From Macedonia to the Peloponnese, we showcase five gorgeous Greek forests for autumn strolls, relaxation and outdoor activities.
If we had to choose the best season for walks in the forest, it would, without a doubt, be autumn. The mountains' golden-hued landscapes the leaf-strewn paths, the scent of wet earth, and the murmur of running waters set the perfect stress-relieving scene for those who want to become one with nature.
From the Peloponnese to Epirus and Macedonia, Greece's beautiful forests await us at this time of year for endless strolls, hikes, and other outdoor activities. Join us on a refreshing autumn walk through five of Greece's loveliest forests.
Valia Calda: The «warm valley» of Pindus
The Pindus National Park, also known as Valia Calda, lies in a particularly remote part of the Pindus mountain range on the border between the regional units of Grevena and Ioannina. It's one of Greece's most important and pristine national parks. It includes the Valia Calda valley («warm valley» in Vlach), which sits at an elevation of about 1,400 meters and is encircled by the Lygkos and Mavrovouni mountains up to the peaks of Mount Avgo.
Several streams cross the valley, the most notable being Arkoudorema, a tributary of the Aoos. The National Park has five main entrances, roughly as many as the villages along its perimeter: Vovousa, Milia, Kranea, Perivoli, and Mikrolivado. Every year, hundreds of travelers visit the Valia Calda valley to admire its striking and unforgettable landscapes.
Steni Forest: A heavenly landscape in the heart of Evia
The Steni Aesthetic Forest lies on the southern slope of Mount Dirfys, near Steni Dirfyos. It's one of Greece's 19 Aesthetic Forests and a protected site of the Natura 2000 network. It has a total area of 6.740 stremmas, while the protected area covers 13.600 stremmas, at altitudes of 432 - 1740 m. The natural environment will take your breath away: streams, gorges, different species of trees and plants, small wild animals, and rare birds compose a heavenly landscape. There are many trails, ideal for nature lovers, that lead to crystalline springs. After your hike, Steni awaits, one of the most picturesque villages of Evia, with famous tavernas that attract lovers of good food.
Foloi Forest: The fairytale forest of the Peloponnese
If you dream of an autumn escape in the Peloponnese with endless, relaxing strolls through a fairytale forest, then your destination is one: Foloi Forest. This unique oak forest is one of the many well-kept secrets of the Peloponnese. It lies in mountainous Ilia, on the southwestern foothills of Mount Erymanthos, just 25 km from Ancient Olympia.
According to mythology, it took its name from Pholus, king of the Centaurs and friend of Heracles, who lived in the forest. The oaks of the Foloi plateau cover many thousands of stremmas, creating one of the few purely seed-grown oak forests in Europe. Straight-trunked oaks dominate, which locals call Kapeli, but there are also trees with massive trunks and many branches. Wander its paths and take in the giant trees that seem to touch the sky. Access to Foloi Forest can be either from Pyrgos in Ilia, via Ancient Olympia and Lalas, from Tripoli, or from Patras.
Lailias Forest: The paradise of Serres
Sky-high trees, sheer ravines, and huge rocks paint the picture of the Lailias area, the most important forested lung of the prefecture of Serres, in the western part of the Vrontous mountains. It's a beautiful forest of beech and mountain pine with an area of 33.000 stremmas. According to the prevailing view, the name Lailias came from a corruption of a Turkish word (yaylás or yaylá) meaning summer resort, while it's also etymologized from a corruption of the name of the saint of Greece's mountains, Prophet Elias. Of greatest interest to visitors is the enormous rock of Katiga, which stands on the edge of a deep gorge and brings back to life the legend of Katiga, the girl who committed suicide by jumping from the rock rather than marry a Muslim. On the northern side of the Ali Baba peak, in a forest at an elevation of 1,600 m, lies the Lailias ski center, a creation of the Hellenic Mountaineering Association of Serres.
Haidous Forest: Walking beside towering beeches
In the Rhodope mountain range, north of the city of Xanthi, lies the Drymos Forest, also known as Haidous. It's an earthly paradise of colossal centuries-old beeches over 30 meters tall that create an imposing sight. Beyond the beeches, there are pines, fir, spruce, and yellow lily that grows in the Rhodope mountains. Bears, wolves, and roe deer find refuge in the area. Since the 1980s, 180 stremmas of the forest have been designated a «Natural Monument» and are a protected area. Within the Haidous forest lies the Erymanthos Forest Village, at an elevation of 1,350 m. It was built by the Xanthi Forest Service and serves as a place for recreation and environmental education.
