Hiking Vouraikos Gorge in the Peloponnese

Vouraikos is a 37.5 km (23.3 mi) long river in the north of Peloponnese Greece between the mountains of Erymanthos and Helmos.

It flows past the traditional villages of Kalavryta, Zachlorou, and Diakopto, into the Gulf of Corinth.

A good part of the Vouraikos River (20 km) crosses the impressive Vouraikos gorge, along the Diakopto-Kalavryta old-fashioned rack railway of the Odontotos train.

The tiny train passes through dense vegetation, cliffs, waterfalls, tunnels, and caves. (Note: the train has stopped operations since Nov 2023 due to a landslide in the area).

Vouraikos is one of the most spectacular areas in Greece, a protected National Park enlisted by UNESCO and a hiker’s paradise as you come across wonderful natural landscapes.

Hiking Vouraikos National Park

There are various ways to hike this beautiful area:

You can either take the Cog railway from Diakopto and have a picturesque train ride to Zachlorou and then hike back to Diakopto.

Or, you can go straight to Zachlorou by car and start your downhill to Diakopto from there and return by train.

Another option is to start from Mega Spileon Monastery, hike to Zachlorou, and along the railway as we did.

The trail along Vouraikos is marked as the European Trail E4. Vouraikos Gorge and “Odontotos” Rack Railway Diakopto–Kalavrita is a unique attraction in Greece that will fascinate you! 

This trail combines a retro train ride with trekking through the area’s fantastic nature.

This post includes links that may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see my disclaimer/privacy policy for more information.

My Latest Video on Vouraikos

This post covers everything you need to know about hiking the most stunning train route in the Balkans. I’m sharing trail info, where to stay (depending on the season), what to wear, and a few helpful tips before you go!

Technical information for Vouraikos | Downhill to Diakopto

• Trail: 13 km trail parallel to the railway line
• Elevation: 431 meters downhill
• Moving Time: 5 to 6 hours if you take the downhill trail toward Diakopto. Some make the ascending path, Diakopto – Zachlorou, and it will require a couple of hours extra
• Level of Difficulty: Easy, with three exceptions:
• 1. The large stones around the rail make walking quite tiring
• 2. You have to cross narrow tunnels and iron bridges, so you’d better learn about the train times to avoid a stressful situation in a tunnel (the trains go very slowly and the drivers always honk, but you also need to be alert)
• 3. Crossing the iron bridges must be done carefully and only on the side that is covere,d as there are large openings that you can fall through

• Terrain: Forest trail, large pebbles, gravel
• Best time to hike: All year round. During winter (December to March) there might be rain/snow/wind. Check the forecast before you go. On the second Sunday of every May, the annual Vouraikos gorge crossing is held, attracting hundreds of participants, mountaineers, and trekkers from all over Greece and abroad.
• Participation Requirements: Vouraikos is an extremely dangerous trail for children to slip through the gaps (a fatal accident with a child has happened in the past). I would only take my adult children to this trail and only if they have hiking experience.
• Gear: Because of the large pebbles, avoid running shoes, you need a good hiking shoe with a thick sole.

Hiking Vouraikos: from Mega Spileon Monastery to Diakopto

We left Athens at around 7.00 am and, with a stop en route for coffee and snacks, we arrived at our starting point around 3 hours later.

We visited in a hurried fashion, Mega Spileon, the oldest Monastery in Greece, founded in 362 AD. It is built on a cave, and you can visit its chambers, a museum, and the basement cave with a free entrance.

Soon we were on our way toward Zachlorou, the official beginning of the descent to Diakopto village. The first part, around 500 meters, was on the asphalt. We found the start of the trail on our right-hand side.

The distance between the Monastery and our first stop in Zachlorou is 1.5 km, an easy, picturesque trail, which we hiked in about half an hour.

As we approached (Kato) Zachlorou, we could hear the roaring flow of the waters of the Vouraikos River.

The small and picturesque Zachlorou has only 38 permanent residents and therefore few houses, all built in traditional style with chimneys that smoke warmth and coziness during the cold winter months.

Zachlorou is also one of the Vouraikos train stops, so you can hop on or off here if you want to explore it further.

We spent only a few minutes in Zachlorou and soon after we started our hike toward Diakopto.

The trail followed the railway and I used the wooden planks to walk on as it was so much more comfortable than walking on the pebbles, which I personally dislike.

Others had no problem walking on the large pebbles or the dirt, wherever it was available.

This part was relatively straightforward, following the railway tracks downhill through a wide valley filled with meadows, orchards, and the occasional bird of prey in the sky searching for a meal.

Soon, we faced imposing slopes, the rushing Vouraikos River on the right side of the trail, and the first tunnel (of many!).

The tunnel looked intimidating (and dark) but we crossed it quickly and arrived at a rusty old bridge, slightly wobbly, which was both fascinating and scary. We had just reached the narrowest point of the Vouraikos Gorge at Portes (Gates).

This tunnel was the first of many that we had to cross on our way to Diakopto. The nature was magnificent, full of wildflowers as we hiked in early May.

Vouraikos National Park hosts many rare birds of prey, including the griffon vulture and peregrine falcon, and a few golden eagles also nest here. I did see a few harmless lizards but nothing bigger than that.

I know that fish and frogs are living inside the river which contributes to the balance of this extremely valuable ecosystem. It is a protected National Park, please respect this area, leave no litter behind, and do not annoy/harm any of the animals living here.

We continued our hike and came across old abandoned train stations, bridges, and tunnels and we could always hear the river flowing nearby us.

I remember being excited and happy to walk into this beautiful Greek area.

We crossed the bridges very carefully, holding onto the rail. The signs forbidding entrance on the bridges can be slightly confusing, especially since there is usually no other way to cross the river. Are we supposed to fly across instead??

After crossing the last bridge near Dikastiria Caves, the canyon opens up again and its bottom becomes a pleasant countryside of orchards and fields.

When the terrain flattens, Diakopto is nearly a couple of km away. We went straight to an excellent tavern where freshly made Greek food was served in their cute garden.

I strolled around Diakopto for a little while, and then we got back to the bus for the return to Athens.

All in all, this was one of the most enjoyable hikes I have ever done.

Post Tip: If you love hiking by train tracks and you are in Athens, then you should definitely hike the Nea Peramos Trail.

Tip: If you are staying in Loutraki or Corinth, don’t miss the stunning coastal trail from Sterna to Melagkavi lighthouse in Perahora.

Where to Stay for Vouraikos Hiking

If it is summer, you should stay in the pretty coastal village of Diakopto at a seafront hotel like Stavento (mid-range, family-friendly), where the evening meal of fresh fish is served on the beachfront. 

That way, you can also dive in the warm waters of the Corinthian Gulf. You can take the train to Mega Spileon Monastery or Zachlorou and hike downhill toward Diakopto.

If it is winter, I highly recommend you stay in Kalavrita, a beautiful mountainous village with a very traditional character, surrounded by forests.

In Kalavrita, my two top favorite hotels are Alpine Aria (mid-range, family-friendly) and Chalet Azanias (mid-range, family-friendly). Zachlorou is 12 km far from Kalavrita.

How to Get to Vouraikos from Athens

Diakofto is 161 km and Kalavrita is 189 km from Athens. If you rent a car, it is very easy to get to Diakopto.

You just need to follow the National Highway Athens-Corinth and just after the Corinth Canal, you follow the signs to Patra.

If you prefer to go to Kalavrita, you take the exit near Diakopto. Just keep in mind that the road on Helmos Mountain is narrower and uphill.

The public buses KTEL also go to either Kalavrita or Diakopto.

Test Your Knowledge: Hiking in Greece Quiz

1. What is the highest mountain in Greece, which is also a popular hiking destination?

a) Mount Parnassus
b) Mount Pelion
c) Mount Olympus
d) Mount Athos

2. Which famous gorge, one of the longest in Europe, is a well-known hiking spot in Crete?

a) Vikos Gorge
b) Samaria Gorge
c) Kotsifou Gorge
d) Richtis Gorge

3. What is the name of the hiking trail that follows the southern coast of Crete, offering stunning sea views?

a) E4 European Path
b) Pindos Way
c) Delphi Trail
d) Menalon Trail

4. In which national park can you hike to the Dragon Lakes (Drakolimni), known for their scenic beauty?

a) Parnitha National Park
b) Olympus National Park
c) Vikos–Aoös National Park
d) Pindos National Park

5. Which Cycladic island is known for its ancient hiking paths, including a trail that leads to the Temple of Demeter?

a) Mykonos
b) Santorini
c) Naxos
d) Paros

Answers:

1. c) Mount Olympus
2. b) Samaria Gorge
3. a) E4 European Path
4. d) Pindos National Park
5. c) Naxos

What does Vouraikos Mean?

Voura was the mythological beautiful daughter of Ion and Helice and the hero Hercules fell in love with her. According to the myths, he opened the Vouraikos Gorge to get closer to her.

What do I need to hike in Vouraikos Gorge?

These are some of the essential items I recommend you have with you if you are going to hike in Vouraikos:

• 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.
• Light hiking clothes
• Sun protection hat
• 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

Related Posts for Peloponnese

Best Things to Do in Kalavrita

Did you hike in Vouraikos? Let me know what you think about Vouraikos in the comments. I’d love to hear whether I managed to get it onto your bucket list! Till next time, Evgenia.