Hiking Vikos Gorge: The Spectacular Canyon in Zagori

If you love stunning nature and charming mountain villages, Vikos Gorge in the Zagori region of Epirus should definitely be on your radar.

This part of northern Greece is so unique, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

Zagori is known for its 46 traditional stone-built villages—called Zagorochoria—that are full of history and character.

The Guinness Book of Records lists Vikos as the world’s “deepest relative to its width” gorge. The gorge spans 32 km (20 mi), with walls ranging from 120 to 1,350 meters in height and a width that varies from 2,500 meters to just a few meters.

The main part of the gorge stretches from Vikos to Monodendri villages and has a depth of about 1,350 m (4,429 ft).

This post is all about hiking Vikos Gorge in September with a group of friends—hope it inspires you to plan your own adventure too!

Name Tip: Vikos comes from the Slavic word for an echo.

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We hiked the gorge from Monodendri to Vikos village, or you can hike from Vikos to Monodendri. Just keep in mind that the last bit to Monodendri is much steeper uphill than hiking to Vikos. We covered approximately 12.5 km of terrain with a moderate to challenging level of difficulty.

It took us about 7 hours to cross it, including a few brief stops and an extended break at the breathtaking Voidomatis emerald lakes.

The bravest among us even dove into the freezing waters of the river (not me!). We hiked in September, which was a warm day, but it was much cooler in the evening, so we all put on light jackets.

Post Information

In this post, you will find information on the Vikos Gorge Trail from Monodendri to Vikos, a detailed trail report, recommendations on where to stay, and how to get to Zagori, Epirus, in Greece.

Technical information for the Vikos Gorge Trail

• Location:  The gorge lies on the southern slopes of Mount Tymphe (also known as Gamila), in the northern Pindus range of northwestern Greece. It’s part of the Vikos–Aoos National Park.

• Terrain: The limestone rocks of the riverbed are highly karstified, causing the water to flow underground. Consequently, the trail is generally dry, featuring small pools and limited water flow. Trees shade the path.
• Trail: 12.5 km. One way. From Monodendri to Vikos. It includes a kalderimi (cobblestone path), a forest trail, and sections with large pebbles and rocks. Steps are also present.

• Signpost: Look for signs marked with red dots or white-on-red diamonds indicating the 03 route. You will also see a red sign with the tag Epirus Trail. Epirus is the Greek region where Zagori and Vikos Gorge belong. Locals have tied plastic bags to trees in areas where markers are lost to guide hikers in the right direction.

• Elevation: The trail ranges from 1065 m to 496 m.
• Total Time: It took us 7 hours, but you can make it in 5 with fewer stops.
• Level of Difficulty (3.5/5): Moderate to difficult, primarily due to the steep descents, steep uphill sections, and walking on large pebbles that are very tiring. We all used hiking poles for stability. Not recommended for novices or children.

Hiking Vikos Gorge: The Trail

Monodendri (1068 m) is a picturesque stone village perched on the rim of the gorge’s southern edge with a good selection of guesthouses, taverns, and cafes. It’s an ideal starting point for exploring the area.

Vikos village (1100 m), on the other hand, has fewer options and is quieter in comparison. We stayed at Monodendri, at Hotel Ladias (budget).

Within the Vikos Gorge, a diverse ecosystem thrives, boasting at least 186 bird species, including the golden eagles, and a remarkable 1,800 plant species.

Keep a keen eye during your hike, as you might have the chance to spot a bird or a smaller animal.

While the gorge is home to brown bears, wild goats, wolves, and boars, regrettably, we didn’t encounter any of these fascinating creatures during our hike.

Hiking Breakdown

The starting point of the hike was near the main square of the village at the old church of Agios Georgios, marked by a corresponding sign.

A few meters after the church, you will pass by a stone theater marking the beginning of the steep descent.

The trail is a kalderimi (cobblestone found in Zagori and Pelion), with loose stones, steps, and fallen leaves that can make the descent towards the Vikos Gorge challenging. Use your hiking poles for stability and wear ankle-high boots.

The descent ends on the banks of the river (710 m), which during our visit in September, had no water flow, just a couple of΄ponds.

The footpath runs parallel to the river, and you will be walking on its left side throughout the entire hike.

There will be shade as the trail is mostly under the tree canopy with oak trees, holly oaks, and hornbeams.

There are also small clearings that open up to stunning views of the towering, vertical slopes of Astraka, adorned with impressive rock bands and hollows reminiscent of large caves.

The trail is well-marked, ensuring clear signage throughout the entire route. You will be tempted to photograph everything, especially the white imposing mountains around you.

Soon you will get to the first challenging point a vertical rock that we passed with the help of a narrow wooden ramp. For added safety, a rope has been installed on the sides of the rock.

Approximately halfway along the trail, you will come across the sole spring at the location ‘Klima’ (730 m.), offering refreshing water sourced from a spring located in the adjacent ‘Megas Lakkos.’

Megas Lakkos stands as the largest among the ravines that converge into the central gorge of Vikos.

The terrain and the trail were changing from a forest trail to a stone trail with clearings and impressive tree compilations.

We stopped for a few seconds at a tiny chapel in the middle of the trail and passed through an impressive rock formation that was creating a type of canopy over our heads.

After a couple of hours, we arrived at the ‘Poros’ spot (483 m), a vast plateau where the purest river in Europe, Voidomatis, begins its journey from the profound cliffs of the gorge. Directly in front of this location is the summit of Gkouvoštitsa.

Here, the O3 trail connects the Papigo–Astraka–Drakolimni–Gamila trail.

We turned towards Papigko and the dry river bed in search of the Voidomatis lakes. For Papigko, you should hike toward the right side of the river. We turned left.

The hike on the large white stones was difficult,t and my feet began to ache. We couldn’t see the lakes until we made a couple of turns, and suddenly, there they were—breathtakingly beautiful, nestled just around a bend in the river.

We enjoyed the emerald springs of the Voidomatis River for almost 40 minutes, nobody wanted to leave!

However, there was still a demanding ascent ahead of us toward Vikos village so we soon got ready to leave. Going back to the trail towards the Vikos village, you pass by the magnificent old church of Theotokos Koimisis (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) built in 1738 at the spot ‘Tsapismata’. There used to be a whole monastery but today only the Catholikon survives.

A bit further from the church starts the uphill path, carved on the steep slope of the gorge, with continuous switchbacks and numerous steps.

While it may be a tiring ascent, every turn presents a more magnificent view of the Vikos Gorge, prompting me to capture the beauty with a thousand photos 😀

Just before we reached the entrance to the Vikos village, we discovered a stone icon standing at the edge of the cliff.

After a very long hour of ascent, we finally arrived at Vikos village, the trail’s exit is right across from a traditional arched fountain. From Vikos, we had arranged for a taxi to return us to Monodendri. We paid €10 each for the transfer.

Be Bear Aware

While hiking in this region, you are in the habitat of Eurasian Brown Bears. However, spotting one of these bears in the Gorge is an extraordinary stroke of luck.

Around 150 bears live in northern Pindus and Macedonia.

It’s important to note that the bears are not aggressive but mostly defensive and along with other wildlife in the area, are strictly protected by the NATURA 2000 laws.

I strongly recommend hiking Vikos with friends, as wild animals will try their best to avoid a group of humans!

Vikos Gorge Viewpoints

If you do not feel like crossing the Vikos Gorge but still want to enjoy spectacular views of the gorge, you can visit these impressive viewpoints:

a. Oxia (or Oxya) Viewpoint is just a 7.5 km drive from Monodendri along an asphalt road that leads to a parking area. From there, a 200-meter paved path takes you to a point offering a fantastic view of the gorge.

b. Vikos Village Viewpoint is 24 km north of Monodendri and the gorge’s ending (or starting) point. While there, you can explore the charming village and capture some stunning gorge photos.

c. Beloi Viewpoint is probably the best spot to admire the breathtaking beauty of Vikos Gorge! However, you’ll need to drive approximately 32 km from Monodendri to Vradeto village. From there, it’s a relatively easy 2.3 km hike to the Beloi viewpoint.

d. Monodendri Agia Paraskevi Monastery Viewpoint. Less than 1 km from Monodendri, you can visit the old Agia Paraskevi Monastery.

The monastery is being taken care of by two dedicated ladies who run a small shop with church-related objects, keep everything running, and feed the cats as well!

From this point, you can also see the smaller Mezaria Gorge, a tributary of Vikos that leads to Kapesovo.

From here you can also visit the ‘Megali Spilia’ path but it can be dangerous as there have been landslides.

Stone Bridges in Zagori

If you love bridges then there are quite a few impressive stone bridges that you can visit near Monodendri. You will need a private car to get to all of them and explore the beautiful villages around them.

1. Kokoris Bridge is probably the most famous bridge in Zagori
2. Agios Minas
3. Kapetan Arkouda
4. Plakidas
5. Lazaridis
6. Pitsioni

Vikos Gorge FAQs

What are the Most Popular Hikes in Greece?

Whether you’re into the wild mountains of the north—like the Pindus range, Mt. Olympus, Vikos Gorge, or central Greece like the beautiful Oeta(Oiti) Mount—or you’re exploring the Peloponnese with spots like the Menalon Trail, Taygetus, or Vouraikos Gorge, there’s no shortage of amazing scenery.

And don’t forget the islands! Their coastal trails come with killer views of the Aegean and Ionian Seas. It’s a dream for anyone who loves to hike.

Final Thoughts on Vikos Gorge

I highly recommend you hike Vikos Gorge on your next trip to Greece. Venturing into the Gorge is like stepping into a nature lover’s dream – with surprises around every corner!

Did you hike Vikos Gorge? Let me know what you think about the gorge in the comments. I’d love to hear whether I managed to get it onto your bucket list!

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