Mt. Olympus Classic

We rate this tour as a 4 / 5. On this trip, you will be walking 5-6 hours per day. While most of the trail is just hiking, there are several sections that are scrambling, especially if your guide selects the gully route to Mytikas. You should have done similar trips like this before.

Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.

No, meals are not included.

Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. You can get travel insurance here.

Yes, the tour guide is English speaking.

In Litochoro. You can get a transfer to Thessaloniki Airport (it’s about 1.5 hours) or the journey back to Athens is about 6 hours.

Check with your family doctor.

Please try to travel as light as possible; remember that you must carry everything you bring on all the days’ walk.

• Large, comfortable rucksack (65-85 liters) with padded straps and waist belt, internal frame preferred; waterproof liner recommended keeping clothing, etc. dry inside.
• Sturdy, worn in trekking shoes.
• Good waterproof top with hood.
• Warm clothes, both for windy / cold daytime conditions and for the cool evenings (fleece tops or similar).
• Shorts and long trousers for walking, preferably quick-drying material (cotton or poly-cotton not denim).
• Sweatshirts or T-shirts for walking, at least one with long sleeves and collar (against sunburn).
• Sheet sleeping bag or similar (e.g. duvet cover), for the overnights in the shelter, although blankets will be available.
• Sunglasses, towel, sun hat or cap, sun block.
• Penknife.
• Your own personal water bottle. As part of our environmental policy and actions, we are committed to eliminating the use of plastic water bottles.
• Washbag and simple first aid kit (plasters or blister kit, aspirin or similar, antiseptic).
• Photographers: bring your cameras.
• Torch (head torch if you have one).
• Walking sticks.

End of May – October

This tour can be done from May to October, provided there is no snow on the ascent route. The best weeks for climbing are between early July and early September, through mid-July to late August may be too warm and there is a high possibility of afternoon thunderstorms.

The trek to the summit of Mount Olympus is a fairly easy hike, except for the final 200m of elevation to the summit of Mytikas. This last section to Mytikas is UIAA level 2 technical scrambling. Ropes are not necessary though are used for extra safety. If you don’t want technical scrambling, then your guide will take you to Skolio, the 2nd highest summit of Mount Olympus. Skolio is 8 meters lower than Mytikas and has an equally amazing summit view, though can be reached by a medium difficulty hiking path, without any technical sections. It should be noted that on the hiking paths accessing the summits there are sections with significant drops next to an easy hiking path. Some people with a fear of heights find these paths unnerving, though they don’t pose any significant danger as the path is relatively safe.

Scrambling experience for ascending to Mytikas is required.

Each guide can have 3-5 guests roped together. There is also the option of climbing it in via-feratta style as well.

Yes.

All guests must carry all their equipment. It is possible for mules to accompany the group but at a much higher additional charge.

There is a mobile signal on about 60% of the route up Mount Olympus. There is no phone signal inside Enipeas Canyon, on the Plateau of the Muses nor on sections of the route between Gkortsia and Petrostruga.

• Breakfast: bread, butter, marmalade, honey, cheese, coffee – tea – milk, Nutella.
• Lunch: lunch box if hiking or menu in a mountain hut. A lunch box meal would include a combination of sandwich, fruit, eggs, energy snack, chocolate
• Dinner: The meals in mountain huts can be very good, and the huts chosen for this tour are known for great food, especially considering how remote the hut is. You can choose from a variety of options, such as soup, pasta, salad, cheese, rice, meat dishes, and desserts.

No. Bottled water is available in the huts, with the rate typically being 1-2€/bottle depending on size.

There is a mountain spring on Prionia. There is also one mountain spring (with less water supply) 45 minutes hiking over Prionia. There are no other mountain springs close to the hiking routes so buying bottled water is the only option.

Mountain huts have either a fireplace or petrol heaters, but they are activated only when the temperature falls below roughly 10 degrees Celsius. Beds come with warm blankets.

No, there are no showers in the mountain huts.

While there is limited electricity, it is suggested to bring your own charger to charge any electronic devices you have.

Drinks cost between 2€-4€, there is a big variety of hot drinks (tea, coffee, etc.) / soft drinks and alcohol (beer and wine).

Mountain guide tipping is optional and can vary depending on the traveler’s satisfaction with the service provided. The usual tip is about 50 euro per day per group.

This tour is typically run from mid-May through October.