6-Hour Hiking Tour at Stone Bridges & Traditional Villages of Central Zagori
Highlights
Ioannina
trekking, architectural, cultural
Private Tour
6 Hours
Easy
English
Description
Zagori is one of the most beautiful mountainous regions in Greece and is famous for its traditional villages and stone bridges. Generally, the inaccessibility of the area combined with many rivers and streams, especially during the winter months, required in the past the construction of bridges. The «golden age» of Zagori has allowed wealthy families to fund expensive and sometimes unsuccessful village connection projects. Today, about 60 bridges are preserved in very good condition, and there are testimonies about another hundred that have been destroyed.
Itinerary
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Kipoi Village
The starting point is a Kipi (translates to gardens) village built on a hill at an altitude of 750m. The main distinguishing characteristic of the village is its gardens, which are surrounded by a river embellished by stone bridges.
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Plakida or Kalogeriko bridge
We continue to the most popular three arched stone bridge of “Plakida or Kalogeriko”. It was built as a wooden bridge and later on (1814AD) it was reconstructed as a stone bridge by the Abbot Serafeim. The length is 54m, width is 3,15m and the highest point is 6,7m. This bridge connects villages Kipi, Dilofo and Koukouli
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Kapetan Arkoudas bridge
Easy hiking route towards Dilofo village leads us to the second single arched stone bridge of “Kapetan Arkoudas” (Captains’ Bear Bridge), built in 1806AD. First name was “Xeropotamos bridge”. On August 6, 1906, the Ottoman army killed Captain-Bear, a Macedonian chieftain, and at that time, the bridge was named after him. This bridge connects villages Kipi, Dilofo and Vitsa
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Kokkoris or Noutsos bridge
Third stone bridge is “Kokkoris or Noutsos” single arched stone bridge the most well known bridge in Zagori area. It was built in 1750AD, length is 35m, width is 2,5m and the highest point is 13m.
At the same time there was another bridge, which they also used to punish the zoo: In order to find out if a suspect was a zooist, they forced him to cross the bridge, carrying a goat on his back. If he passed by or admitted his act, he was acquitted. Otherwise, his punishment was drowning in the river. This bridge connects villages Kipi, Dilofo and Koukouli
At the side of the bridge there’s an amazing climbing field for advanced climbers
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Misios bridge
We walk beside the river banks and we find the next double arched stone bridge is “Misios” built in 1748 and connects villages Koukouli, Vitsa and Monodendri. The length is 37m, width is 3m and the highest point is 10m. It is located in the entrance of the main part of Vikos gorge. It follows the stone steps towards Vitsa and Koukouli villages
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Koukouli village
We hike towards to traditional village of Koukouli through the stone steps of Koukouli and we explore the village which is dated from the 13th century. At the village there’re lots of traditional houses, the complex of the old school, arches, fountains and the church of Virgin Mary one of the best churches in Zagori area. We relax drinking refreshment or a coffee and we continue through the stone steps between Koukouli and Kipi villages
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Lazaridis bridge
The last bridge of our hiking tour is the single arched stone bridge of Lazaridis which was built in 1753, beside another climbing field for advanced climbers. The name of Lazaridis comes from a local trader who owned a watermill beside the bridge. At that place the first part of Vikos gorge ends and we observe the cliffs beside the river. This stone bridge connects the villages, Kapesovo and Koukouli with Kipoi
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Kipoi Village
At the end of the tour, we will walk to Kipoi village and taste local recipes.
What's Included
What's Excluded
What To Bring
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
Adult | |
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1 to 4 | /person |
5 to 8 | /person |
9 to 12 | /person |
Child | |
1 to 4 | /person |
This is a private tour |