Hike & Raft the Vikos-Aoös Circuit

You’ll need a moderate level of fitness - on this trip, you'll be hiking for around 6hrs per day (with regular breaks).

Please see the 'inclusions and exclusions' section above.

• Hiking shoes/boots • Shoes for the evening and city • Head torch • Daypack or backpack • Water bottles • Clothes for hiking • Clothes for the evening • Swimsuit • Towel • Waterproof jacket • Hat • Sunscreen • Toiletries • Any personal medication • Camera, book (optional)

- Visit 8 traditional villages in the area of Zagori and surrounds - Hike one of the deepest gorges in the world - Hike Vradeto steps, a very old stone structure trail with stunning views - Raft in the calm and crystal clear waters of Voidomatis river - Hike up to the amazing dragon lake - Taste traditional local delicatessens

It’s highly recommended you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover protects you in the case of unforeseen circumstances, including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip. We suggest specialist adventure travel insurers, [Rise & Shield](https://riseandshield.com/). They cover 100s of activities and are easy to deal with if you need to make a claim. They also cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover.

You'll stay in cosy hostels, family-run hotels, and mountain refuges. The accommodation is based on double occupancy. If travelling by yourself, you'll be paired up with another hiker. The sleeping arrangement at the mountain hut (Day 4) is dormitory-style. Free wifi is available in most of the hotels. Warm showers are available at the hotels but not at the mountain hut.

Day 1: 1-2 hrs Day 2: 3 hrs, 9km, 670m of height gained Day 3: 6 hrs, 12.5km, 600m height gained Day 4: 6 hrs, 12km, 1100m height gained Day 5: 3 hrs, 6km, 900m height loss Day 6: N/A Day 7: N/A

Day 1: Welcome dinner Day 2: Breakfast, dinner Day 3: Breakfast, dinner Day 4: Breakfast Day 5: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Day 6: Breakfast Day 7: Breakfast All meals are locally made with the best ingredients in the area.

Accommodation in the mountain hut is very basic, and typical of other remote mountain refuges (e.g. the French/Swiss alpine club huts) around the world. It has mixed dormitories with bunk beds and shared facilities. No hot water is available for showers.

We recommend that you bring 100-150 euros for the whole trip. It's best to bring cash (or get it out at the airport), as the remote huts sometimes struggle with card payments.

On the last day, your guide will drop you off at the central square of Athens Syntagma or Monastiraki. From here, you can take the metro or taxi to the airport or your next spot in the city.

Airport transfers can be arranged with your local Host at cost. Message your Host after booking from your dashboard, or put this on your trip form. * Airport transfers usually cost EUR50 cash paid directly to the driver. Afterhours (between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM is usually a little more expensive (EUR80). The cheaper alternative is to take the bus from Syntagma Square. You can check bus schedules on athensairportbus.com.

Start: You'll meet your guide at the hotel upon arrival. You are free to arrive at the hotel at anytime on Day 1. Your guide will confirm the hotel address in Athens after booking. End: You'll end the trip back at the hotel in Athens after breakfast on Day 7 of the itinerary.

For everyday use, a day pack of 25-30 litres is what you need. Larger backpacks (not exceeding 60 litres) stay in the car and are only carried to your hotel daily. This excludes the day we sleep at the mountain hut when we don't have access to them.

Depending on the weather and the season of the year your guide adjusts the program accordingly.

The water levels in the lake fluctuate with the changing seasons, with more water typically seen in spring and early summer, and lower levels in late summer and fall. However, the scenery remains breathtaking throughout the year, and occasionally, you may be fortunate to witness wild horses in the vicinity of the lake.

The distance is approximately 500km, which is about 5-6hrs of driving .

Private air conditioned van .

Depending on the season of the year, the springs of the river may experience partial drying, particularly from late July until the end of October. There is a possibility to visit an alternate location to view them, but this would require an additional 1.5 hours of hiking. The decision to do so will be based on the group's dynamics and your guide.

Yes, it is. The extra cost for a single supplement is EUR240 per person. Please note that in the mountain hut (Day 4) there are no single rooms, so the single supplement is not possible for this night. To book your own room, please let your Host know in advance. You can message via your dashboard or fill out the information in your Guest Trip after booking.