Last Updated on 05/22/2025 by Lindsey
Dreaming of hiking in one of Greeceโs most breathtaking landscapes? The Zagori trail hikes in the Pindus Mountains offer everything from short, scenic walks to rugged, multi-day treksโincluding the legendary Vikos Gorge, often called Greeceโs Grand Canyon. When I visited the Zagori Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO heritage site in northern Greece, I squeezed in a quick hike to a viewpoint that offers incredible views. But on a day trip, there just wasnโt enough time to tackle the full Vikos Gorge trekโitโs one youโll want to stay overnight for.
This post rounds up the best Zagori trail hikes. Whether youโre looking for a quick adventure or a more immersive Zagoria travel experience, keep reading to find the perfect hike!
Quick Zagori Trail Hike: Beloi Viewpoint
- Best for: Day hikers short on time
- Hike distance: 2.75 kilometers (1.7 miles) out and back
- Hiking time: 45-60 minutes
- Notable features: gorge views, tavern
Short on time? Do what I did and take this short day hike from the Beloi viewpoint, near the town of Vradeto.
You’ll hike from the village past farm fields with grazing cows to the Beloi viewpoint.
There a photo of me at the viewpoint above, and here is a closer look into Vikos Gorge.
The Beloi hike takes around 45 to 60 minutes one way. Here’s a link to the route on AllTrails.
Most of the hike is through open farm fields, with grasses and shrubs. The trail has very few markers, but the well-worn path through the grass shows you which way to go.
Since the terrain is exposed, without any shade, make sure to take plenty of water.
I’m not sure if we hit it at an off time, or if it was shoulder season (we visited Greece in September after summer crowds had gone home), but the Zagori region was not crowded.
If you’re looking for small villages in Greece that tourists don’t know about, Zagorochoria is still under the radar.
When we hiked the Beloi trail we encountered a couple of other hikers.
We mostly had the hike to ourselves, except for these adorable cows.
When we got to the epic viewpoint, we waited a couple of minutes for the group ahead of us to depart, then got to enjoy the rugged landscape and clear blue waters far below all by ourselves!
If you’re running low on water, there are some small shops and cafes in the Vradheto village square.
There is a small taverna in Vradheto, but a tour group occupied all the tables so sadly we were unable to sample their food.
You can make this hike slightly longer by adding on the Vradheto steps โ keep reading to learn how.
Half Day Vikos Gorge View Hike: Beloi Trail Plus Vradeto Steps
- Best for: Day hikers with a bit more time
- Hike distance: 5.8 kilometers (3.6 miles) out and back, including the Beloi viewpoint
- Hiking time: 2 -2.5 hours
- Notable features: steep stone stairs
Looking for a bigger challenge? Add the Vradeto Steps to the Beloi hike for a more rewarding โ and challenging โ adventure.
The Vradeto Steps (Skala Vradheto) are a 3.5 km zigzagging stone path that once served as the only access to the Zagori village of Vradeto.
The stairs look quite steep. And since they’re no longer the primary route to get around, they are covered in grass, which can be slippery when wet.
Thanks to switchbacks, the climb is more manageable than it looks. Still, hiking poles are a plus if you have them.
Looking for packable hiking poles? I love these Black Diamond trekking poles, which come apart to fit in my carryon.
The Vradeto Steps trail starts northeast of Kepesovo. Park at the fork in the road and look for a trail that leads down into the valley.
The trail winds down, crosses an old stone bridge, and then leads up to the famous Vradheto stairs, seen in the photo above.
The stairs lead up to the Vradheto village center, where you can linger over a coffee if you want a break.
From Vradeto, itโs easy to find the Beloi trail. Just walk along the road, passing by the church and the village buildings. The road intersects with a marked dirt track, which leads to the stunning gorge viewpoint shown in the first hike. If youโre lucky, youโll have that all to yourself like I did!
Like the Beloi hike, the Vradeto hike is one of the more popular Zagori trails. If you want the trail all to yourself, I recommend get an early start or visiting Zagorochoria outside of the peak summer months.
Half Day Zagori Villages Hike: Mikro Papigo to Megalo Papigo
- Best for: Families, day hikers
- Hike distance: 6.25 kilometers (3.8 miles) round trip
- Hiking time: 1.5 hours
- Notable features: stone bridges, rock pools
The Mikro Papingo to Papingo Zagori villages hike packs in everything Zagori is famous forโstone bridges, cobbled streets, lush forest, a swimming hole, and the Voidomatis river. It’s a short hike you can stretch into a full day by wandering the charming Papigo villages for a leisurely meal or better yet, an overnight stay.
The hike starts from the parking lot outside Mikrรณ Pรกpingo and winds past stone houses, cobbled streets, and the rushing Voidomatis river.
Follow yellow A19/T19 trail markers as you climb toward Megรกlo Pรกpingo. Paths lead up and down, offering views of hill villages and imposing rock formations โincluding the Astrรกka cliffs.
This post contains a full description of the Papigo rock pool hike.
Once in Megรกlo Pรกpingo, follow signs to the Avragรณnio trail and loop back down through switchbacks, forest, and a dry riverbed.
Walk past signs for Mikrรณ Pรกpingo to reach the Ovires rock pools, a perfect spot to swim or relax.
Itโs short enough to complete a half-day, but plan for more time โ especially if you want to beat the crowds or enjoy a wild swim.
Once you’re finished enjoying the cool waters, navigate back to the Mikrรณ Pรกpingo, crossing one of the across a charming stone bridges the Zagori region is known for.
Vikos Gorge โ Full Day Zagori Trail Hike
- Best for: Experienced hikers
- Hike distance: 12.5 kilometers
- Hiking time: 6 -8 hours
- Notable features: Cobblestone paths and bridges, wooden ladders, cliffs, exposed edges
Vikos Gorge is called the Grand Canyon of Greece, because of its dramatic cliffs, rocky landscape, and clear blue stream running down the bottom of the cliffs.
The gorge is 490 meters (1500 feet) deep.
Many hikes take you from the top of the cliff down into the gorge, along the bottom and back. The Monodrendi to Vikos option is the most popular option, though you can extend your trip by visiting the Zagori villages of Mikro Papigo and Megalo Papigo.
The trail from Monodendri to Vikos is marked with red and white trail markers. It’s fairly straightforward, with trail junctures flagged with plastic bags or markers.
The full Vikos Gorge trek takes six to eight hours depending on your level of fitness and which option you choose.
The trail can be challenging, with steep sections as you make your way from the village of Monodendri 300m down into the gorge.
From there, you’ll walk more slowly and gradually along a graded path, through woods and over cobblestone bridge, until you reach Vikos.
Ladders along the way can help you over the trickier sections of the trail, though you may still need to do some rock scrambling.
After around two hours, you’ll come to Megas Lakkos, where you can refill your water bottle from a natural spring.
After three hours of hiking Vikos Gorge, you’ll reach a split in the trail. Stay straight along the path you’e been following to head to Vikos via a steep path.
Or continue on the 03 marked route for an extended hike that takes you to the charming Zagori villages of Mikro Papigo and Megalo Papigo. This adds two hours to the hike time, for an 8 hour total hike.
You will need to stay in Zagorohoria the night before or after your journey, or factor in a long drive back to Ioannina, the closest big city, after a very full day of hiking. This guide to Zagorohoria covers where to stay in the region, so check it out if you’re looking for accommodation!
The Voidomatis river is good for dipping your feet in, not for drinking. So make sure you carry plenty of water and refill at Megas Lakkos when you get the chance.
The weather is very hot especially in the summer months, so get an early start.
There you have it – four Zagori hiking options to make the most of a trip to this unique region of northern Greece. Whether you’re a day tripper wanting to explore the Zagori villages’ famous cobblestone bridges and footpaths, a digital nomad in Greece looking for a quick but rewarding adventure, or experienced trekkers eager to hike the full gorge, adventure awaits. For more tips on exploring this breathtaking corner of Greece (one of my personal favorites!), check out my companion guide to visiting Zagorochoria.
