Guided Hike to the top of Olympus (Mytikas Summit)

Climb to the summit of Mytikas, the top of Mount Olympus, and enjoy a legendary hike in Greece that will connect you with its mountains and mythology!

Group

Olympus

2 Days

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Fit

Intermediate

Highlights

Climb to the highest point in Greece.
Enjoy an exciting adventure that involves hiking and scrambling.
Discover one of the most emblematic mountains of Europe.

Description

Climbing to the Olympus summit is an obtainable goal and one that you should definitely aim for if you are in Greece. The highest point of the country is renowned for its mythological and natural value.

On this 2-day hike, we will climb to the top of Mytikas (2918m/9574ft) with an overnight stay at Spilios Agapitos hut. On average, we will hike around 4 hours the first day and 8 hours the second. covering a total distance of 18km and an estimated 1800m altitude gain. It will be an exciting adventure that will allow you to enjoy the full splendor of Olympus under the guidance of a professional that will not only show you the way but also keep you safe.

The program starts and ends in Litochoro, from where we will drive to the trailhead in Prionia. You can find a detailed description of the itinerary below.

Please keep in mind that you will need a good fitness level to join this tour. You should also be comfortable with heights. During the last stretch of our climb, we will use a rope, harness, and helmet (which we will provide) to scramble up to the Mytikas summit.

Join us on this amazing adventure! Send us a request and let's start planning your Olympus climb together! You can join us on one of these 2-day tours or inquire about longer, custom Olympus climbs as well. We look forward to guiding you!

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transportation start and back

- Mountain guide expenses

- Rope

- Harness

- Helmet

- Trekking poles

Price details

WHAT IS INCLUDED

• Experienced English speaking guide

• Guide’s expenses

• 1 night accommodation in the mountain hut

• Trekking poles

• Local Transfer Litochoro – Prionia & Prionia – Litochoro.

• Safety Climbing Equipment (helmet, climbing harness, rope)

• Photos and videos during the activity

• VAT

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Personal expenses.

• Breakfast, meals, snacks and beverages on the refuge.

• Optional gratuities to the tour leader/guides

• Anything not mentioned as included

• Transfer to/from Litochoro (contact us if you need assistance on your arrangements)

• Accommodation in Litochoro before/after the hike (contact us if you need assistance on your arrangements)

Itinerary

Day 1: Litochoro-Prionia-Spilios Agapitos hut

Our day will normally begin in the morning at 9.30 in Litochoro’s central square. After a short briefing about our day’s hike, we will drive towards the trailhead (Prionia 1100m) (20-30 minutes).

In Prionia, we will park our car and prepare our gear for the hike. Prionia is the highest point which can be reached by car (it is 18 km from Litochoro).

We will take the route from Prionia (1.100 m) to Spilios Agapitos Refuge (2.1000 m), the most frequented hiking path on Mount Olympus and part of the E4 European trail.

The trail is in good condition and mostly through a shady forest. We will constantly move uphill to the Spilios Agapitos hut, at an altitude of 2.100m. This legendary resting spot is surrounded by impressive age-old Bosnian pine trees. We will enjoy a good meal and a good night's rest, and prepare for summit day.

Day 2: Summit Day

We will enjoy an early breakfast with a view at 5.30 am, on the hut balcony.

At 6.30, we will leave the hut following the European E4 trail away from the forest towards and alpine zone. This relatively steep trail is quite popular and offers a magnificent view of the whole eastern region of Olympus.

In approximately 2 or 2.5 hours we will reach Skala peak at 2866m, where we will t stop for rest and prepare our gear (helmet and climbing harness) to summit Mytikas. From Skala (2866m), we can catch sight of Skolio peak (2911m), Agios Antonios peak (2815m) and of course, Mytikas peak (2918m).

Kakoskala is the name of the ridge that we will follow on our way to the summit. In approximately 1 hour of partly technically, easy scrambling will make it to the top of Mytikas at 2.918 m. the highest peak in Greece! During the ascent, you will be attached to the guide’s rope and offered advice and guidance.

Later, we will begin our descent back to the refuge, via the same route, and normally will arrive there by 12.00-12.30 pm. Once at the hut, we will rest and have lunch before hiking for a couple of hours back to Prionia. Then, we will drive back to Litochoro with an amazing memory as a souvenir.

Details

Accommodation

Mountain hut (1 night), included in the price.

Meeting point

9.30 am, Litochoro central square

Equipment you will need to bring

Other gear: •Hike or trail running shoes (with a good traction/non-slippery) •Hiking backpack of 40-60lt. with padded straps and a waist belt. You should leave extra space in your backpack to carry a helmet and a climbing harness (which we will provide). •A water bottle (at least 1-1.5 lt) - energy bars/snacks. •Waterproof jacket or a windbreaker with hood (windbreaker pants recommended) •Shorts and long trousers for walking, ideally quick-drying material •2 dri-fit (technical) t-shirts. •One long sleeve t-shirt •Warm clothing for the night, (fleece top, long thermal underwear,2 pair of socks) •Sunglasses, hat, sun-cream •Warm gloves, beanie (recommended) •Sleepimg bag (blankets available in the hut) •Personal toiletries, small towel •Head-lamp (recommended) •Simple first aid kit (plasters/blister kit, painkiller, antiseptic) Try to keep your backpack as light as possible, and carry only the essentials. An additional equipment list depending the period or weather conditions may be communicated beforehand to the participants. If you don't have any of the equipment, please let us know so that we can make arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of the year for this hike?

Can I join a group?

Are there any other special requirements such as permits/insurance/vaccines that I need to consider before the tour?

What experience do I need to have? How fit do I need to be? Is this program suitable for children or older people?

How do I get to Litochoro?

How will accommodation and meals be handled during the trek?

What health related issues do I need to consider?

What should I bring with me?

How can I get to the trailhead/meeting point?

Where do we sleep in the refuge?

What is included in the price?

What is the average distance and altitude gain that we will hike each day?

About the guide

Stavros

4.69

(13)

Mountain Leader

A certified Mountain Leader and a member of the Greek Mountain Leader Association (HMLA). An experienced mountaineer, having attained several courses by the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering & Climbing and also an active trail runner, having participated and finished some well established endurance/ultra races (UTMB, TDS, CCC). Speaks fluent English, has a BLS/AED first aid certification, and also holds a Master’s and Bachelor degree in Marketing and Business Administration.

Languages

English | Greek

Certificates

HMLA

What people are saying about this trip

Steluta Balan

5.00

September, 2023

The traveller did not leave a comment.

John Baron

5.00

August, 2023

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Charles Anderson

5.00

July, 2023

What an amazing trip. It was truly an experience I will never forget and always cherish. The whole trip went exactly according to the itinerary. Stavros is not only very professional but also a wonderful person to spend time with. I had never climbed a mountain before and Stavros made me feel very safe and his instructions were always clear and to the point. I learned a lot from the experience and will without a doubt do it again. Mt Olympus is simply sublime. It is a challenge to make it to Mytikas but with Stavros' guidance it is attainable and well worth the sore legs after. Thank you so much!!!!

Pronit Dutta

5.00

June, 2023

Best experience - Stavros was detailed, set expectations, and provided a lot of support. Thank you!

Elizabeth Stierle

5.00

June, 2023

Stavros was amazing! We are so thankful that he was our guide. He knew exactly what to say and do in every situation. He calmed us down when we were anxious/scared, encouraged us through every step and instructed us to the summit. He was great company and an exceptional guide!

Jessie Biddle

5.00

June, 2023

The trip was amazing and Stavros Chasapidis was very knowledgeable and a good guide. He was extremely responsive over whatsapp and answered questions I had months in advance of the trip. Explore-Share's website was complicated to navigate and it was tricky to find trip information.

shankar subramaniam

5.00

June, 2023

Stavros is a very safety conscious guide. We hiked on a day with very strong winds and snow on the trail. Stavros ensured that we were safe throughout.

Derek Kwok

5.00

May, 2023

Great trip! Stavros is very safety-conscious, has a lot of experience in this and other mountain climbs, and knows Mt. Olympus very well, so you are in great hands with him. He also paces well and stops frequently to check if you’re keeping up so he can adjust his pace. He also provides the essential equipment like sticks, helmets, harnesses, and crampons (if needed). We were unfortunately not able to summit Mytikas or Skolio due to it being extremely windy the day we went, but we went high enough to see the amazing views and landscapes. You do have to be decently fit to do this climb, not like super athlete fit, but at least able to climb uphill for extended periods of time without any issues; especially because it’s practically an uphill climb for hours. Just getting to the refuge is 3-4 hours of mostly walking uphill on uneven surfaces. The refuge we stayed at was the Spilios Agapitos, and it had great food (as far as refuges go), decently comfortable beds, and was pretty spacious.

Christopher Attard

5.00

September, 2022

Excellent guide. Knowledgeable, fun, enthusiastic. Highly recommended. Cheers!