Northern Greece Itinerary: 14 Days in Zagori, Meteora & Pelion

Your knowledgeable guide will lead you on an unforgettable journey through the vibrant culinary landscape of Thessaloniki, where you’ll indulge in mouthwatering food and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of local life. As you savor delicious bites, you’ll hear captivating stories about Greek culture, customs, and traditions, all woven together with the flavors of the region.

Discover the bustling food and culture hotspots that embody the spirit of the Greek people—lively, warm, and full of life. You’ll stop at beloved local eateries, sampling well-known Greek appetizers and specialties that are cherished by the residents.

This experience will allow you to taste authentic dishes while embracing the everyday life of Thessalonians, along with a modern twist on classic Greek cuisine. Prepare to be thoroughly satisfied as you explore some of the finest local flavors.

Inclusions

• 3-hour private guided tour
• Private service of a local state-licensed guide
• All tastings

Zagorochoria National Park, nestled among the steep and snowy slopes of the Tymfi mountain range in Epirus, is one of Europe’s most beautiful and diverse ecosystems.

A cluster of 46 picturesque traditional villages in the greater Timfi, Pindos, and Mitiskeli area, built in a magical setting amidst pine and fir trees, awaits discovery all year! The natural environment of Zagori is beautiful and ideal for a variety of outdoor activities. Stone, wood, and slate rock define the distinctive local architecture.

The undulating, natural forested surroundings, combined with the impressive stone mansions, make for an unrivaled destination that should not be missed! Western, Central, and Eastern Zagori are the three areas that make up Zagori.

Join us for an unforgettable adventure where you’ll experience the thrill of hunting for the elusive white truffle in the beautiful forest. Our expert guide will teach you how to identify these treasures of the earth and you’ll get to collect them yourself.

After our successful hunt, we’ll head back to the estate where you’ll get to learn all about mushroom production and explore the beautiful mushroom crops on the grounds. During the summer months, you’ll have the option to cool off with a refreshing swim in the nearby river.

Then it’s time for the main event! We’ll cook up some delicious traditional recipes infused with the wonderful flavor of truffles. Get ready to savor the rich taste of potato souffle with truffle, barley with mushrooms and truffle, scrambled eggs with truffle and prosciutto (if you like), and beef burgers with mushrooms and truffle. Each dish will be paired with a carefully selected wine to enhance the flavors.

We’ll end our culinary adventure on a sweet note with a dessert of yogurt, honey and white truffle, a unique and unforgettable taste experience that you won’t find anywhere else. Come join us and discover the magic of white truffles!

Inclusions

• 4-hour private experience
• Private services of an English speaking guide
• Cook & taste delicious food with white truffle
• Learn about truffles and mushrooms
• Discover the mushroom farm

What to bring

• Sunglasses
• Hats & sunscreen during the summer months
• Comfortable shoes

Combine the excitement of an off-road adventure with the calming beauty of nature through this unique excursion! You will visit many of the picturesque villages of Zagori, enjoy a cool shower at a waterfall and cook traditional recipes by the stream.

This experience is ideal for nature and off-road lovers. Your 4×4 vehicle will take you through some of the traditional stone bridges of Zagori, starting with the most famous, the bridge of Kokkori. Next, you will enter the forest in a unique off-road route, reaching the Vikaki ravine. You will admire the magnificent landscape, followed by a stop for a warm cup of coffee or freshly squeezed juice. After a 25-minute hike, you will reach a natural pool with crystal clear waters created by the Iliochori waterfall, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim.

At your final stop, in the forests of Gyftokampos near the river, you will cook traditional food from Zagori that nurtures body and soul.

Inclusions

• 8-hour private experience
• Hotel pick up and drop off (Vehicle)
• Picnic (seasonal fruits, energy bars)‎
• Cooking (Traditional trachanas, season salad)
• Hiking poles

Ioannina, Epirus’ capital, is built around the beautiful Lake Pamvotida. This stretch of water – the area’s trademark – defines the natural environment, climate, and character of the town. The lake, with its placid waters and small island, is a natural wonder around which the entire region revolves.

The town’s strong cultural traditions, which have produced a number of great novelists and poets, as well as the artistic and intellectual events held throughout the year, allow visitors to learn about Epirus’ intellectual roots.

Discover the rich history and distinctive character of Ioannina on a private cultural experience through its historic center, castle, and famous lake island. Explore the atmospheric streets of the old city and the impressive Castle of Ioannina, where important landmarks such as the Itch-Kale Acropolis, the Aslan Pasha Mosque, and the Fethiye Mosque reveal the city’s multicultural past and its close connection with Ali Pasha.

Continue to the lakeside promenade and board a traditional boat for the short journey across Lake Pamvotida to the island of Ioannina, one of the few inhabited lake islands in Europe. Here, visit the former residence of Ali Pasha, now home to the Revolutionary Period Museum, and learn more about his fascinating life and the region’s history during the years leading to the Greek War of Independence. Before returning to the city, enjoy some time walking through the island’s peaceful lanes, traditional houses, small shops, and scenic lakeside surroundings.

Inclusions

• 4-hour private experience
• Private services of a state licensed guide
• Boat tickets to and from the island of Ioannina

Excluded

• Entrance fees
• Gratuities & Personal expenses

Are you ready to explore the culture, the gastronomy, the traditions of Epirus and live like a local for a few hours? Then this delicious walking tour is the perfect choice for you! Don’t miss the opportunity to try traditional flavors, local wines, and tsipouro and explore the alleys of the city and the Island of Ioannina. Get ready for unique flavors and intense aromas!

In our 4-hour tour, you will have the opportunity to discover the local Epirus food, tsipouro, and wine made by local producers and learn the history of Ioannina, having a friendly chat with locals.

Inclusions

• 4.5-hour private tour
• Hotel pick up and drop off (Vehicle)
• English speaking Guide / Driver
• Behind-the-scenes access at some of the venues
• Samplings of local food and drink
• Tsipouro tasting
• Wine tasting
• Umbrellas for rainy weather
• Bottled water

Nestled beneath the towering rock formations of Meteora, Kalambaka is a captivating gateway to one of Greece’s most extraordinary landscapes. Centuries-old monasteries crown the dramatic cliffs above, while the town itself offers traditional neighborhoods, Byzantine heritage, welcoming tavernas, and a peaceful atmosphere shaped by the natural beauty and spiritual character of the region.

Sunset Vehicle tour (visit and guided tour to one monastery, view monasteries from the comfot of your vehicle)

Experience the highlight of your Meteora visit with our private sunset tour. Join us for an afternoon adventure that uncovers the hidden treasures of this enchanting place, guided by locals who’ll take you off the beaten path.

Our sunset tour begins with a visit to one of the 6 active monasteries, followed by an exploration of the Byzantine church of the Virgin Mary in the old town of Kalambaka—a testament to the area’s rich history, adorned with ancient marbles.

You wll make panoramic stops at different breathtaking viewpoints in Meteora, see all the other active monasteries from the outside, and also from a close distance the hermit caves alongside the hidden monastery of Badovas and Agios Antonios.  As the sun sets behind the mountains, we’ll take you to a magical spot high on the Meteora rocks to witness the most captivating sunset views.  Feel the evening breeze and savor each moment as the light dims, an unforgettable way to conclude your day in Meteora.

This tour is led by a specialized local guide while you will enjoy a guided tour by a state licensed guide in one of the Monasteries. In discussion with your guide you may tailor the itinerary to your specific needs. 

Inclusions

• 4-hour private experience
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off (vehicle, from Kalampaka or Kastraki)
• Private services of a local tour leader throughout the tours duration
• Guided tour to one monastery by a local state-licensed guide
• Entrance fees

Mount Pelion is the first place that comes to mind when you think of Volos. The mountain’s wilderness and elevation are both relatively low. Its highest peak, Stavros, stands at 1.624 meters and stretches for about 50 kilometers. Mount Pelion serves as a natural boundary between the Magnesian district and the Aegean Sea.

Mount Pelion is a popular hiking and weekend mountain climbing destination due to its gentle slopes and easily accessible peaks. Weary climbers and hikers can rest at two mountain shelters, one in Agriolefkes and the other in Agios Georgios of Zagora. There is also a skiing resort in Agriolefkes, near Hania, for skiers, as well as a plethora of mountain routes and trails ideal for mountain biking and horseback riding.

Follow in the footsteps of Mamma Mia and discover one of Pelion’s most beautiful coastal settings on this private 6-hour experience.

Perfect for fans of the movie as well as travelers who simply wish to experience Pelion’s dramatic scenery, this tour combines lush mountain landscapes, traditional villages, and the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea.

Travel to Damouchari, one of the filming locations featured in Mamma Mia, and discover the picturesque natural harbor where scenes from the famous “Dancing Queen” sequence were filmed. Beyond its cinematic connection, Damouchari is a charming seaside village with stone houses, narrow pathways, and a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere.

Enjoy time to explore the village and its beautiful beach, with the opportunity for a refreshing swim in the clear Aegean waters. A short walk along one of Pelion’s traditional cobbled paths reveals spectacular views across the coastline and surrounding mountains.

You may also enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the village’s traditional fish tavernas, savoring fresh local flavors beside the sea.

Mamma Mia Pelion Tour Highlights:

• Private 6-hour guided experience
• Visit Damouchari, a filming location from Mamma Mia
• Explore the picturesque natural harbor and traditional village
• Walk along a historic Pelion cobbled path
• Admire panoramic views of the Aegean Sea
• Enjoy free time for swimming at the beach
• Opportunity to enjoy lunch or dinner at a traditional seaside taverna

Cosmopolitan Portaria

Portaria is one of the most cosmopolitan villages of Pelion, bustling with life since it hosts visitors throughout the year. Situated at the foot of Mount Pelion, it’s the first village one gets to from Volos. Its popularity as a travel destination and its accompanying cosmopolitanism spring from its vicinity both to a skiing resort and also to the sea. Luxurious hotels, traditional hostels, rooms to let, restaurants and tavernas, coffee shops, bars, and shops selling souvenirs and traditional folk art items meet all visitors’ tastes and needs.

Cultural Zagora

Zagora is situated on the eastern slopes of Mount Pelion, with a great view to the Aegean. A densely-populated village, Zagora consists of four districts, all meeting around the central square of Ag. Georgios, having taken its name after the adjacent small church, famous for its excellent altarpiece. This very square also hosts, since the end of 18th century, the famous Public Library, which nowadays operates as a lending library with many and great, rare books, while there is also a reading room within its premises.

At a short distance visit Drakopoulou Mansion, which houses on its ground-floor, the food preparation facilities of the Women’s Agrotourism Cooperative of Zagora. This is where nature meets tradition, since the thriving orchards of the surrounding area offers abundant citrus-trees, essential ingredient of many delicacies, such as spoon sweets, home-made marmalades and liqueurs, the recipes of which have been handed down from older generations. Treat yourself one of these delicacies after a hard going hiking so to get some of your strength back or get some to treat your beloved ones back home.

Elegant Tsagkarada

Tsagkarada lies 500m above sea level on the eastern side of Mt. Pelion, along a densely wooded area, looking out to the Aegean. Here, nature is dominant with chestnut and plane trees, being twisted around every single old and new construction of the sparsely-populated village. Treat yourself a cup of coffee at the central square of Agia Paraskevi, where the great Plane Tree counts a life of at least ten centuries. One of the things a visitor should see exiting the village is the arch bridge constructed by builders from Epirus. Some historic sites of special interest are also the Achillopouleios Commercial School and the Nanopouleios School. Before departing don’t forget to gather mushrooms as well as chestnuts or join the Chestnut Festival held in November, if you happen to be around.

Strolling Vyzitsa

Famous Vyzitsa, a village of Pelion enjoying major tourist development since the 80s, is typical of its Pelian scenery, its stone-paved alleys, its renovated lordly mansions (archontika), its lush greenery and its stone fountains. Climb up its central cobblestones alley heading for the central square. Walk around the picturesque neighbourhood of Argyraiika and if weather permits go hiking to Milies or to the coastal village of Kala Nera. The scenery is breathtaking… Visit also Esperides, the Women’s Agrotourism Cooperative of Vyzitsa, very popular within and without Vyzitsa’s borders for its catering services, and taste its traditional products ranging from marmalades to home-made pastas.

Milies, the starting point of the legendary steam train

Milies is the starting point of the legendary steam train of Pelion, the so-called “Moutzouris” (i.e. smudgy) extending up to Ano Lechonia. Its rail track runs along a route of natural beauty connecting the centre of Volos to the fertile district of Western Pelion. In Winter , when the train stops operating, walk along its rail track and take pictures of the iron bridge constructed by Evaristo de Chirico, the chief engineer and mastermind of the Pelian steam train and father of the surrealist painter Giorgio de Chirico. Take the path heading towards Vyzitsa and enjoy the panoramic view of the Pagasetic Gulf. It is also worth paying a visit to the Church of “Pamegiston Taxiarchon”, typical of the Pelian architecture with post-Byzantine icons of artistic and historical significance.

Makrinitsa, the balcony of Mt. Pelion

Makrinitsa known for offering one of the best panoramic views to Volos and the Pagasetic Gulf has retained the traditional Pelian architecture and construction. So one can admire its renovated lordly mansions, its romantic stone paved alleys, its elaborate fountains, its super centenarian plane trees and its lovely flowers, which all make Makrinitsa one of the most breathtaking destinations of Pelion. There are also interesting art cafes and galleries revealing the artistic interests of its local people.

Pinakates, a village out of a fairytale

Pinakates, a village almost untouched by men, on the southern slopes of Pelion, pictures like a little secret hidden in the Mountain of Centaurs. People hardly knew of this place up until 1999, when a road from Vyzitsa to Pinakates was constructed to give access to this wonderful village. Its majestic nature, its serenity, its small central square sheltered under a big plane tree combined with its authentic scenery lure every visitor.

Today, you will bid farewell to beautiful Greece. However, the places you visited, the people you met, and the exciting experiences you had will always accompany you and have a special place in your heart!

As you reminisce about the fond memories while looking at the photographs you took and the souvenirs you are bringing with you, get ready to share all about your trip with your loved ones back home.

After arriving at the Athens International Airport, check in to your international flight and depart Greece. Your trip might have come to an end for now, but the magical flame of adventure and travel is always ready to re-ignite!