Dips in natural pools, hiking through gorges, rafting, strolls through stone-built villages and refreshing moments under the plane trees. These are the reasons that make the Zagori villages a wonderful destination for alternative summer vacations.
Forty-six well-preserved stone-built villages, imposing mountain ranges and impressive gorges, rushing and icy rivers, authentic flavors, bridges that are masterpieces. They may be a famed winter destination, yet the Zagorohoria are wonderful in summer too.
Here you can revel in the mountain coolness, enjoy enchanting routes in nature, relax in stone squares, and dive into natural pools and rivers. These are some of the most compelling experiences to discover and fall in love with the summer charm of this famed mountain destination.
Zagorohoria: 5 summer experiences in the «place behind the mountain»
Bathing in natural rock pools
While in summer we may seek sandy beaches and crystal-blue seas, natural pools steal the show with their wild beauty, attracting those who look for places off the beaten path for «alternative» and refreshing dips. In the Zagorohoria, on the road from Megalo to Mikro Papigo, you must make a stop at the Rogovo stream and the small natural pools called Kolymbithres (locals call them «ovires»). These are hollows formed by the natural flow of the stream’s water and they resemble small ponds. They are among the sights worth seeing in the area, as the landscape is wonderful in every season. In summer they are perfect for refreshing dips and sunbathing on the smooth schist slabs.
In the cool of the Voidomatis
For the adventurous there is also the option of cool dips or activities like rafting.The Voidomatis, with its crystal-clear waters that maintain a steady temperature of 4 C°, is considered one of the cleanest rivers in Europe and is ideal for beginners who want to try rafting. The route from the bridge of Aristi to the stone bridge of Kleidonia is magical. The descent takes place in a lush environment among centuries-old plane trees and stone arch bridges.
Crossing the Vikos Gorge
The Vikos Gorge is the ultimate attraction in Zagori. It is a spellbinding place of great ecological value, and it holds a place in the Guinness Book as the gorge with the smallest opening in the world. The best time to cross Vikos is summer - always, of course, in the company of an experienced guide. You will work for it (the route takes at least 5 hours), but you will be rewarded with scenes of incredible beauty.The classic route starts from Monodendri and ends at the village of Vikos (or the reverse) and is ideal for those who love cool hikes through dense vegetation and herb-spotting.The brave can even plunge into the icy waters of theVoidomatis.
A mythical Dragon Lake
Summer is the safest season to plan a hike to the Drakolimni ofTymfi, one of the best-known alpine lakes in our country, which lies on a plateau of the Tymfi massif at an elevation of 2,050 m. You can get there only on foot via the trail that starts from Mikro Papigo. You will need about 2.5 to 3 hours to reach the Astraka refuge (1950 m.) and from there roughly another 1.5 hours to arrive at the mythical drakolimni. Its waters are crystal clear and reach a depth of 5 meters, while the views of the surrounding mountain peaks take your breath away.
Walking across the stone bridges
One of the most characteristic images in Epirus and the Zagorohoria is without doubt the stone arch bridges set amid nature’s beauty. These are not simple bridges, but monuments inextricably linked to the traditions and legends of the region. Works of famed stone masons, they feel like a natural extension of the rocks, so perfectly do they harmonize with the environment. TheKalogeriko, Kokkori or Noutsos and Kontodimos around the village of Kipoi, Missios near Vitsa and Kamper Aga near Miliotades are some of the most famous historic bridges in the Zagorohoria that are worth seeing up close.
