According to ancient Greek mythology, Olympus, the place where Zeus lived, is one of the regions which nature lovers and rock climbers cannot give up on. The last summit of Mytikas, which is also the highest peak of Greece seems easy, but it has caused many mountaineers to lose their lives.
Olympus Mountains are one of the most favorite destinations of nature tourism in Greece. The number of nature and mountain enthusiasts pouring in the Olympus Mountains instead of going to the Greek islands for vacation is not so small, at all. The first stop to reach Olympus Mountains is Thessaloniki, one of the largest cities of Greece. It takes one and half hour by plane, 10 hours by bus and 12 hours by train from Istanbul to Thessaloniki. In summer, many companies have shuttle bus to Thessaloniki every day. If you take the bus in evening hours, you’ll fall asleep after passing the Greece border over Ipsala (entry point to Greece from Turkey) and then, you’ll wake up to Thessaloniki. That’s why, taking bus can be a preferable choice for those who find flights expensive.
The Greek version of the Alpine towns: Litohoro
You can reach Litochoro town located in the foothills of Olympus Mountains from Macedonia Bus Terminal within such a short time as two hours. Hundreds of nature lovers visit the region for trekking and rock-climbing especially in summertime. Though Litochoro is a coastline town, its center is close to the mountains.
It is possible to find all kinds of accommodation and nice restaurants similar to Turkish taste. Even dried beans and stuffed vine-leaves are the most popular dishes of the town. Apart from that, you can eat all kinds of meat at Litochoro restaurants.
The hotels in the town are affordable, nice and clean. You can have a comfortable stay option for maximum 20 Euros a day including breakfast. The town also has some shops you can buy nature sports equipment.
The Ideal Walking-Track
The climbs to the three important summits of the Olympus Mountains, namely; Mytikas, Scolio and Skala start from the Prionia region, 15 km away from the town of Litochoro. It is possible to reach the Prionia district from the town in 20 minutes by paying 25 euros by taxi.
Starting from Prionia at a height of one thousand and 100 meters, the trail ends at the mountain house called 'Refuege A' at 2 thousand 100 meters. A thousand-meter wooded track is the ideal sporting venue for hikers of all ages. You will feel tired on the broad patio, not because of walking but greeting the hikers you meet every three steps. The main problem with long walk is the temperature approaching 40 degrees in summer. So, it's best to do this three-hour walk late in the evening or early in the morning.
Refuege A, at the height of 2 thousand 100 meters, also called Spelios Agapitos Mountain House, is a base for three summits of Olympus. The mountain hut was built on top of a valley with spectacular views. It even has a heliport for possible accidents. The mountain hut where 90 people can stay is only open during the summer season. In October, the hut closes its doors.
It is possible to find mountaineers and hikers from every nation here. Food can be found in the mountain house at all hours of the day. In other words, mountain climbers who want to climb the Olympus Mountains do not have to carry materials such as sleeping bags, food, and stoves. They can pay 15 euros per day accommodation. The price you need to pay for each meal is 8 euro.
Climbing starts
The first stop of the climb starting very early in the morning is the Scala peak of 2 thousand 866 meters. Mountaineers setting off from the walkway of the mountain house can easily reach Scala Peak within three hours. There is no technical difficulty on the route. Any healthy person can easily reach the Scala Peak. The Scala is also a passage way to climb the main summit Mytikas.
Mytikas is the highest summit of Greece and the Olympus Mountains. After reaching Scala, you can start climbing towards Mytikas by making a 100-meter descent. The Mytikas route can be seen easily from the Scala Peak.
Mytikas route is an unsettling track for those unfamiliar with rock-climbing. However, for those who know mountaineering rules it can be easily reached without opening a rope in the summer months. Especially due to the fact that the route is too steep and empty, enthusiasts should be careful about the climbing made without rope. Every year, we read the news of the mountaineers who have lost their life on the way to the summit of Mytikas.
It is not possible to lose the route on the way to the summit. The peak path can be found easily thanks to the red colors on the rocks. The climbing distance between Scala and the main summit Mytikas takes only one hour with a good tempo.
Mytikas peak is 2 thousand 918 meters high. It has a metal Greek flag and an Olympic flag symbolizing the Olympic Games on its top.
In mythology, after enjoying this legendary summit of Zeus's throne, you will start descending toward the mountain house where the climb begins. The descent from the rock track below the summit without the rope is one of the hardest parts of the mountain. Descending toward the mountain house lasts for two hours at most under normal conditions. Even if you are climbing in the summer months, you should definitely have a Gore-Tex coat for a possible rainfall, or at least you should have a trench coat.
On the day of the climbing, it is possible to get to the mountain house, from there to Prionia District and finally to Litochoro Town if you are in a good condition. At the same night, you can taste the journey to the thrones of the Gods with the delicious food of Litochoro
