Kissavos Trekking and Bus Safari
Touring mount Kissavos on a 4-wheel drive! A scenic route crossing the mountain range of Kissavos on a mini bus.
Kissavos which is also known with the name Ossa is a part of the mountain ranges of Thessaly and is south of Tempi and Peneus, opposite mount Olympus. Its peak, Profitis Elias, reaches 1.978m high. The mountain is gifted with amazing valleys, imposing gorges, rushing rivers and gorgeous hiking routes.
Its slopes are lush with thick forests! Fir trees, pines, beech trees, oaks, chestnut trees and crystal clear waters that flow in the mountain streams create an environment of unparallel natural beauty! Because of its great biodiversity, mount Kissavos is an actual Botanical Garden.
Touring mount Kissavos on a 4-wheel drive or a mini bus is an opportunity to discover the hidden treasures of this relatively unknown mountain of Thessaly.
With 4-wheel drive vehicles we can cross thick forests and rivers following forrest roads. We visit amazing mansions and historical monasteries of the area.
The drive through majestic mountain landscapes, thick forests and the view of the sea on the horizon will remain unforgettable. In a place like this, the mountain fuses with the sea, history with legend and culture with tradition. With our starting point the picturesque sea resort of Velika we tour Kissavos and enjoy its pleasures with all our senses.
Suggested route
Velika – Agiokampos – Aghia – Metaksochori (village of the artists) – Megalovriso – Anatoli
We will make a stop at the small picturesque square of Anatoli village and afterwards we will visit the multinational women’s monastery of Anatoli. There we will have the exceptional chance to meet up and interact with the hospitable nuns who will welcome us with a local beverage.
Afterwards they will take us for a tour in the floors of the monastery where, with a lot of effort, they produce and package all their products and herbs that we come across in Kissavos. Leaving behind the village of Anatoli we will go on in a frantic course to the destination of Spilia (the highest altitude village of Kissavos) in an off-road path testing the limits of our vehicles.
16 km up the road we reach the position *Kanalos where we find the mountain shelter of Kissavos. From then on we will continue our ascent to the peak of the mountain at 1978 m.
The peaks of Olympus, the bay of Thermaikos, mount Athos and the Sporades islands is the riveting view that we will be faced with from the top of the mountain. It is worth mentioning that the 1978 m is the roof of the little chapel of Profitis Elias that is dug beneath our feet and during the civil war used to be a guerilla hideout!
*Our trekking to the top of the mountain is a 1.30 hour ascent and 1 hour descent.
From this alpine landscape we will choose a scenic route down through the lush slope of the mountain to reach Arioprino – Karitsa – Kokkino Nero where we will soothe with a dip in the thermal baths and do beaute with natural clay or mud baths.
Our tour continues towards Koutsoupia – Paliouria – Velika or for the historical Ampelakia.
*The tour can be planned with various alternatives in relation to the starting point, the time and the places that every group wants.
*Several kilometers of the tour are off road.
Duration
6 hours
Degree of difficulty
Easy
Terms of participation
Average physical condition
6 years and over
Provided
Mini Bus or 4-wheel drive vehicles
Experienced and certified guides
Civil liability insurance
All the legal taxes
INFORMATION
WHAT DO I HAVE TO HAVE WITH ME ?
Waterproof jacket
Comfortable shoes and clothes suitable for walking
Hat
Spare clothes in case of getting wet
Baton (optional)
Water flask
Backpack