AMAZING VOURAIKOS
On Sunday the 23rd of April, SAS go to Peloponese for an … unforgettable experience, the ‘‘ Vouraikos Gorge ’’ ! The hike will take place from Diakopto seaside village to Zachlorou … mountain village and the return will be done by the traditional Rack railway … ‘‘ Odondotos ’’ !! Most part of the trail is along the tracks, so it’s an easy ascent with a total height difference of 600 m. Duration of this hike will be 5 to 6 hours, terrain is a little bit stony, so the difficulty could be considered as medium !
As we get in the Gorge the river that crosses it, becomes more and more rough, dozens waterfalls exist by the vertical slopes of the canyon and waters run everywhere. We have to pass over traditional bridges with … breathtaking views and the whole landscape is extremely spectacular !
Hiking boots are essential, a raincoat also for any case, as well as reliable equipment. The most important item this time, which is highly recommended, is the head-torch, since it will be very useful inside the tunnels while the slow-going trains cross with us … !! Meal or dinner could be taken at the end of the trekking in Zachlorou village at a tavern into the canyon under the ‘‘ Platania ’’ !
Because we’ll drive with our cars up to Diakopto, which is 160 km from Athens, the meeting point will be more, than any other time … complicated !! Central meeting point is at S.E.A. ‘‘ Megara ’’ on the Motorway to Korinthos at km 44 after passing the Elefsina tolls, where a Goodys and Flocafe exist for our quick … morning coffee at 07:50 ! Will drive as a convoy to Diakopto, where the final meeting point at 09:30 is, maybe also for some hikers coming from other parts of Greece ! For those who don’t have a car or don’t like to drive or for those who like to give a lift using their cars, please declare your intension, lift or space available with how many seats. Then we could communicate by e-mail and put another meeting point somewhere in Athens ! With this way we could reduce our transport expenses by sharing between the passengers ( petrol and new … hefty toll ), we calculated them at 75 €/ per car approximately, o.k. it depends if it’s a Cinquecento or … Cayenne !
Most important of all the arrangements is to book, everyone of us by his own, a ticket on the Rack Railway for the return from Zachlorou to Diakopto at 17:20 ( last train … ! ) and we think that this must be happen as soon as possible after the declaration for participating in this hike !
Keep in mind also that there are some other train stations along the trail, therefore someone could stop, in emergency, earlier, before Zachlorou and wait … to get back !
For reservation on Rack railway : https://www.odontotos.com/index-en.htm or Tel. Station Diakofto +302691 043206, Station Kalavrita +302692 022245
If you are interested in participating, please declare as soon as possible and not later than the 16th mid-day. Leader will be Georgos Foteinos, e-mail geoplanf@otenet.gr Emergency phone 6945 386255.
Important notice : Keep in mind that if you participate in an Athens Strollers and Hikers walk or hike, you do so for your fun and your pleasure at one hand but entirely at your own risk at the other. The Athens Strollers and Hikers is an internet social club and neither the organizers nor the leader are responsible for the safety of those taking part. For more information about that please refer to the ‘ Declaration of Tyrol ’.
Difficulty grades
Easy walks : 1,5– 2 hrs and height differences up to 100 m
Medium walks : 2 – 3 hrs and height differences up to 200 m
Hard walks : 3 – 4 hrs and height differences up to 400 m
Easy hikes : 3 – 5 hrs and height differences up to 500 m
Medium hikes : 5 – 7 hrs and height differences up to 750 m
Hard hikes : 7 hrs and up and height differences 750 m and up
Invitation : Anyone who likes to lead a future walk or hike please announce to us by e-mail referring to the place and the time he intends to take over this activity.
Deletion : Anybody who doesn’t like to receive anymore the invitations about our activities for any reason, please declare us his desire !!
Wish you a nice Sunday hike !
Georgos and Anna