Walking Holiday in Greece 7—14 Sept €400

Hike the Ancient Donkey Paths on Mt Pelion

Walking Week on Mt Pelion

This walking week is a varied programme of guided 3-4 hr morning walks — through apple orchards and olive groves, deep into the woods, up the mountain, along the wilder stretches of coast line, down to the beaches of the Aegean.

Apart from Saturday, walks start after breakfast and end on a beach where we have a picnic lunch, an afternoon swim and are picked up about 5:45 pm (17:45). Intrepid walkers may wish to walk back up hill to the Centre (about 90-120 min).

Itinerary

Saturday 8 Sept starting after Community Meeting and coffee. Our abbreviated walk starts just before noon, exploring the village of Kissos with its charming square. We'll leave the village heading south on a gradually narrowing paved road that becomes a track through heavily wooded areas towards a natural waterfall. We are back to the Centre by 1:45 in time for lunch.

Sunday 9 Sept Kissos—Ag Dimitrios—Plaka Descending from an altitude of 400 metres our route to the sparkling turquoise Aegean sea wends its way through apple orchards, chestnut forests, and olive groves. We pass Agios Dimitrios with its traditional flag-stoned village square and massive Church.

At the foot of Mt Pelion we reach Plaka beach where the verdant moutains greet the shimmering water at the sea-shore. There we have our lunch, our afternoon swim and laze on the beach.

Monday 10 Sept Kissos—Mouresi square. On this morning's hike we leave our footprints in cobbled mule-tracks as we pass through cherry orchards and chestnut forests, and descend into a deep densely forested valley with plane trees. Here, in springtime, two tumbling rivers form cascading waterfalls and rock pools set in peaceful glens with enormous boulders carpeted in green moss.

Reaching Mouresi square with its beautiful church, its Linden trees and view over the Aegean, we'll meet "Boy George", Pelion's favourite donkey (see photo top right). From Mouresi it's downhill to Papa Nero beach for our lunch and swim.

Tuesday 11 Sept The Hidden Squares and Gardens of Tsagarada This amble in Tsagarada offers the unique experience of walking centuries-old cobbled mule-tracks under the shade of magnificent chestnut trees admiring the traditional architecture and gardens as well as an 800 year old plane tree.

A steep descent from Tsagarada leads to the tiny cove of Fakistra encompassed by sheer cliffs plunging to the turqouise sea. Here we stop for a swim and lunch.

After lunch we continue unguided along cobbled mule paths dotted with wild flowers and spectacular sea views, ending at the little harbour of Damouchari where parts of Mama Mia were filmed. We spend the afternoon there in the cafes and on the beach, meeting the rest of the community for supper at Apostoli's taverna.

Wednesday 12 Sept Agios Taxiarches, Tsagarada to Milopotamos. The beautiful flag-stoned square at Taxiarches in Tsagarada with its fountain and flowers is the starting point for the descent to Milopotamos, two spectacular beaches separated by a huge stone arch.

Thursday 13 Sept Kissos—Anilio and Makriryki—Ag Seranda We head out northwards towards the flower villages of Anilio and Makriryki with their tens of thousands of gardenia plants. We lunch at the Anilio Ecocentre, Kalikalos' sister centre. From Anilio we get a lift to Makriyki and continue our walk toward the long sandy beaches of Ag Seranda and Chorefto, the latter with a naturistic stretch.

Closure

Thursday evening is our final sharing by the fireside at Kalikalos, and Friday morning from 9:30 to 11:30 is Centre cleanup and good byes. Anyone staying on for the following week has the afternoon free to just relax.

Hiking boots are suggested, also a day-pack, water bottle and a stick would be useful. Please ensure that your travel insurance covers you for hiking.

Kalikalos is run by and as a full community comprising the unpaid volunteer staffers and our guests. As a workshop participant you'll join the cooking team one evening, and help occasionally with clean up and gardening = about 6-7 hr of "Karma Yoga" in the week. This makes our programmes more affordable and helps us build community together.

Walking Guide: Simon Cowper

Simon Cowper is an acupuncturist, teacher and lover of herbal medicine, taiji, tea-drinking, and rambling through nature.

Seven years studying and working in California and 2 years in the management team of Newbold House (an extended part of the Findhorn community) allowed him plenty of time to wander the forests and hike the trails in the Bay Area, the Sierras and northern Scotland.

Recently relocated to Greece after 8 years in Berlin, Simon returns to Pilion after 2 stints as a community staff member.

www.pelionet.gr

Our affordable (€250 per week, inclusive) Living-in-Community programme invites you to stay on a week before or after your workshop to relax and enjoy this special, unspoilt region of Greece. Book now!