5-day Self-guided trek along the E4 Trail to the top of Mount Taygetus (2,404m), Peloponnese
This 5-day self-guided trek along the E4 Trail to the top of Mount Taygetus (2,404m) in Peloponnese, Greece, is organized by the certified guides from Trekking Hellas, and it will lead you through some of the best natural scenery in Greece, taking in ancient villages and landmarks on the way to the summit of Taygetus.
Private
Taygetus
5 Days
Apr - Oct
High
Intermediate
Highlights
* Hike to the summit of the amazing and towering Mt. Taygetus (2404m)!
* Walk through stunning fir and pine forests along the trail
* Discover and explore ancient ruins, villages and towns
* Walk along the famous "royal road" between Arkina and Messinia
Description
Join me on this fascinating, fun and wonderful 5-day self-guided trek along the E4 Trail to the top of Mount Taygetus (2,404m), Peloponnese, an area of Greece renowned for its wild and untamed natural beauty featuring vast tracts of forest leading to ancient and medieval towns and villages, with the towering and majestic Mount Taygetus looming high above all.
Mount Taygetus is nestled within the overall Taygetus Mountain Range in the Peloponnese peninsula in the South of Greece, and has long featured in ancient Greek mythology and literature. It overlooks the cities of Sparti and Kalamata, and is an extremely popular hiking destination in Europe.
Our journey begins on the 1st day in the archaeological site and former town of Mystras, and this day is dedicated to exploring this gorgeous place, with its ancient ruins and fortress, palace, churches and monasteries an official UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 2 is when the proper trekking begins in earnest, as we set off from Mystras and wind around the E4 Trail for approximately 3.5-4 hours, allowing ample time to admire and take in the dramatic landscapes around us.
After an overnight stay in the cute village of Anavriti, we then trek for 5 hours through some of the most beautiful surroundings of the trail, with masses of fir and pine forests lining the route, creating a tranquil and delightful vibe.
Day 4 is the undoubted highlight of the trip, as we scale the peak of the mighty Mount Taygetus, offering sweeping panoramic views out over the Evrotas Valley, Kalamata and Arcadia. The views are truly breath-taking and jaw-dropping, and you will want to make sure you bring your camera!
The 5th and final day entails hiking along the famous “royal road”, a superb stretch between the ancient cities of Arkina and Messinia that takes in the wonderful Vassiliki Forest.
Our adventure ends at the end of day 5, hopefully having made you fall in love with this special part of Greece.
Experience the best of Greece on this magnificent trail – book now so you don’t miss out!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Lunch
- Luggage transfer
Price details
Price also includes:
Lunch box on days 2,3,4,5
Dinner in mountain shelter on days 3,4
Price does not include:
Transport to Sparta/Mystra and from Gytheio to next destination
Entrance fees in Mystras
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Sparta - Mystras
Arrive at Sparta and settle to your hotel in Mystras.
Spend the rest of your day, sightseeing hiking in Mystra Byzantine citadel. Mystras was a fortified town in Morea (a.k.a. the Peloponnese), on Mt. Taygetus, near ancient Sparta. Mystras was built as an amphitheater around the fortress erected in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William of Villehardouin. Reconquered by the Byzantines, then occupied by the Turks and the Venetians, the city was abandoned in 1832, leaving only the breathtaking medieval ruins, standing in a beautiful landscape. In 1989 the ruins, including the fortress, palace, churches, and monasteries, were named a UNESCO’s World Heritage site.
Overnight at Mystras http://www.mystrasinn.gr/ (or similar).
Day 2: Hike to Anavryti Village
From Mystras we follow the E4 trail for about another 3,5 – 4 hours until reaching the picturesque village of Anavriti.
O/N Anavriti guesthouse https://kaneltrekking.gr/en/ (or similar).
Day 3: Hiking Anavriti - Lakkomata - Shelter EOS of Sparti (Altitude 1550m)
Distance: 12 km / approx. 5 hours trekking.
After breakfast depart on a 5-hour hike (approximately) from Anavriti village to the shelter of the Hellenic Mountaineering Association of Sparti. The path passes through cultivated areas as well as through fir and pine forests. It is a route of great beauty.
O/N Shelter EOS of Sparti.
Day 4: Shelter EOS of Sparti - Mt. Taygetus Peak Profits Ilias (Altitude 2404m)
Today, enjoy a 2½ – 3 ascend up to the peak of Mt. Taygetus.
The peak is renowned for its pyramid shape and its unique views. The view from the top includes most of the Evrotas valley and the Parnon range to the East, while the view towards the West includes Kalamata and the eastern half of Messenia. Most of the southwestern part of Arcadia can also be seen from the summit. The route is initially on a forested ground of Greek fir and black pine and then continues on the alpine zone with no trees.
Return to the shelter (another 2½ – 3 hrs).
O/N Shelter EOS of Sparti.
Day 5: Shelter EOS of Sparti - Vassiliki Forest - Arna.
Today we hike in the most popular antiquate passage of the region, the famous “royal road” that connected the ancient Arkina (an ancient city lost in the woods between Sparta and Gola) with Messinia. The road passes by the magnificent Vassiliki Forest that preserves today the name of the ancient road (Vassiliki means royal in Greek).
End of our unforgettable adventure.
Details
More info
A good level of fitness and experience is required for this hike.
Meeting point
Equipment you will need to bring
Water bottle
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Trekking
5.00
(5)
Tour Operator
Trekking Hellas is the largest and most renowned tour operator in Greece, in the outdoor holidays area. For over 33 years, we have been providing high quality services for individuals and groups, offering unique adventures in the most beautiful locations in the country, with highly qualified guides.
The variety of activities in offer is huge, from sea kayaking, hiking and rafting, to biking, via ferrata, rock climbing or gastronomy tours, among many others.
We operate 12 bases all over Greece, with different activities. The personnel in each base has the required qualifications to guide the specific activities we operate: eg. for hiking at low altitudes we work with experienced mountain guides with degrees from mountaineering associations and from our own training school; for sea kayaking we require the BCU certificate.
We contribute to the sustainable rural development by supporting local communities and offering work opportunities to their inhabitants, and the global effort to reduce over-tourism. We strongly embrace and implement a socially and environmentally responsible policy promoting the protection of nature and environmental awareness.
Our network makes it possible to offer and operate at the highest standards a variety of activities all over the country, in classic touristy destinations (Santorini, Athens, Crete, Rhodes, etc.) and less known regions of Greece (Tzoumerka, Karpenisi etc.).
Send us a request and come join us for a unique adventure in Greece!
Languages
Italian | German | French | English
What people are saying about Trekking
5.00
A wonderful experience! We were two people and we hiked several parts of the Menalon trail (self- guided) with Trekking Hellas. The reservation process was smooth. The office staff were very helpful and polite. They responded quickly to all our requests and helped us tailor the hike to our great satisfaction (Thank you Theodore for the patience!). After finalizing the trip details and completing the full payment- we got a detailed description of the trip with all the necessary contacts, including a very useful gpx file of the trail. In the hike itself, everything went smoothly. On the first day we met a guide, who gave us a map of the trail, and advised us about the trail. The company was responsible enough to tell us in advance about part of the trail that was wrecked during the winter (they even pre-arranged a taxi that waited for us in the middle of the hike and transferred us to a nearby point). The villages we arrived at were beautiful (We especially like Dimitsana and Vytina. The hotels were lovely, and the staff were always friendly and helpful. One final tip: The hikes are great but they are not easy. We highly recommend that you read the trail specifications in advance and choose to walk only the parts that fit your needs. In some cases, the advised hikes may be too long. For example, day 3 of the suggested itinerary includes roughly 19.1 km (Dimitsana- Zygovitsi-Elati). Given that the trail is ascending and descending - this means a very long day. We only walked Zygovitsi-Elati (15km; enough for us), but we met a family who did walk the entire path and walked for 11 hours on that day. While it is doable, we recommend that you make your choices in advance -so that the you enjoy your vacation. We wish you a nice stay in Greece. According to our experience, with Trekking Hellas you are in good hands. This not the first time we booked tours with Trekking Hellas, and probably will not be the last. Highly recommended!
5.00
The Menalon trail is a very nice and versatile walking path of about 75km in center Greece. We decided to take the self guided trek offered by Trekking Hellas because it saved us the burden of searching for accommodations along the path, and also they take care of transferring our luggage from hotel to hotel, so we can carry minimum weight when walking. I must say our experience was great. We got prompt support before and during the vacation. All arrangements worked perfectly. Every hotel owner knew us and prepare a nice lunch box for the day walk, so we did not have to think about that as well. All hotels selected where highly rated ones. This not the first time we booked tours with Trekking Hellas, and probably will not be the last. Highly recommended!
Natasja
5.00
George offered great introduction and guidance. Very patience and increased the level of climbing according to the participants. Great experience!
Yvonne
5.00
Our first time with Explore-Share. An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. Extremely good value, very well organised with attention to detail. We travel widely and this has by far been the best of experiences. Well done to all concerned. We are already looking at booking another trip!
Galen
5.00
George was a great guide, fun to talk to, informative, and attentive to safe. We all made great friends with him, and had a great experience.
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