Greece - Summertime in the Pindos

A suite of early summer flowers illuminates the stunning uplands of the Pindos Mountains of northern and central Greece with beautiful lilies and some standout alpines among them. These include flowery mountain slopes populated with rich-yellow Lilium carniolicum and woods illuminated with the orange of Lilium chalcedonicum, whilst rocky mountain slopes have the stunning Convolvulus boissieri and unique Campanula columnaris. Alpine turf and woodland edge burst with colour at the start of summer, a swirl of violets, pinks, foxgloves and campanulas. And what better way to enjoy them than to walk in the mountains in the day, and spend comfortable nights in delightful hotels afterwards? This tour is designed to see a huge array of colourful mountain flora together with some pleasant day walks and outstanding cultural sights, as we move down the rugged spine of the Pindos Mountains. Enjoying the best of Greek hospitality, food and a very pleasant early summer climate.

10-day tour with Christopher Gardner

Day 1        To Orma (2 July)

Following a midday/early afternoon arrival at Thessaloniki, we will transfer to Orma at the foot of Mount Voras. Overnight Orma.

Day 2        Mount Voras and to Prespa Lakes (3 July)

The morning will be spent in the flowry sub-slpine slopes of Mount Voras where water meadows are coloured orange with Geum coccineum, mingling with Datylorhiza majalis and Alchemilla indivisa, whilst the drier slopes have mats of Dianthius multinervius and masse sof Viola doefleri. Overnight Agios Germanos.

Day 3         Mount Vournos (4 July)

Mount Vournos has thriving populations of Lilium carniolicum subsp. jankae growing amid a wealth of other alpine flowers including Digitalis viridiflora, Knautia magnifica, Dianthus deltoides, Viola macedonica and the globular heads of Campanula foliosa. The whole day will be spent exploring and enjoying these flowery high mountain slopes, with the chance to walk for a few kilometres across a pleasant alpine plateau. In the afternoon we’ll descend and drive back to the village of Agios Germanos. Overnight Agios Germanos.

Day 4        To Papigo via Aoos Lake (5 July)

In the morning we will transfer via the scenic Aoos Lake nestled in the northern Pindos Mountains where stands of Dactylorhiza saccifera and patches of pretty Pinguicula crystallina crowd serpentine seeps and verges are coloured with the rich pink of Lychnis coronaria and powder-blue chicory. The night will be spent in the delightful stone-built village Zagorian village of Papigo set among the spectacular landscapes of Mount Timfi at the entrance to the dramatic Vikos gorge. Overnight Papigo Hotel.

Day 5        Vikos Gorge (6 July)

The spectacular defile of the Vikos Gorge is the highest and most spectacular in Europe. A small population of Lilium chalcedonicum grows in the woods here. And nearby areas have impressive spikes of Himantoglossum caprinum, Digitalis grandiflora as well as the small chance of a late flowering Lilium candidum. However, today is very much a cultural interlude with the chance to see some of the fine Ottoman bridges, precarious monasteries and the fine landscapes of Zagoria. Overnight Papigo Hotel.

Day 6        Meteora (7 July)

After breakfast we will drive to the stunningly positioned monasteries of Meteora, perched on precipitous boulders. From here the road leads to the botanically rich southern Pindos for a night beneath Mount Iti.

Day 7        Mount Vardousia (8 July)

The localised and beautiful endemic Campanula columnaris only occurs on this mountain. A long scenic country road makes its way there passing slopes packed with striking stands of Morina persica and Verbascum speciosum. To reach the campanulas and the many other interesting alpines we need to walk four kilometres and gain three hundred metres in altitude to the screes at the base of Mount Vardousia's crumbling cliffs. We will transfer onto near Mount Parnassos at the end of the day and the well positioned Hotel Skamnos with its’ inviting indoor pool. Overnight Hotel Skamnos.

Day 8       Mount Parnassos (9 July)

Botanically rich Mount Parnassos will be the finale to our tour. A mountain road climbs to the ski centre from where we will hike across the rocky slopes to populations of Convolvulus boissieri, surely one of the loveliest of all European alpines. Next to them grow cushions of Dianthus haematocalyx subsp. ventricosus. From here we can make our way slowly onto the upper ridge of the mountain where the rocks and cliffs that ring the high cirques are packed with interesting flowers from Edrianthus graminifolia and Saxifraga sibthorpii to tight cushions of Minuartia stellata and big-belled Campanula rupicola wedged into the limestone. Overnight Parnassos.

Day 9       Mount Parnassos and Delphi (10 July)

Our final day around Parnassos will be to enjoy local meadows that have a healthy population of the sealing-wax red Lilium chalcedonicum, arguably the finest of all Greek lilies. They grow among abundant blue Nepeta nuda and various other meadow flowers. After lunch we will descend to the famous historical site of Delphi, former home of the Oracle, for a final touch of ancient Greek culture. Overnight Parnassos.


Day 10       Flights home (11 July)

Our return flights will be from Athens International Airport.