Towering Olympus reaches 2917 metres and dominates the skyline as we approach. It is the highest peak in Greece and yet it is only 11 kilometres from the sea. This is an ACTIVE trip for experienced walkers where we climb high to the peaks of this venerated abode of the Greek Gods. Our efforts are rewarded with an extremely rich and floriferous alpine zone with floral highlights including Saxifraga sempervivum, Campanula oreadum, Daphne oleoides, Viola delphinantha, Edrianthus graminifolius, Veronica thessala and we might catch the last Jankaea heldreichii.
At Litichoron! We stay in a hotel with a terrace that has a wonderful view of Mt Olympus. Not far away is the little river that comes out of Olympus, and time dependent we can wander down there and on a trail up the Enipeus Gorge to see plants such as Asphodeline lutea and Arbutus andrachne.
Nearby is Pinguicula hirtiflora and hopefully the last few flowering Jankaea before we wander up to the refuge, our base for the next three nights. Flowers are plentiful on the way with woodlands of wintergreens, orchids followed by Daphne and then limestone screes. It’s a 3hr walk up to the refuge but with botanising and photographing will take a lot longer!
This is essentially some acclimatising before for the Skala walk. Plants such as Saxifraga sempervivum and S. scardica will be here in quantity, as well as Viola delphinantha and Campanula oreadum in the rock fissures.
Lots more saxifrages and on teh Skala itself we find endemics such as Veronica thessala, Alyssum handellii, Brassica nivalis and Cerastium theophrastii. Also here is Arabis bryoides and Aethionema saxatile and at the top of the Skala Saxifraga spruneri. For those that are confident and with good balance there is the possibility of a more intrepid walk across to the base of Mytikas to see the lovely Omphalodes luciliae. This will be a long day.
The walk down is quite long, even more so with more botanising and photography. At the end we will spend another night to reflect on our walk with a wonderful fresh seafood meal in a quiet taverna where you can dip your toes in the water whilst eating-it is a holiday after all!
22-27 June 2026
Per person: 1260 Euros
Single supplement: 100 Euros
Included:
Not included:
Minimum number of participants 4; maximum 14.
For more information on our tours
Turkey: +90 535 4125286 | UK: +44 (0)795 854 6807
