Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
published by Road Editions (no. 43, 1:50,000, with route
summaries in English) and Anavasi (no. 10, 1:50,000), also
with a useful booklet in bilingual text.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Arhondiko Ziaka
Ypáti
T
22310 98080,
W
xani.gr.
A
comfortable, modern option, built adjacent to a waterfall,
with ten rooms, all with a/c, balconies and views. Breakfast
included. They also have a rustic restaura
nt,
featuring
home-made country dishes, €10-15/person.
€50
Panorama
Ypáti
T
22310 98222.
Just above the square,
this welcoming place offers seven simple rooms, clean, if
slightly dated. It also has its own restaurant, café and wine
bar,
open
daily, lunch & dinner, €10-15/person.
April-
Oct.
€35
Karpeníssi
Valley
West of Mount Íti, the
KARPENÍSSI
VALLEY
is surrounded by dark fir forest and snow-
fringed (Dec-May) mountains, a region promoted (with some justice) as “the Greek
Switzerland”. Skiing on
Mount Tymfristós (Veloúhi)
and springtime rafting or summer
canyoning along local rivers are the main outdoor activities. Seasonal tourism, mostly
domestic, is well established, such that accommodation prices in the region area are also
authentically Swiss, boosted by a clientele of wealthy Athenians and Thessalonians,
although reality has finally bitten, with arrival numbers stagnant and rates frozen. Budget
travellers don't really get a look-in unless they're part of an organized adventure group.
Many local businesses close weekdays in low season; we've listed more reliably open ones.
3
Karpeníssi
The main road in from Lamía, after scaling a spur of Mount Tymfristós, drops down to
KARPENÍSSI
; a 1400m tunnel below the snow line guarantees year-round access and
spares drivers at least twice that distance of curvy road over the pass. Karpeníssi's site is
spectacular - huddled at the base of the peak and head of the valley, which extends
south all the way to wall-like Mount Panetolikó - but the town itself is entirely
nondescript, having been destroyed in World War II by the Germans and again in the
civil war. Snow conditions at the downhill
ski centre
, 11km above town, are variable as
the twelve runs and four chair lifts have a top point of only 2040m.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
KARPENÍSSI
By bus
Arriving by bus is inconvenient, since the KTEL bus
station is 1.5km out on the bypass road, though shuttles
occasionally do a run into town, along main drag
Zinopoúlou, to the leafy, café-table-crowded platía.
Destinations
Agrínio (1 at 9am Mon-Sat, 1pm Sun; 3hr
30min); Athens (3 daily; 4hr 30min); Megálo/Mikró Horió (2
daily; 15min); Proussós (Mon & Fri at 5.30am & 1pm; 1hr).
By car
Parking in the centre is difficult and heavily
controlled, so we've indicated lodging where this is
easier.
INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
Tourist o
ce
basement office on the main platía (Mon-
Sat 9am-2pm & 5-8pm, Sun 10am-2pm;
T
22370
21016,
W
karpenissi.gr).
Ev Zein
Zinopoúlou 61
T
22370 80150,
W
www.fzein-
evryt.gr.
Rafting trips April to early May, at the Dhipótama
site and on the Távropos River.
ACCOMMODATION
Except on summer weekends or during skiing season, rooms
are easily found, if not all that inspiring; many of the eight
hotels are noisy or overpriced, though bargaining at midweek is productive.
Anesis
Zinopoúlou 50, Karpeníssi
T
22370 80700.
A
chalet-style spot, mainly worth it if you get one of the
rooms with stunning valley views. Located on the edge of
town, a 10min walk to the c
entre
, parking is easy. Very
substantial breakfast included.
€45
Elvetia
Zinopoúlou 17, Karpeníssi
T
22370 22465,
W
elvetiahotel.gr.
Not much to look at from the outside,
but attractive communal areas (including an arcaded
stone-and-wood bar and a sky-lit dining area), attention to
detail and helpful management
ma
ke up for somewhat
small rooms. Breakfast included.
€60
Galini
Ríga Feréou 3, Karpeníssi
T
22370 22914.
This
