The Menalon Trail: A Mythical Arcadian Journey
In the heart of the Peloponnese peninsula lies Arcadia, a land steeped in mythology and the home of Pan, the god of the wild. The Menalon Trail, Greece's first internationally certified hiking path, winds for 75 kilometres through this storied region.
Divided into eight sections, the trail connects traditional stone villages, deep river gorges, and dense fir forests. Hikers will encounter remarkable historical sites, including cliffside monasteries like the 17th-century New Philosophou Monastery and the ruins of the Old Philosophou Monastery, which dates back to 963 A.D. The path follows old mule tracks past the acropolis of the ancient city of Methydrion and the Lousios River gorge, where watermills once produced gunpowder for the Greek Revolution. This route is more than a hike; it's an immersion into a landscape where myth and history are inseparable.
The Corfu Trail: Coastlines and Monasteries
Stretching for over 200 kilometres from the island's south to its northernmost point, the Corfu Trail offers a completely different perspective on this popular Ionian island. Established in 2001, the trail guides walkers away from busy resorts and into a landscape of quiet olive groves, juniper-forested dunes, and picturesque villages. The route is dotted with historical treasures, from crumbling 18th-century monasteries and abandoned Byzantine-era relics to old manor houses. One of the highlights is the trek towards Mount Pantokrator, the island's highest peak, where a 17th-century monastery still operates, offering incredible views. The trail reveals a quieter, more traditional side of Corfu, linking the natural beauty of its coastline with centuries of human history.
The Paths of Delphi: Walking to the Oracle
While most visitors come to Delphi for its world-famous archaeological site, the surrounding slopes of Mount Parnassus are crisscrossed with ancient paths that offer a deeper connection to this sacred place. One of the most significant hikes leads to the Corycian Cave, a vast grotto once dedicated to the god Pan and the nymphs. Ancient pilgrims used these very routes to ascend the mountain for worship. The trail, which is part of the longer E4 European path, climbs through fir forests and offers breathtaking views over the valley of olive groves and the distant Corinthian Gulf. Another path follows the ancient route from the port of Kirra, tracing the footsteps of visitors who arrived by sea to consult the Oracle. These hikes provide not just stunning scenery, but a palpable sense of the spiritual journey that defined ancient Delphi.
Crete: Gorges and Ancient Minoan Roads
The island of Crete, home to the ancient Minoan civilization, is a paradise for hikers seeking dramatic landscapes with deep historical roots. The Samaria Gorge, one of the longest in Europe, is a challenging but rewarding 16-kilometre trek through a national park in the White Mountains. Along the way, hikers pass by the abandoned village of Samaria and ancient Byzantine relics, a testament to the gorge's history as a refuge. For long-distance walkers, the E4 European Path crosses the length of Crete, connecting remote villages, coastal paths, and mountainous terrain. This trail passes through regions like the Amari Valley, filled with ancient olive trees and Byzantine churches, and near the Ideon Cave, the mythological birthplace of Zeus. These Cretan paths offer a rugged adventure through layers of history, from Minoan times to the present day.
