Menalon Trail 6, which starts at the tiny settlement of Nymfasia and ends at the highest village in the Peloponnese, Magouliana, was my third hike in Menalon Mountain in Peloponnese, Greece.
The other two trails were incredible!
One was tough (Menalon Trail 1 through the dramatic Lousios Gorge), and the other was easy (Menalon Trail 5 along the Mylaontas River).
Both were so rewarding and exciting that I couldn’t wait for the next hike!
Menalon Trail 6 proved to be more demanding than I thought it would be, but I was compensated by the stunning landscape.
The forest was so dense that at times I felt like I was walking through a magical fairytale world. The trail followed ancient mule tracks once used by locals and monks for centuries.
As with most of the Menalon Trails, we also had cultural and religious breaks on our uphill to Magouliana.
We stopped at the large Mοnastery of Panagia, at a Hermitage built inside a cave, and a couple of tiny chapels.
The start and the finish villages of the trail are also worth visiting and exploring, to see an authentic village almost without any tourist development.
They are both tiny remote villages built high on Menalon.
And a hike in Greece is never complete until we have visited the local taverns and have tasted their recipes, as we did in Magouliana.
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My Latest YouTube Video of Menalon Trail 6
In this post, you’ll find everything you need to hike Menalon Trail 6, starting from Nymfasia.
From how to get there and trail details to a short YouTube video, a Google map, where to stay, safety tips, and what to wear—it’s all covered!
Technical information for Menalon Trail 6
- Trail: Nymfasia to Magouliana
- Distance: 8.9 km
- Elevation: -140 / +500
- Moving Time: 3.5 h
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate with a lot of uphills (3/5)
- Trail type: One-way, perfectly signposted with green signs
- Terrain: 500 meters in asphalt inside the villages, all the rest is a forest trail. Greek terrain can be quite difficult as it can have rocks, stones, pebbles, and slippery areas.
- Participation Requirements: Not for families with young children. Not for new hikers.
Menalon Trail 6 Description
I had hiked from Vytina to Nymfasia (Menalon Trail 5), on a crisp, cold but sunny January day.
However, this time, as soon as we reached the area around Menalon, it was all misty and overcast (mid-March).
The moment we parked in Nymfasia, it started to rain, thankfully not too hard. We all put on our rain-proof ponchos and started walking toward Trail 6.
Nymfasia is built at 840 meters and is quite spread around the valleys and green hills of Menalon.
The settlement is very traditional and quiet and from its highest points, you can see the monastery of Panagia Kernitsa, perched on a towering rock of about 500 meters high, which we visited.
According to Greek mythology, Nymfasia used to be inhabited by the nymphs who descended from the heights of Menalon to the Nymfasia spring.
There, they used to wash their hair and tried to avoid the lover god Pan, who would harass them and chase them around.
We soon got out of the village and found our trail. The rain had stopped, but there was a lot of mist and the clouds were very low.
We were hiking on a very well-signed trail surrounded by a beautiful oak forest that was covered in raindrops.
Continuing a slight downhill trail, we reached the Kernitsa Bridge over the Mylaontas River.
From the bridge, the trail ascends to the Panagia Kernitsis Monastery, a big monastic complex set on top of a big boulder.
We made a break here, and I went around to admire the impressive view of the gorge. We were welcomed with free biscuits and loukoumia, which are customary to offer in Monasteries.
Monasteries in Greece, except Meteora, have free entrance but it is always nice to purchase a small item from their little shops or leave a donation.
Soon we were off toward the Hermitage of Sfyrida.
We walked for a short time on an asphalt road, then took a right footpath.
From there, it was a steady uphill through a dense fir forest that brought us to Sfyrida Hermitage, which is built inside a cave at 1000 m.
This is where we had our second short stop.
From Sfyrida Hermitage starts the next part, which is constantly ascending through the forest straight until the intersection for Lasta.
As we got towards the peak, it started snowing. I always carry warm gloves and a hat in my backpack, which I hurriedly put on as the temperature dropped significantly.
It was quite unexpected, but it also created a beautiful atmosphere that encouraged me to go on.
As it had been a steady uphill since the Hermitage, climbing the long, steep slope of Kastro, I was getting quite tired. Thankfully, we soon saw Magouliana from a distance!
As soon as we saw Magouliana from afar, we got to a descending path and, surprisingly, we had some difficulty finding the trail to enter the village, although it was impossible to get lost as we could see the houses as we were walking.
Finally, we found the correct trail, reached the center of the village, and rushed into the warmth of the tavern (Tavern Joseph).
Minutes later, it started snowing quite heavily and we were all happy inside the warmth from the fireplace and the aromas of the food we were about to consume!
Magouliana, built amphitheatrically on the mountain, is an interesting settlement to explore and there is a castle on top that is worth visiting.
All in all, Menalon Trail 6 is a wonderful trail, beautiful and rewarding, and I highly recommend discovering it for yourself.
Whereis Best to Stay for the Menalon Trail 6
The accommodation in the villages is superb and affordable and a great example is Agropoli Hotel (mid-range, family-friendly) in Nymfasia with an amazing breakfast and fireplace in the rooms.
If you prefer to stay in the more lively and touristic Vytina and Dimitsana villages, then my favorite hotels are Archontiko Nikolopoulou and Archontiko Deligianni.
FAQs for Menalon Trail 6
Best time to hike?
All year round. During winter (December to March), there might be rain or, most probably, snow.
It should be OK for you during summer, as most of it is inside a forest. However, avoid if there is a heatwave.
The ideal time for me is April (flowers, bees, birds) and October (still warm but not too much).
How to Get to Menalon Trail 6 from Athens
Nymfasia village is 181 km from Athens. You can take the public buses leaving daily from Kifisos KTEL station in Athens to Tripoli town. In Tripoli, you will have to change buses to Nymfasia which is connected by bus only every Monday and Friday. You can always go to Dimitsana and get to Nymfasia by taxi.
Alternatively, you can rent a car, which is the easiest and most convenient solution for exploring an area.
What sites are nearby?
If you drive, on your way to Nymfasia, you can visit impressive sites such as:
Ancient Corinth and Acrocorinth, Nemea, UNESCO Mycenae, Kapsas Caves and the other villages of Menalon Trail, such as Dimitsana and Vytina.
What to Pack for the Menalon Trail 6
These are some of the essential items I recommend you have with you if you are going to hike the Menalon Trail:
Hiking shoes/boots (worn-in)
Moisture control socks
Convertible hiking long pants: In Greece, I always hike in long pants, there are many low plants with thorns that scratch and cause me allergic reactions if I wear shorts.
Mid-layer tops (eg. fleece)
Hat for warmth or shade
Waterproof jacket
Walking Sticks (essential)
Good sunglasses & sunscreen
Hiking backpack with good dry back protection
Personal bottle of water (2-3 lt), salty snacks such as dry nuts, fruit, and a sandwich (always with you!)
Why should I hike the Menalon Trail?
The Menalon Trail (75 km) is a leading quality trail in Greece, qualified by the Leading Quality Trails-Best of Europe.
It is one of the best long-distance trails in Greece.
They combine virgin natural areas with culture and local community activities. In the lovely villages, you can buy exceptional products from old-looking small groceries, such as fresh walnuts, sweet chestnuts, dried herbs for tea, and local honey.
Is the Menalon Trail for Me?
Generally speaking, Menalon Trail is not an easy hike, although a few of them can be done by hikers who have little experienc,e such as Trail 2 and 5.
The Menalon trails are
Dimitsana – Stemnitsa – 12.5 km, 4/5
Dimitsana – Zygovisti, 4.2 km, 2/5
Zygovisti – Elati, 14.9 km, 4/5
Elati – Vytina, 8.5 km, 3/5
Vytina -Nymfasia, 5.6 km, 2/5
Nymfasia – Magouliana, 8.9 km, 3/5
Magouliana – Valtetsiniko, 6.6 km, 2/5
Valtetsiniko – Lagkadia, 13.9, 2/5
Menalon Trail 6 Google Map
Find on the Menalon Google Map here the areas mentioned in this post!
Hiking Peloponnese
The Peloponnese has some seriously awesome hiking trails that mix nature and culture in the coolest way. The most popular ones, besides the Menalon trail, are:
- Doxa Lake – Dourdouvana Summit, hard, circular, 13 km, 8-9 hours
- Kalavrita Chelmos and Vouraikos gorge
- The archaeological site of Mystras, 4 km
- Vlachokerasia river trekking, 12.7 moderate inside a forest
- Voidokilia Beach Hike
Mobile Numbers of Taxis in Menalon Trail
If you worry about your luggage, they can proceed by using the local and very experienced taxi drivers to drive you around the villages as you hike the Menalon Trail. Discuss with them in advance how much they will charge you.
If you are happy with their services, you can leave them a tip.
Related Hiking Posts
Menalon Trail 1, Dimitsana to Stemnitsa
Did you hike on Menalon Trail 6? Let me know what you think about the Menalon Trail in the comments. I’d love to hear whether I managed to get it onto your bucket list! Till next time, Evgenia.
