрути към върховете на Тимфи, включително Гамила и Драконовото езеро. Капацитетът ѝ е около 50 места в стаи с двуетажни легла, като хижата осигурява възглавници и одеяла. През летните месеци работи всеки ден и предлага топла храна. Вътре се влиза без обувки, а пред хижата има дървени маси с гледка към планината, идеални за вечерното кафе. Препоръчваме лек чаршаф или лайнер за спален чувал и пари в брой.

An early breakfast and we set off for the highest peak of Tymfi, Mount Gamila (2,497 m)! The trail winds through striking rock formations, and after a little over three hours of climbing we reach the summit. From the top, breathtaking panoramas unfold: cliffs, jagged ridges and mountain lakes, including Drakolimni. Photos, a short rest, and we head back down. By early afternoon we are back at the refuge for lunch and a rest. Then we descend the familiar trail to Mikro Papingo, from where we transfer to our guesthouse. In the evening we celebrate the climb at a local taverna.

After breakfast we drive to the village of Vikos, perched on the rim of the gorge. The hike to the Voidomatis Springs starts at the old fountain at the village entrance. A cobbled path takes us down to the floor of the gorge, where crystal-clear springs gush out beneath the Agkastromeni rock. Right next to them stands the chapel of the Panagia Vikos Monastery, built in 1783. On the way back we stop at the viewpoint above the village, from where we can see the whole route we have just walked.

Hike to the springs: ~5.2 km · ±275 m · ~2 h

In the afternoon we transfer to Monodendri. First we head up to the Oxya viewpoint, one of the most impressive views of the Vikos Gorge. On the way back we stop at the Stone Forest, curious limestone formations stacked like piles of stone slabs. We spend the rest of the day in Monodendri, wandering through the stone village and visiting the Monastery of Agia Paraskevi, about 800 m from the main square. Founded in 1413–1414, the monastery literally hangs on the edge of the gorge. The frescoes in its church date from the 15th, 18th and 19th centuries. From the monastery, a narrow path carved into the rock leads to caves where locals once took refuge. Dinner in Monodendri or in the village where we are staying, as the group prefers.

After four days in the mountains, the final day is easy and restorative. We take a relaxed breakfast in Papigo and set off, stopping on the way out at the finest stone bridges of Zagori. Near the village of Kipi lies the most striking cluster of them — the single-arched Kokkoros (Noutsos), curving above the river, and the famous three-arched Kalogeriko, also known as the Plakidas bridge, whose three spans follow the terrain like a wave turned to stone. A short walk between them lets us see them up close and take the last photographs of the trip. After lunch at a local tavern we head back toward Bulgaria, carrying with us the memory of Tymfi, Vikos and Drakolimni.