Passing through the «Baros Pass», at an elevation of about 1.900 meters, with a little imagination you'll truly feel like you're flying in the clouds.
Those who love distinctive driving experiences know that some routes are worth the journey on their own. One of them is the Baros Pass, an impressive mountain pass that links Thessaly with Epirus and is the highest paved road pass in the country. There, in the heart of the Pindus mountain range, the road seems to vanish among the peaks, offering scenes you rarely find elsewhere on Greece's road network.
Baros Pass: An impressive route in the heart of the Pindus
The road links Anthousa and Chaliki, in the Aspropotamos of Trikala area, with Kalarrytes and Matsouki, in the Tzoumerka of Epirus. The route's highest point is at the Baros Saddle, at an elevation of about 1.904 - 1.905 meters above sea level, making it one of the most distinctive mountain destinations for those who love journeys by car or motorcycle.
From the pass the view toward the Pindus' imposing summits is riveting. Standouts include Peristeri, also known as Lakmos, at about 2.294 meters, as well as Kakarditsa, which reaches 2.429 meters. Bare, rocky slopes, sheer ravines, and extensive mountain expanses compose a landscape with strong alpine characteristics, which changes appearance depending on the season and the weather conditions.
The route has a story of its own. Long before it took on its current road form, the pass was an important conduit for communication for residents of the wider region. Muleteers, merchants, and livestock breeders used the mountain paths to transport people and goods, and for the seasonal movement of herds to the Pindus' summer pastures.
For many years the crossing remained difficult, with access mainly via dirt road, which limited passage to those with suitable vehicles and experience in mountain driving. That changed in 2014, when the last dirt section was paved.
Passing through the so-called «Baros Saddle», with a little imagination you'll truly feel as if you're above the clouds. The road follows the natural curves of the mountain relief, with successive bends, sharp elevation changes, and spots where the view opens to the surrounding peaks and deep gorges. The landscape takes on an almost otherworldly character, especially when low clouds cover the slopes, leaving the higher summits to emerge like islets in a white sea.
Due to the high elevation and the challenging weather conditions that prevail in the area, the pass usually remains closed during the winter months because of snowfall and ice. It reopens in spring, after snow-clearing works are completed and provided conditions allow the safe passage of vehicles.
For those seeking a driving experience different from the usual, the Baros Pass is a route that blends history, the Pindus' wild beauty, and the unique sensation of driving at high altitude.
