Explore Olympus and its refuges in 13 days (12 Refuge Trail)

Olympus, the mythical mountain, 12 shelters, 92.6 km on known and unknown paths and close to 8000 meters of positive altitude, the highest peak in Greece, history, mythology, and mountaineering, are all involved to give a unique challenge to the Greek data. The challenge is called the 12 Refuge Trail and the purpose is for the visitor to pass through the 12 most important shelters of Olympus to seal his passport, to get to know the mythology and history of the place through visits to archeological sites and to visit villages with cultural heritage. Tastes, challenges, experiences, weather, hardships, fatigue, and camaraderie will accompany us on this unique journey!

Day 1: Thessaloniki - Litochoro

We pick you up from the airport and take you to the hotel in Litochoro, where you will meet your guide. Your guide will inform you about the progress of the program and then you will have free time to discover Litochoro and at the end of the day, we will enjoy our meal in a traditional restaurant.

• Night: Hotel 3 * in a double room (+ 30 € surcharges for a single room)
• Meals: welcome treat, dinner

2nd day Boudola Shelter - Koromilia - Petrostrouga

Today starts dynamically with 13 kilometers and we will pass through 2 historical points of the mountain, where the breeders of the area stayed with their herds in winter and summer. The whole route moves in a forest with alternations of pines, orchards, beeches, fir, and the unique robolo (Bosnian pine trees). The view to Thermaikos Gulf and the Aegean will leave you speechless!

• Overnight: Petrostrougas mountain shelter in bunk beds
• Meals: breakfast at the hotel, snack pack, dinner at the shelter
• Distance: 13.7km
• Starting point: 1000 meters
• Endpoint: 1945 meters
• Positive altitude: 1520 meters
• Negative altitude: 500 meters

Day 3: Petrostrouga Shelter - Krevatia Shelter

We will wake up in a wonderful environment in the centuries-old robola and with a vast view of the Aegean Sea and the Thermaic Gulf, it is worth waking up early to see the sunrise behind Mount Athos. Breakfast at the shelter and we prepare for our journey to the shelter Beds, a path with many changes in the flora and places with unique views. The end of our course will find us in the shelter Krevatia with an incredible view of the most inaccessible slopes of the mythical mountain. Free time to enjoy the environment and the view. Early in the afternoon, we will be transferred to Litochoro where we will spend the night

• Night: Hotel 3 * in a double room (+ 30 € surcharges for a single)
• Meals: breakfast at the shelter, lunch pack, dinner in Dion or Litochoro
• Distance: 8km
• Starting point: 1945m
• Endpoint: 1000m
• Positive altitude: 540m.
• Negative altitude: 1456m.

Day 4: Guided tour of the archeological site of Dion and Waterfun

Today is dedicated to the treasures of Olympus. We will visit the archeological site of Dion, the holy city of the Macedonians. We will dive in the cold waters of Orlia and Agia Kore with amazing waterfalls and crystal clear waters. We will enjoy our light meal in nature and we will find ourselves in a Byzantine monastery with unique hagiographies that still stand the test of time. Early in the afternoon, we will be transferred to the shelter Beds to enjoy our meal, in the tranquility of nature, and to prepare for our ascent the next day.

• Overnight: Mountain shelter Krevatia, in bunk beds
• Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch pack, dinner at the shelter
• Activity: Guided tour of the archeological site, short walk to waterfalls in the area

Day 5: Krevatia - Plateau of the Muses

Our day will start early with a strong breakfast, we get our supplies and our things to start our climb from the Barbala ridge. The distance may not be long, but the climb is painful as it moves on a ridge and for this reason it is also impressive, overlooking the Naum ridge, and the Karaiskini streams. It will take 8 - 10 hours to reach the impressive exit to the plateau of the Muses with the imposing throne of Zeus dominating in front of us! We will settle in the shelter and those who have an appetite for the weather will go and enjoy the sunset in Portes. Information for the next day that the target is Mytikas, the highest peak in Greece.

• Overnight: Apostolidis or Kakalou Shelter, depending on availability. In public
• cabin with bunk beds
• Meals: breakfast at the shelter, lunch pack, dinner at the shelter
• Distance: 8km.
• Starting point: 1000m.
• Endpoint: 2654m.
• Positive altitude: 1800m.
• Negative altitude: 112m.

Day 6: Plateau - Mytikas - Sp. Agapitos

If we have good weather we will wake up early to be transported to the top of Profitis Elias and enjoy a special sunrise from 2500 meters. The view of the sea, the mountains of Halkidiki, and Aegean love will give us magical images and energy for the rest of the day! Return to the shelter for a quick breakfast, we pack our things and we will start for the shelter Sp. Agapitos. For the bravest, today includes a climb to Mytikas from Louki of Mytikas and a return to Zonaria to head to the shelter of Sp. Agapitos where we will spend the night. Settle in the first shelter of Olympus and dinner with traditional flavors that are the same for more than 50 years!

• Overnight: mountain refuge Sp. Agapitos in bunk beds, common room
• Meals: breakfast in a shelter, lunch pack, dinner in a shelter
• Distance: 6.6 km.
• Starting point: 2657m
• Endpoint: 2100m.
• Positive altitude: 263m.
• Negative altitude: 858m.
• Climbing: 400 meters for those who choose to climb Mytikas

Day 7: Sp. Agapitos - Stavroites - Ag. Antonis - Skolio - Christaki

Today will be full of surprises, we will leave behind the well-known and most visited side of Olympus and we will move on lesser-known paths. We will go to the meadows of Mavrologos, to Stavroites, the main points that supply Enipeas. If we are lucky we will be very close to the herds of wild horses of Olympus and the ibex, have your cameras ready! From there we will head to the shelter of Agios Antonios, where in the past there was a temple of Olympian Zeus and after a short stop we will head to the top of Skolio, the second-highest peak of Olympus. From Skolio we will admire the majesty of Olympus, the large Kazania with the imposing amphitheater orthogonal slope of 700 meters, the back of the throne of Zeus! Finally, we will head to the Christakis emergency shelter, where we will spend the night. We will arrange to organize the camping site for you and set up a small outdoor party with BBQ.

• Overnight: In tents (2 people per tent) or inside the shelter. It will be available
• overnight equipment (tent, substrate, sleeping bag)
• Meals: breakfast at the shelter, Lunchpack, dinner at the emergency shelter
• Distance: 9.5km
• Starting point: 2100m.
• Endpoint: 2450m.
• Positive altitude: 1000m.
• Negative altitude: 620m.

Day 8: Christaki - Flabouro - Kitros - Nana - Salatoura

Today is the most interesting of all days. Our ascent will take place on the ridge of Kitros in the direction of Salatura and on one side we will have a view to the Western slopes of Olympus and the plain of Elassona and on the other the imposing slopes from the big and small Kazania! The view from the emergency shelter of Salatoura is indescribable and unique! After the necessary stop at the shelter of Salatoura we will go down to the dirt road, from where the vehicles will pick us up to go to our hotel. The arrangement, hot bath, and a rich meal with a selection of award-winning and special wines from the Bellou estate. Today we deserve the rest and the relaxed fun!

• Night: Bellos Estate in a double room (+ 50 € surcharges for a single room)
• Meals: breakfast at the camp, lunch pack, dinner with wine tasting at the Bellou estate
• Distance: 17km.
• Starting point: 2450m.
• Endpoint: 1122m.
• Positive altitude: 353m.
• Negative altitude: 1656m.

Day 9: Visit the archeological site of Pythion and the hermitages and to Livadi

We will wake up in a beautiful atmosphere and we will calmly enjoy our rich breakfast and wonderful coffee. Today the program has a tour of an important archaeological site, but not so well known, in Pythion of Olympus. Then we will visit the hermitages in Pythion, remnants of the monks who left the worldly to unite with the Divine. The hermitages are built with the same technique as the hermitages and the monasteries on the rocks of Meteora! The end of the day will find us in the village of Livadi, a village of traditional architecture, of great historical importance for the modern Greek state, as this village was a key nucleus of the Greek revolution against the Ottoman Empire and gave some of the greatest warriors there. we will enjoy our meal and return to rest in our luxury hotel.

• Night: Bellou Estate in double rooms in the hotel (+ 50 € surcharge
• single)
• Meals: breakfast at the hotel, snack pack, dinner at Livadi

Day 10: KEOACH - Migotzidis - Kalogeros - Livadaki - Prionia - Boudolas

Today is one of the most difficult of all the crossing and has 20 kilometers with a positive altitude of 1200 meters! We will start from the west side of the mountain and we will move to the lower Olympus, on the ridge of Kalogeros, we will pass the last refuge of the route 12 Refuge Trail, Livadaki, and after descending to the core of the National Park we will reach Prionia and the enchanting Enipea! The estimated time is 10 - 12 hours, for this reason, we will start our day quite early.

• Overnight: At the Boudola shelter in dormitories.
• Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch pack, dinner at the shelter
• Distance: 19.8 km.
• Starting point: 1700m.
• Endpoint: 1100m.
• Positive altitude: 1193m.
• Negative altitude: 1829m.

Day 11: Boudolas - Agio Spilaio - Litos Waterfall - Monastery - Prionia - Platamonas

Our last day on the mythical mountain and we will visit its most visited attraction, the river Enipeas. The vegetation is raging with continuous alternations of aquatic vegetation, cold, deciduous, and many rare endemics with the most popular being Jankaea Heldreichii. Some of the sights we will visit are, Agios Spilaio, the old monastery of Ag. Dionysiou, the waterfall of Leto, and of course we will know the history and the myth associated with these places. This is where the tour of Olympus officially ends with the 12 shelters, the stories, and the myths that it keeps well hidden even on its slopes! A journey of demanding mountaineering and inner search in one of the most mythical mountains in the world, where you feel the energy that surrounds it! The end of our journey will find us by the sea to recall our adventure and to listen to the messages we received while gazing at the high peaks of Olympus.

• Night: in a double room hotel Platamonas or Paleo Panteleimonas (+ 30 €
• single charge)
• Meals: breakfast at the shelter, lunch pack, lunch at Prionia of Litochoro.
• Distance: 10 km
• Starting point: 920m.
• End point: 1100m.
• Positive altitude: 623m.
• Negative altitude: 452m.

Day 12: Platamonas - Paleos Panteleimonas

Today, until the afternoon, there is a free program, where you can enjoy the sea and the beautiful village of Platamonas with its beautiful shops by the sea. Alternatively, we can organize a visit to the archeological site of Livithra, the birthplace of the god of music Orpheus, wherewith his harp he enchanted living and inanimate beings, dragging them to dance! In the afternoon we will visit the traditional settlement of Paleo Panteleimon to enjoy the view and traditional products. Here you can shop for souvenirs and special local products. Just before sunset, we will go to a special shop with panoramic views of Mount Olympus, the entire Thermaic Gulf, and the entire Olympic coast! In a special restaurant made of carved wood, we will enjoy one of our most beautiful meals with traditional dishes and we will reminisce about our beautiful moments, we will exchange our experiences and who knows we can set the next goals

• Overnight: in a hotel in a double room (+ 30 € surcharges for a single room)
• Meals: breakfast at the hotel, dinner at Paleo Panteleimon

Day 13: Return to Thessaloniki

All good things come to an end and surely the better we go the faster we feel that time has passed. Depending on the group's flight schedule we will arrange our return to Thessaloniki airport. If there is a mood and time we can arrange a short walk with a tour of the cosmopolitan Thessaloniki, crossroads of civilizations!

• Meals: breakfast at the hotel

Cost All inclusive:

• 4 - 6 people: 2800 €
• 7 - 8 people: 2500 €
• 9 - 10 people: 2350 €
• 11 - 14 people: 2200 €