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Medium Menalon Trail - with Accommodation in Stemnitsa and Lagkadia

Name: Medium Menalon Trail - with Accommodation in Stemnitsa and Lagkadia
Brand: Bookatrekking
Price: 890.00 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (1611 reviews)

Duration: 8 days

Trails: T2 trails

Distance: 10 - 15 km per day

Ascent per day: 250 - 500 m ascent per day

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Overview
Itinerary
What's Included
FAQ

> A relaxed version of the Menalon Trail with accommodation before and after
> Spend your nights in cozy Greek accommodations
> Accommodation before and after your hike is included

The Menalon Trail in Arcadia, in the Peloponnese. It doesn't get much more Greek. Sure, islands like Crete and Corfu are stunning for their perfect combination of mountain and sea, but the 'real' Greece can be found on foot deep in Greece's interior. Churches and monasteries, thousand-year-old donkey trails and watering holes, quiet villages and a small glass of ouzo to end the day. Forget the mileage and the athletic challenge: on the Menalon Trail, you take it easy in the Greek way.

Take it easy, that was always the idea behind the development of the Menalon Trail. If you have the time, you can do the Menalon Trail in 8 stages. We spiced it up a little but, compared to some other treks we know, it is still a calm trek with never more than 4 hours of hiking a day. This version of the Menalon Trail also includes accommodation in Stemnitsa, your starting point, and Lagkadia, the goal for your trek.

Itinerary

Day

Arrival in Stemnitsa

Today you arrive in Stemnitsa, the village of goldsmiths and headquarters of the Peloponnesian Senate in 1821. Relax! There are a few good hiking days ahead of you. The directions in this description will take you to the villages where your accommodations are booked.

Pension Mpelleiko in Stemnitsa

Info

Day

Stemnitsa - Dimitsana

Duration: 04:40 h

Distance: 13.6 km

Ascent: 640 m

Descent: 780 m

Today we cross the famous Lousios Gorge to reach Dimitsana. Do you love ancient monasteries and churches? Then you already knew that the Menalon Trail is perfect for you. Along the way, we traverse ancient farmlands, pass the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ and admire the view of the Lousios Gorge, before entering the paved path leading to Prodromos Monastery. Nestled against the walls of the gorge, this monastery has a very nice fountain to visit. We walk on to the Old Philosophou Monastery from 963 and then to the New Philosophou Monastery founded much later, in 1691. Finally, we reach the beautiful Dimitsana.

Pension En Dimitsa in Dimitsana

Info

Day

Dimitsana - Elati

Duration: 04:40 h

Distance: 19.2 km

Ascent: 690 m

Descent: 480 m

Footpaths and dirt roads take you past the small monastery of St Apostoli. If you thought this is the last monastery, you are wrong. Many more monasteries and churches will follow in the coming days. Just after passing the Immortality Monument, the guard of Theodore Kolokotronis, leader of the 1821 War of Independence, we enter the centre of cute Zigovisti. The War of Independence is a familiar story to every Greek. After Zigovisti, you trek across the western Menalon massif past a stunning ravine. This sets the tone for the rest of the stage. More natural beauty and a fantastic village to end it. Note: This is the longest stage, so do a bit of walking. There will be time for more breaks tomorrow.

Chalet Elati in Elati

Info

Day

Elati - Vytina

Duration: 02:00 h

Distance: 8.44 km

Ascent: 130 m

Descent: 270 m

A much shorter day is scheduled. From Elati, you hike back to the M route and find the old mule track to Vytina via several paths. Along the way, you pass the Pirgaki Springs, which supply Vytina with drinking water. You will also find the remains of the ancient Acropolis of the ancient city of Methydrion along the way. Vytina is the main town in the region, here you can spend the rest of the day relaxing.

Pension Guesthouse Teloni in Vytina

Info

Day

Vytina - Nymfasia

Duration: 01:25 h

Distance: 5.66 km

Ascent: 170 m

Descent: 280 m

We leave Vytina and continue to Nymphasia via the Old Vytina footpath that leads to Mavra Litharia, a massive limestone boulder in the riverbed of the Milaon. We then start descending to Tzavarenas bridge, a solid stone bridge that provided the connection between Vytina and the western Gortynian villages. The trail gains altitude in a unique rocky landscape, reaching a height of 880 metres and curving horizontally to Nymphasia, a small but lively satellite village of Vytina.

Agropoli in Nymfasia

Info

Day

Nymfasia - Valtesiniko

Duration: 04:10 h

Distance: 16.9 km

Ascent: 630 m

Descent: 440 m

Between Nymfasia and Valtesinko, nature changes slowly. First we go downhill and cross the Kernitsa bridge. Not much further on, you will find another monastery, this time this one of Kernitsas. A huge complex nestled in a monolithic rock. After passing the Gavros Spring, we enter the small settlement of Magouliana. A fine village for a break, maybe even a good lunch. From Magouliana, it is not far to Valtesiniko. On the way, you will encounter the nationally renowned Mana Sanatorium. After quite a bit of climbing and descending, you eventually arrive at the village of the woodcutters.

Pension Valtessiniko Studios

Info

Day

Valtesiniko - Lagkadia

Duration: 04:25 h

Distance: 13.9 km

Ascent: 480 m

Descent: 650 m

From the village of woodcutters to the village of stone builders, that's what the final stage of the Menalon Trail is all about. A relatively short day, but like yesterday, still quite a bit of altitude stress. Along the way, you will encounter some special places, such as the fountain of Kria Vrisi and the Byzantine fortress of Valtesiniko. The final finish of the Menalon Trail is at the war memorial of Lagkadia. You will have earned a glass of ouzo or raki!

Hotel Kentrikon in Lagkadia

Info

Day

Departure Lagkadia

The end of Menalon and Peloponesse's magic. Antio!

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Included

Accommodation

We will arrange your accommodation on the Menalon Trail in hotels, inns, and guesthouses. Accommodation will be private in single, double or twin rooms and with en-suite bathroom where possible.
Full travel guide

You’ll receive access to our trekking app, which serves as your complete digital travel guide for the Menalon Trail. Inside, you’ll find everything you need for your trek: route descriptions, hiking maps, navigation support, payment information, and all the key details specific to your journey.
Baggage Transfer

This trek includes the transfer of your luggage throughout the entire Menalon Trail trek. Your bags will be picked up every morning from the hotel lobby and will be driven to your next next accommodation. Baggage transfers allow you to travel lighter during the day and enjoy the walk in a more relaxed manner.
Breakfast

Breakfast is, if possible, included in this trek and it will be provided every morning at your accommodation.
Navigation support

Our trekking app also includes built-in navigation support. With GPS-based maps and offline access, you can follow the trail confidently and stay on route even without mobile signal.

Excluded

Traveling to and from

You have to make your own way to the starting point. The total amount does not include personal transport. This also applies to any transport from the end point of your trail.
Transfers

If you require any form of public or local transport during the trek, it is not included in the package unless stated otherwise. This applies to taxis, buses, cable cars, gondolas, and similar services.
Travel Insurance

Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
Lunch and Dinner

Breakfast is, if possible, included in the price of the trek. You can get lunch and dinner at the shops, hotels, and restaurants along the way.