Walking Holidays in Greece: Five Multi-Day Hikes Compared

The Short Crete Trail is a 6-day self-guided walk through three gorges in western Crete to the small villages of the south coast. It combines long gorge descents with quiet coastal paths between the villages of the south coast.

The centrepiece is the Samaria Gorge: on day 2 you descend 14.3 km from the Omalós plateau to the Libyan Sea at Agia Roumeli, losing 1,230 m in about three and a half hours. Day 3 is the longest stage — 21.7 km from Agia Roumeli to the small harbour village of Loutro — with an optional detour into the Aradena Gorge that adds around 6 km and roughly doubles the climbing. Day 4 is a short coastal stretch of 7 km to Sfakia (Chora Sfakion), and on day 5 you walk up the Imbros Gorge to the village of Imbros (10.9 km, +800 m) before returning to Sfakia. Total: 53.9 km over 4 walking days, graded Intermediate.

Practical: the Samaria Gorge is generally open from 1 May to 31 October, and the entrance for the full walk closes at 13:00. You travel to Omalós yourself from Chania (bus or taxi, not included); your first night is in Chania. Prices from 585 euros per person when two people travel together.

This trail suits walkers who want a strong mix of mountains and coast, are comfortable with a long descent through a gorge and like to end their walking days by the sea. For a full look at the gorges and routes in western Crete, read our guide to walking in Crete.

The Menalon Trail is a waymarked walking route through the mountains of Arcadia in the central Peloponnese, linking stone villages, monasteries, gorges and old mule paths from Stemnitsa to Lagkadia. It is the only walking holiday in Greece in our programme that includes luggage transfer on every stage, so you walk with a daypack while your main bag travels ahead.

The trail is certified as a Leading Quality Trail by the European Ramblers Association.

We offer two versions. The Medium Menalon Trail (8 days) gives you 6 walking days and 76.2 km with stages between 5.9 and 19 km, passing through Dimitsana, Elati, Vytina, Nymfasia and Valtesiniko. The Fast Menalon Trail (6 days) covers a similar distance — 73.8 km and +2,840 m — in 4 walking days, with two longer days of 25.5 km and 21.3 km. Prices start at 630 euros (Fast) and 890 euros (Medium) per person for two; both are graded Intermediate.

A particular highlight is the Lousios Gorge, where the Prodromos monastery is built directly into the gorge wall. Along the way you pass the old and new Philosophou monasteries and stone villages such as Dimitsana. This is what makes Greece walking holidays on the mainland feel different from the islands.

Read our Menalon Trail guide for more about the route and the villages.

The Zakynthos Trail is a 6-day loop starting and finishing in Zakynthos town, covering 61.1 km over four walking days around the south, across the central ridge and along the north coast of the island. It is a newer addition to our programme and one of the quieter walking holidays in Greece, especially in spring and autumn when the tourist resorts are not busy.

The four walking days break down as follows:

• Day 2: Zakynthos town to Laganas — 8.9 km, flat, past the airport and the resort of Kalamaki to the wide bay. An honest note: this stage passes through the built-up edge of the island; the interior starts on day 3.
• Day 3: Laganas to Agalas — 12.6 km, +430 m, a steady climb inland through olive groves and stone-walled fields, with views back down over Laganas Bay and its protected loggerhead turtle nesting beaches.
• Day 4: Agalas to Alykanas — 22.1 km, the longest stage, crossing the central ridge near the Vrachionas massif before a descent of more than 400 m to the north coast.
• Day 5: Alykanas to Zakynthos town — 17.5 km, past salt flats, citrus groves and vineyards, finishing at the Bochali viewpoint above the old harbour.

Total ascent is +1,010 m, making this one of the more accessible multi-day hikes in Greece in terms of overall climbing. Level: Intermediate. Accommodation is in small hotels and guesthouses with en-suite rooms where possible; two nights are in Zakynthos town. Prices from 450 euros per person for two.

Book the Zakynthos Trail (6 days) for spring (April to June) or autumn (September to November), when temperatures are comfortable and the interior footpaths are quiet.

The Corfu Trail crosses the island from Kavos in the far south to Agios Spiridonas at the northern tip, and we offer it in three lengths so you can match the walk to the time you have. All three versions start in Kavos and are self-guided at Intermediate level.

• Corfu Trail Southern Half (6 days): 3 walking days, 46.7 km, +600 m. Kavos to Paramonas via Lefkimmi and Agios Georgios, past Lake Korission and its dunes. From 422 euros per person for two.
• Short Corfu Trail (8 days): 6 walking days, 99.2 km, +2,300 m. Kavos to Liapades on the west coast, taking in the area around Benitses and Pelekas. From 605 euros per person for two.
• Full Corfu Trail (11 days): 9 walking days, 165.1 km, +4,520 m, from Kavos all the way to Agios Spiridonas. The last two stages are the longest — 25.8 km and 26.9 km — and the hilliest, passing through the mountainous north of the island via the village of Old Perithia. From 1,225 euros per person for two.

The landscape shifts as you head north: the south is a mix of olive groves, cypress trees, beaches and views over Cape Asprokavos; the north is more mountainous. Corfu stays green even in summer. Accommodation is in family-run guesthouses and small hotels throughout.

For the stage-by-stage detail, read our Corfu Trail guide.

Mount Olympus is the most alpine walking holiday in Greece: a hut-to-hut route from the coastal town of Litochoro into the high mountains, with the summit of Mytikas at 2,918 m, the highest point in the country and, in Greek mythology, the home of the twelve Olympian gods.

We offer three ways to do it.

Self-guided, Mount Olympus hut to hut (4 days), from 195 euros per person for two: a loop of 39.8 km and +2,770 m. Day 1, from Litochoro to the Petrostruga refuge, is the hardest: 12.3 km and +1,710 m of ascent. Day 2 takes you to the Christos Kakalos refuge on the Plateau of the Muses (5.3 km, +750 m). Day 3 moves to Refuge A (Spilios Agapitos, 4.7 km), with the option to climb Skolio (2,911 m), a less technical summit with a full view of Mytikas. Day 4 descends 17.5 km through the Enipeas Gorge on the E4 long-distance path back to Litochoro.

Self-guided, Mount Olympus hut to hut with accommodation (6 days), from 295 euros: the same hike with nights in Litochoro before and after included.

Guided, Guided Mount Olympus Ascent (3 days), from 465 euros per person for two (from 320 euros in a group): a professional guide, refuge nights, transfers and permits included. Day 1 covers 13.5 km and +1,609 m to the Plateau of the Muses; day 2 is the summit attempt on Mytikas followed by descent to Refuge A. Note: Mytikas is a Class III scramble with exposure and is only suitable for experienced, confident hikers. If you want to stand on the summit and do not have scrambling experience, the guided ascent is the right choice.

Season: June to October, when the refuges are open and the high mountain is free of snow. Read our guide to climbing Mount Olympus for the full route and refuge details.

For gentle coastal walking with the least climbing, choose the Zakynthos Trail or the Corfu Trail Southern Half. For gorges and a dramatic coastline, the Crete Trail is the strongest option. For culture, villages and the convenience of luggage transfer, the Menalon Trail is the only trail in our programme where your bag travels ahead. For a long-distance challenge across a full island, the Full Corfu Trail covers 165.1 km over 9 walking days. For high-mountain Greece walking holidays with altitude and refuges, Mount Olympus is the clear answer. Walking with teenagers or older children who are used to hiking? The Corfu Trail Southern Half and the Zakynthos Trail have the least climbing of our Greek trails.

Self-guided or guided walking holidays in Greece?

All five trails in our programme are available as self-guided walking holidays in Greece. Self-guided means you walk on your own, without a group, at your own pace. We book your accommodation, and you navigate using our trekking app, which stores the route descriptions, hiking maps and your GPS position for offline use — useful on long stages without phone coverage.

The only guided option is the Guided Mount Olympus Ascent. A qualified local mountain guide leads you on the summit route, which includes the Class III scramble to Mytikas. For all other trails, the app with its offline maps is enough; the Menalon Trail is also waymarked.

Accommodation on our Greece walking holidays is in small, often family-run hotels, guesthouses and pensions in villages and coastal towns. Rooms are private (single, double or twin) and en-suite where possible. On Mount Olympus you sleep in mountain refuges. Breakfast is included where possible across all our trails; lunch and dinner are not.

Eating in tavernas along the route is genuinely part of the experience. Expect Greek salad with olives and feta, moussaka, grilled fish and octopus on the coast, spanakopita (spinach pie), tyropita (cheese pie), and honey with yogurt in the morning. Baklava and fresh fruit make good trail snacks when you pass through a village. On longer stages that cross remote terrain — particularly on the Zakynthos ridge crossing or the higher sections of Mount Olympus — carry water and some food, because you will not always pass a shop or a taverna.

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) are the best months for walking holidays in Greece on Crete, Corfu, Zakynthos and the Menalon Trail. Mount Olympus is open from June to October, when the refuges are staffed and the high mountain is free of snow.

Spring (April to June): the landscape is green, wildflowers cover the lower slopes and the weather is warm without being hot. The Samaria Gorge on Crete generally opens on 1 May. This is a good window for all trails except Mount Olympus, which opens in June.

Summer (July to August): temperatures rise sharply at low altitude, and the islands and coastal areas become busy. This is when Mount Olympus is the obvious choice: the high-altitude air is cooler, the refuges are fully open, and you avoid the crowds on the coast entirely.

Autumn (September to November): the sea is warm, the trails are quiet again and the light is good. A reliable second window for all island and Peloponnese trails. The Samaria Gorge typically closes on 31 October; plan your Crete trip before then.

Winter (December to March): we do not operate our Greek trails in winter. Rain, wind and snow on the mountains make conditions difficult, and many small guesthouses along the routes close for the season.

Sun protection: shade is limited on many trail sections, particularly on Corfu, Zakynthos and the exposed south-coast stretches of Crete. A wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are non-negotiable. The light in Greece is strong even in spring and autumn.

Water and refilling: carry a bottle or a hydration bladder and refill wherever you pass a village. On long, remote stages — especially the Zakynthos ridge crossing and the Olympus approach — set off with a full supply.

Footwear: light hiking shoes or trail runners are comfortable on most of the Corfu, Zakynthos and Menalon stages, which follow village lanes, old mule paths and coastal paths. For the rocky descents on the Crete Trail and for Mount Olympus, where the terrain is rougher and the weather less predictable, boots with ankle support and a waterproof lining are a better choice.

Clothing: light, breathable layers are enough on the lower trails. For Mount Olympus, pack warm mid-layers, a waterproof jacket and gloves. You start near sea level and sleep high on the mountain; the temperature difference is real, and it can be cold and windy on the Plateau of the Muses.

Rucksack: on the Menalon Trail your main bag is transferred, so a daypack is all you need on the trail. On Crete, Corfu, Zakynthos and Olympus you carry everything between accommodations, so pack light and practical. For the Olympus refuges bring a sleeping bag liner.

Phone and app: our trekking app holds the route descriptions and hiking maps with GPS navigation that also works offline. A small power bank is useful on long days.

Getting there: Crete: fly or sail to Chania; your first night is in the city and you make your way to Omalós by bus or taxi the next morning. Corfu and Zakynthos each have their own airports and ferry connections to the mainland. The Menalon Trail starts in Stemnitsa in Arcadia on the Peloponnese; we send detailed transfer instructions. Mount Olympus starts in Litochoro, a town near the Aegean coast between Thessaloniki and Athens, much closer to Thessaloniki. Transport to the start and from the end of each trail is not included in the price; we provide full instructions with your booking.

Luggage: luggage transfer between accommodations is included on the Menalon Trail and is the only Greek trail in our programme where it is. On Crete, Corfu, Zakynthos and Mount Olympus you carry your own bag, so pack accordingly.

What is included: accommodation, breakfast where possible, the trekking app with offline maps. On the Guided Mount Olympus Ascent: the mountain guide, refuge nights, transfers and all permits. Travel to the trailhead, local buses and taxis, lunches, dinners and travel insurance are not included in our hiking tours in Greece unless stated otherwise. Free cancellation applies up to eight weeks before your departure date.

Which Greek island is best for walking?

Crete is the strongest choice for walkers who want gorges, high mountain terrain and a dramatic south coast, all on one trail. Corfu suits those after a long-distance route through olive groves, villages and coves, with the flexibility of three different lengths. Zakynthos offers a short, quiet loop through the island's peaceful interior, well suited to spring and autumn. Other Greek islands such as Andros and Naxos also have walking networks, but they are not in our programme.

Is Greece good for hiking?

Yes. Greece has a wide range of terrain for hiking: mountain gorges, ancient mule paths between stone villages, coastal paths and high alpine ridges from sea level to 2,918 m on Mytikas. The island and Peloponnese trails run from April to November, giving a long season. That variety in one country is what makes Greece walking holidays worth considering beyond a beach holiday.

What are the best multi-day hikes in Greece?

The five multi-day hikes in our programme are: the Crete Trail (gorges and south coast, 53.9 km), the Menalon Trail (mountain villages in Arcadia, 73.8 to 76.2 km), the Zakynthos Trail (island loop, 61.1 km), the Corfu Trail (three lengths, 46.7 to 165.1 km) and Mount Olympus (refuges and summit, 39.8 to 40.9 km). Zagori in the Pindus mountains in northern Greece is another well-known hiking region that we do not currently offer.

Do you need a guide for hiking in Greece?

No, for four of our five trails. The trekking app with offline GPS maps and route descriptions guides you on the Crete, Menalon, Zakynthos and Corfu trails without a group or a guide. The exception is the summit of Mytikas on Mount Olympus: it involves a Class III scramble with exposed sections, and if you lack scrambling experience, the guided ascent with a qualified mountain guide is the right option.

Is luggage transfer included on walking holidays in Greece?

Luggage transfer is included only on the Menalon Trail, where your bag moves from guesthouse to guesthouse by vehicle while you walk with a daypack. On Crete, Corfu, Zakynthos and Mount Olympus you carry your own bag between accommodations. Pack light for those trails.

How fit do you need to be for a walking holiday in Greece?

All our Greek trails are graded Intermediate, which means good walking fitness for several consecutive days rather than any technical climbing skill. The range within that grade is wide: the first walking day on the Zakynthos Trail is a flat 8.9 km, while the final stage of the Full Corfu Trail is 26.9 km and the first day on Mount Olympus gains 1,710 m. Honest self-assessment against those numbers is a good starting point.

How much does a walking holiday in Greece cost?

From 195 euros per person for two for the 4-day Mount Olympus hut-to-hut trek, through 422 to 630 euros for a 6-day island or Menalon trail, up to 1,225 euros for the full 11-day Corfu Trail, all as of October 2026. Prices are per person when two people travel together; solo prices are higher. Included: accommodation, breakfast where possible, and the trekking app. Not included: transport to and from the trail, lunches, dinners and travel insurance.

Can you go walking in Greece in winter?

We do not offer our Greek trails from December to March. Rain, wind and snow on the mountains, combined with many small guesthouses along the routes closing for the winter, make conditions unreliable. Spring and autumn are the better choice for trekking in Greece: the trails are quieter and the weather is usually more settled.