Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CLIMBING MOUNT OLYMPUS
The main trailhead for the ascent of Mount Olympus starts from
Priónia
- just under 18km up
the mountain on the sealed road from Litóhoro (€20 taxi ride). There is an information booth at
km3, where (in high season, anyway) your nationality is recorded and you're given some
literature advising you of the park rules, but so far there's no admission charge. At the Priónia
car park there's a a spring, toilets and a primitive taverna (May-Oct).
If you're up for a real challenge and an early start, it's possible to
walk
from Litóhoro to
Priónia via the monastery of
Ayíou Dhionysíou
. It's a delightful route (allow 4hrs) along the
E4 overland trail
, but you'll need basic hiking skills, as there are some scrambles over steep
terrain, and a few water crossings. From Ayíou Dhionysíou it's just under an hour more
upstream along the riverside E4 to
Priónia
.
PRIÓNIA TO THE SUMMIT
From the Priónia car park the E4 trail carries on just uphill by a signpost giving the time to
Refuge A (see opposite) as 2hrs 30min, though it actually takes more like three, even at a brisk
pace. You cross a stream (last water before Refuge A; purification advisable) and start to climb
steeply up through woods of beech and black pine. This path, the continuation of the E4, is
well trodden and marked, so there is no danger of getting lost. As you gain height there are
majestic views across the Enipéas (Mavrólongos) canyon to your left and to the peaks towering
above you.
Refuge A
perches on the edge of an abrupt spur, surrounded by huge storm-
beaten trees.
The E4 path continues behind the refuge (your last
water source
on the ascent), climbing
to the left up a steep spur among the last of the trees. Having ignored an initial right fork
towards the usually unstaffed
Khristos Kakalos
hut (Refuge C), within about an hour you reach a
signposted
fork
above the tree line. Continuing straight on takes you across the range to
Kokkinopylós village with the E4 waymarks, or with a slight deviation right to Mýtikas, via the
ridge known as Kakí Skála (1hr 30min-2hr). An immediate right turn leads to the
Yiosos
Apostolidhis
hut in one hour along the so-called Zonária trail, with the option after 45min of
taking the very steep Loúki couloir left up to Mýtikas; if you do this, be wary of rock falls.
For the safer
Kakí Skála route
, continue up the right flank of the stony, featureless valley in
front of you, with the Áyios Andónios peak up to your left. An hour's dull climb brings you to
the summit ridge between the peaks of Skolió on the left and Skála on the right. You know
you're there when one more step would tip you over a 500m sheer drop into the Kazánia
chasm; take great care. The Kakí Skála (“Evil Stairway”) begins in a narrow cleft on the right just
short of the ridge; paint splashes mark the way. The route keeps just below the ridge, so you
are protected from the drop into Kazánia. Even so, it's a tough scramble and not for those who
don't like heights.
You start with a slightly descending rightward traverse to a narrow nick in the ridge revealing
the drop to Kazánia - easily negotiated. Continue traversing right, skirting the base of the Skála
peak, then climb leftwards up a steepish gully made a little awkward by loose rock on sloping
footholds. Bear right at the top over steep but reassuringly solid rock, and across a narrow
neck. Step left around an awkward corner and there in front of you, scarcely 100m away, is
Mýtikas summit
, an airy, boulder-strewn platform with a trigonometric point, tin Greek flag
and visitors' book. In reasonable conditions it's about 40min to the summit from the start of
Kakí Skála; three hours from the refuge; five and a half hours from Priónia.
Descending
from
Mýtikas, most climbers go back the way they came, with the option of turning left at the
signpost for the
Yiosos Apostolidhis
hut (2hr 30min from Mýtikas by this route).
4
with canyon views, is unsurpassed.
May-Sept daily
11am-11pm; Oct-Apr Fri-Sun only.
Pazari
Platía 3-Martíou
friendly ouzerí serving locally caught octopus and squid, as
well as other fish and various mezédhes.
Daily
noon-midnight.
T
23520 82540.
Extremely
Dion
Ancient
DION
, in the foothills of Mount Olympus outside the modern village of
Dhíon
,
was the Macedonians' sacred city. At this site - a harbour before the river mouth silted
