Greece has always been a popular holiday destination from Santorini, Athens, Crete and Mykonos, but planted in the mountains of Epirus is the gorgeous region of Zagori.
Home to 46 stunning stone villages known as Zagorohoria, all surrounded by deep forests and high mountains, the region is full of great hiking trails to really take in the beautiful landscapes.
The area doesn’t see many tourists, which makes it the perfect place to escape.
Unlike other Greek hotspots, Zagori offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature. The region’s national park, Vikos Aoos is home to a great number of wildlife, including 120 different bird species.
One of Europe’s last free-flowing and cleanest rivers also runs through Zagori. The Voidmatis River is made up of calm, clear blue waters that are also calm, making it the ideal environment to try out river rafting.
In September 2023, Zagori was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List where the region was praised for its “traditional architecture [that] adapted to the mountain topography”.
Of all the villages, Monodendri is one of the region’s most picturesque. Hosting beautiful two-story mansions, the village is built at a height of 1,060 metres. The village provides a view of the Monastery of St. Paraskei from far.
Or take a visit to the village of Iliochori, where you can enjoy a calming hike to see the three amazing waterfalls that form into two natural emerald-coloured pools.
One thing you must be sure not to miss out on is the beautiful bridges and stone paths that connect the villages together. The stone bridges were built by local craftsmen and used to move between the villages until a modern road network opened in the 1950s.
The stone paths and bridges are known to appear as something that has come straight out of a fairytale, adding that extra touch to the various hiking trails across the region.
This part of Greece is truly a hidden gem, with its incredible landscapes and unique villages, it gives a chance to pause, reset and take in the world’s beauty.