A 2024 Guide to the Best Trails and Hikes in Peloponnese, Greece
It was news to us to learn that Greece is technically 80% mountainous and that we probably hadn’t heard much about hikes in Peloponnese because most vacationers visit in the summer. And as we know, the summer heat does not permit any formidable hikes. But, after spending a month during the spring in the peninsula, we quickly became quite obsessed with the nature the region has to offer.
To inspire others, we put together the guide below of our favorite hikes in Peloponnese. You can see they are divided into two sections, hikes and strolls. Strolls are much shorter and less demanding. They can probably be accomplished in the summer, especially outside of peak sun. The hikes, on the other hand, are fairly challenging and probably only worth attempting in the spring or fall.
Hikes – Best for Cool Days
Ridomo Gorge
This makes for a moderately difficult hike through the impressive Ridomo Gorge in Peloponnese. The hike has multiple entry points and can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on which one you choose. From what we can find, it is the second largest gorge in Greece. It has two main highlights, a very narrow section, which is an awe-inspiring experience, and an ancient stone bridge.
Do note that the gorge can at times fill up with water, after a big rain storm, making it nearly impossible to walk through. We were there in April and May and never experienced it, but have seen pictures that prove how different the gorge can become after some rain.
If you’re looking for some organized tours that will provide transportation and ensure you have everything you need during the hike, make sure to check out this tour. It will take you to the gorge directly from Kalamata and even includes a swim on the beach after the long hike.
Full Hikes: ~4 hours
If you’re looking for a workout you can search “Φαραγγι Ριντομο” on Google Maps. If you follow the trail head and descend into the gorge, you’ll start from the lower, wider section of the gorge and climb up to the narrow section. This takes about 4 hours and does require some climbing up large boulders. This hike is a big loop, so you end up exiting the canyon after passing through the narrow section.
The hike is quite demanding but very rewarding given the views of the narrow passage towards the end.
Shorter Hikes: ~2 hours
If you’re looking for easier and shorter options, there are two available. You could simply walk the back half of the loop from the trailhead and then turn around after walking through the narrow section. There are apparently exits on both sides of the narrow section.
We also discovered after our hike that you could start the trail from Pigadia or Altomira. We can’t say anything from personal experience but it looks like a very good option based on the All Over Greece site. They even posted a video on the highlights of the hike.
Profitis Ilias
If you’re looking for hikes in Peloponnese, Profitis Ilias is a must. It is the twelfth highest peak in Greece, the highest in the Mani peninsula, and is known for the 360-degree view at its summit, where you can see as far as Africa on a clear day. It is part of the Taygetus mountain range and there are multiple ways to reach this peak, ranging from a couple of hours hike to a couple of days.
For us weekend hikers, the only realistic option was the few hours option starting from the EOS refuge. There are multiple ways to get to this refuge but each one requires at least 8 to 10km of dirt roads. The safest bet seems to be driving from Mangariari spring. We can’t be sure since we came from the side of Penteli.
Unfortunately, you really can’t rely on Google Maps or probably any other service here. According to Google Maps, there is no road from Mangarian Spring to EOS, but based on what we read online, there definitely is and it seems to be the better option.
Even coming from the village of Penteli, the options Google automatically selects seems to be either the less cared for option or the road which is more susceptible to runoff. We didn’t make the drive up to the refuge because ¾ of the way up, half of the road was missing. Only on our way down did we learn that there is a more reliable road if you chose to come from the Mangarian Spring.
From the refuge, it’s about a 2 – 3 hour hike to the summit. The hike is what we would call intermediate with amazing views the entire time. It does have some rocky and uneven lies, especially if you visit in the Spring where there still might be pockets of snow, so make sure to where good shoes. However, we really can’t tell you too much about the entire hike since we had too much fun in the snow and never made it to the top.
Strolls – Good for Any Time of the Year
Rema Mili Delta Within Ridomo Gorge
Ridomo Gorge is the longest gorge of Mount Taygetus in Peloponnese. It starts from the summit of the Profitis Illias mountain and runs all the way to Sandova Beach. To our knowledge, no one really hikes the whole thing and it might not even be possible. But, we were staying near Sandova Beach and realized that the Rema Mili Delta in this part of the canyon made for a nice little stroll.
You first start by driving your car through an olive tree farm. You can park it really wherever you like and then start hiking. We made it into one of our dog Piper’s daily walks. It’s scenic and beautiful in the spring with flowering vines and nesting birds on the cliffs. Even a little wildlife (one turtle).
Now it feels a little disingenuous to label this as one of our favorite hikes since we didn’t do it but we just had too much fun on the beach and ran out of time. Consider it on our bucket list, but we would still recommend it. While relaxing on Voidokilia Beach, we watched a few groups start walking up the mountain dunes and noticed it was actually a trail.
From what we read, the hike takes you to the top of Old Navarino Castle, through Nestor’s Cave. From the castle, you can see the entire beach, with big payoffs in the form of wildlife, sea vistas, and old ruins. For a nice breakdown of this hike, make sure to check out this helpful article.
We also recommend checking out this cycling trip around the area. It starts in the town of Gialova and descends all the way to the coastline, reaching the Gialova Lagoon. You’ll get to ride through the dunes until you reach Voidokilia Beach.
Polylimnio Waterfalls
This is an easy, short hike but kind of slippery at times. You may end up getting your feet wet as you have to cross the river a few times. The hike takes you past multiple small pools of water where you’ll see people relaxing. At the “end” of the hike, you’ll find the Polylimnio Waterfalls, but the whole walk takes about 30 minutes from the parking lot.
From the falls, you can either go back the way you came as we did, or apparently, there is a fairly steep ascent up the waterfall which is more of a round trip option.
And if you’re looking to visit the falls but don’t have a car, make sure to check out this tour from Kalamata. You’ll get a guide who’ll tell you all about the area, guide you through the falls, and can pick you up or drop you off directly from the hotel.
Tenaro Lighthouse
This is another very easy hike with a nice payoff. It’s a straight hike along the coast to the lighthouse at the southernmost point of the Greek mainland, within Peloponnese. You’ll take a windy and narrow road, all the way to Kokkinogia village, where you can park your car. From there, you’ll have to continue on foot.
You’ll get to see the temple in honor of the gates of Hades, as well as Roman baths, and you can continue on foot for about 35 minutes until you reach a large, stone lighthouse. The path is not too difficult, but it is rocky and can get quite windy as you approach the lighthouse, so make sure to bring comfortable shoes.
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