Lousios Gorge - Hiking Trail (Peloponnese, Greece)

Situated in Peloponnese, Greece, it is a 15 Kms long canyon, running north to south with an approximate width of 2 Kms. Situated in an impressive mountain area, with small picturesque villages and cliff hanging monasteries, it is very popular with hikers. The topography, dense vegetation, Lousios River (that runs through it), intermittent waterfalls, monasteries that appear to be literally hanging from the cliffs, and the archaeological site of Ancient Gortys all contribute to some excellent, fascinating hiking trails. However, during rainy days, the gorge is dangerous to cross and is not permitted.

At the end of the gorge is the municipality of Dimitsana, a typical example of Arcadian architecture. The amphitheatrically construction of the village over river Lousios, on an altitude of 1000m, the spectacular view of Megalopolis lowland and Mount Taygeto, the tall stone built houses and the stone paved lanes, all create an atmosphere of nobility and charm.

At the other side of the gorge is the ancient city of Gortys with the Temple of Asclepius.

The gorge is encircled with the Karytaina-Dimitsana Road to the east and several other rural, zig-zag roads and trails.

The Monasteries to look out for would be:

The Byzantine Monastery of Philosophou - Situated on the riverbank, it was established in 963 and was dedicated to the “Assumption of Holy Mary”. This is the place were during the period of Turkish Domination the famous “School of Dimitsana” and the “Secret School” were based.

Another monastery worth exploring is Monastery of Prodromou.

For more details on the area click on the following link: travel down-lousios-gorge-to-old-arcadia

Hiking in Greece - The Great Outdoors

When to go?

If you want to ensure perfect weather for hiking, the best is to go either between mid-April and mid-June, OR between mid-September and end of October. The summer months may be too hot for some, but if you take it easy and you avoid walking in the middle of the day, you can have a wonderful trekking experience in the summer as well. During the winter, the weather can range from sunny and warm (temperatures may go up to 20 degrees) to freezing and snowing, with rainy days in between.

Where to go?

Anywhere! It simply depends on your inclinations and what else you want to do during your holidays. During the summer, you may prefer the cooler mountains air, and during the winter, island walks can be an almost spiritual experience. But we would recommend a hike through at least one of Greece three famous gorges:

Vikos gorge - Epirus
Lousios gorge - Peloponnese
Samaria gorge - Crete

Check my other blogs for more details on Vikos & Lousios