Mount Taygetos is the highest mountain of the Peloponnese and both climbing its highest peak, Prophetes Elias (2404 m) as well as its other peaks and hiking consist a unique experience. Climbing and hiking are even more delightful since detailed maps and a proper labelling system lead climbers and hikers to their destination ensuring the greatest safety.
The restoration of a complete net of routes that link the mountain villages with each other or with the ones at the foot of the mountain comes within the scope of the Business Program for the Environment. This net is equipped with a complete labelling system and it usually involves average difficulty. One can choose from a variety of short or longer walks, of great or small difficulty etc.
Apart from hiking routes the experienced climber can choose among the following itineraries of unique beauty, some of which involve however a certain degree of difficulty since they are poorly labelled or not labelled at all.
1st TRIP: Down Selitsa - Up selitsa- Prophet Ilias (Altitude 1.300 m.). Hours of course 4.15'
In distance of 7 kilometres from Kalamata, in the street to the Mani, we meet the village down Selitsa (Verga). Little afterwards the last houses of village, we follow the paved path, which is mound in westwards the mountain.
In two hours, and after we overtake a characteristic chapel, we reach in the village On Selitsa. In the village live very little residents the winter. Exists source, from which we fill flasks with water, in order to we continue our course.
From the last houses of village it begins the path, which is mount smoothly also us leads to the first firs. The view is magic. In our legs the Messinian Gulf, with the dantelleted beaches. We continue our course and we reach in the characteristic point «Portes», where the path leads to the woody department of mountain. After a southern turn and after it is crossed in some point with the forestall street (that begins from the up Selitsa), the path us it then leads to the Prophet Ilia, from walk of 1 hour. Is little more southerly found the magic place «Mpalkoni», by which walker «hang about» the ridges of Taygetos to fall in the Messiniako gulf. We return from the same way or from a circular way, that is described below.
2nd TRIP: Prophet Ilias - Top of Saint George - Saint Trinity. Hours of course 3.30'
We begin from the small church of Prophet Ilia and we walk N.E. above in the forestall street, that comes from the village. In the 500 metres we search the authority of path, which then from walk 30min leads us to his top terms Kalathi. From here the view to the tops of Taygetos mountain is panoramic. After a short coming down Easterly, duration 30min we approach the Saint George.
We meet the forestall street that to descend to Up Selitsa. Him we follow and after 40min we reach in a characteristic plateau (in which exists a house). We follow Eastern woody side and we walk on the road for the goats, who after it goes through from source and old building, us leads with downhill course to the monastery of Saint Trinity. In the monastery exists possibility of supply with water from source, and from here it begins street for Kalamata, which passes from the Elaiohori.
3rd TRIP: Sotirianika - Mpiliovos - Altamira - Koskaraka - Santova. Hours of course 8.00
The more beautiful walking way of wider band Kalamata. In 14 kilometres from Kalamata, in the street to the Mani, we reach in the village Sotirianika. We follow the signals and after we pass from the bridge of village, we walk in the forestall street, which us leads to the authority of eminent Mpiliovo. It is perhaps the more well maintained narrow cobbled street with the 75 turns. We mount to the narrow cobbled street and then from walk of 2 hours, we reach in the deserted, today, village Altomira, in which we find sources in order to we fill water.With driver the mountaineering signals, we cross the village and after we overtake the sheepfold, we find the downhill path, which then from course 1.30min from us removes in the gorge of Rintomo. We walk above in the shingles, following him right downhill side and after 130min we see old bridge of Kampou.
We in continue in the stream for Koskaraka and Santova (if we have been tired, we go up in the bridge from the right side and walk in the paving, which then from 30min our course it restores in the village Sotirianika). Like untried walkers we continue in the stream and after 1 hour «we are compensated» with the reaching in exceptional art old bridge of Koskarakas, which is found under the bridge, by which is gone through the motorway Kalamata-kardamili. We then continue in shingles and from 1.30min it comes the «big time» «to dive» in spotless waters of beach of Santovas. In the restaurant and in the refreshment stands, that function in the beach, is vindicated our 8 hours effort.
4th TRIP: Lagou Hani - Holy abbey of Oak - Kalamata. Hours of course 6.45'
We begin from Kalamata and in the 8th kilometre of national street Kalamata-Sparta, we follow the plate which us leads to the village Medousa. Little afterwards we overtake a bridge, and from this point, which is named Hare hostelry, we begin our walk. Few metres afterwards the bridge, begins the forestall street, which is about to mount to the Limnatida. In this point we find the path, which the mapping out of is explicit with small bents and offers appreciable view. Under the path roll the river Nedontas and across from us, go up Taygetos, the national street Kalamata-Sparta. In his taller point the path erases semicircle orbit and does not see the river and the national street. For little we believe that we follow other way, but shortly find again the Nedonta.
Walk in the himself altitude and the course are relaxing. We overtake a sheepfold and approach monastery of Oak. The landscape is offered for meditation. We continue our course in the extinguish path, which is interrupted by streets up to the new market and the Bus Station of Kalamata. Unless we have attended us it waits for car in the monastery.
Variant: Hare Hostelry - Alagonia. Hours of course 2.30'.
From Hare Hostelry, we moved it self in the opposite direction and walk in the forestall street to the village Alagonia. We walk along in the watercourse of river Nedonta, and after the small church, we find the authority of path. The landscape is astonishing and the path to us passes above four stone bridges, monuments of other season, which we have the chance we even feel for little. The path we are about to mount leads us to the first houses of Alagonias. In the village we can eat and rest. Return in Kalamata with the transport or by the same way.
5th TRIP: Karveli- Lada - Touristiko Kiosk of Taygetos. Hours of course 5.
In the 13th kilometre of national street Kalamata-Sparta, we turn in the street that leads to the village Up Karveli. Little before the village we meet above in the street the source, that is the starting line of our walk. Opposite from the source we find the micrometer forestall street, which us leads downhill to the Karveliotiko stream. Walk 15min and we found itself front in the stone bridge, that links the villages Up Karveli and Emialoi. The point is unique, mainly the Spring, when the sounds of water that roll in the stream get together with the voices of birds in a astonishing agreement.
We are mount to the path, and after a bypass in their Emialous, we reach in the village Lada. We fill water (exists possibility and off-hand food in the village) and go up the street of village.
Above the last houses, we continue in street and little afterwards meet the mounted path, passing from right mountain ʼ gios Georgjos. We walk when in path and when in street and in 1.45 "we meet the national street Kalamata-Sparta. Him we cut vertical and we again meet the path, which then from 20 ' cuts again the national street in distance of 2 kilometres from the Tourist Kiosk Taygetos. We walk in the asphalt in order to we approach one from the more beautiful mountainous landscapes.
Variant: Up Karveli - Down Karveli. Hours of course 3.30'.
We are abruptly behind the source, and in 5 ' we meet the path that links the two villages. The path has good mapping out and from the taller point we have a general view of the sea and the around mountain tops. Continuously in semicircle orbit and we reach in the village Down Karveli. Earth-road of 1,5 kilometre from us removes in the national street Kalamata-Sparta.
6th TRIP: Agia Paraskevi - ʼ gios Georgios - ʼ gios Ioannis - Theotoko. Hours of course 4.
In 34 kilometres from Kalamata, in the higher point with bitumen to the Tourist Kiosk Taygetos, we meet the small church of Saint Friday. From here we begin our walk.
We follow the smooth ridge of mountain and we find the authority of path, which, without big bents, us leads then from course of 1 hour to a micrometer plateau. From here a branch of path us it leads after 20min to the small church of Saint Ioannis, from which we have splendid view of around band. We return in central path and after 15 ' course we approach the small church of Saint Georgiou. The landscape is amassing. Near the small church, exists a constructed oven for the preparation of food. We mount in little we found itself in the top of mountain in altitude of 1.307 metres. This point is offered for a live course of geography of wider band. From the small church of Saint Georgiou we descent in path that after 2 hours of course from us it removes in the Theotoko, a graphic locality with sources and restaurant above in the national street Kalamata-Sparta. There us it waits for the car for our return in Kalamata.
7th TRIP: Tseria - Exohori - Kardamili. Hours of course 2.30'. This way is recommended during spring time.
We lead to the street, that connects Kalamata with the Mani. In the 28th kilometre we abandon the street and approach the village Tseria.
Little afterwards the last houses of village we meet a very good shaped paved path, which descent to the gorge of Viros. We follow the path, enjoying unique view and in 30min we reach in the watercourse of river. As we passing through the watercourse and we search for the marks, that lead us to the authority of path in opposite hill-side. We follow the path and in 45 min we walk in the rural street, which us leads to the village Exohori.
We cross the beautiful village with his settlements and the many small churches. In the paved with asphalt street, little afterwards the school, we meet the cafe «Pefko». In this point we descent right and with our attention in the signals we seek the authority of path, which appears faintly. We walk the path and in 20min we approach the settlement of Saint Sofia, which offers beautiful view. We continue in the good paved path and in 30min we reach in the Kardamy'li, where it is also the finish of our way.
8th TRIP: Agios Nikonas. Altitude 1.209 metres. Hours of course 5 (3 ascent - 2 coming down).
The top Agios Nikonas is found in the Midwestern Mani and hanging as enormous helmet above the homonym village.
According to this delivery the village used as base of operations the tenth of century the Holy of Victories «Regret» for the Christianity of residents of Manis. The village Agios Nikonas abstains 1,30min from Kalamata and is found above in the provincial street Kalamata-Areopolis. We begin our walk from the square of village with direction Eastern. We go up abrupt the steep and afterwards the last house of village we meet the good shape path, which is mount southerly-eastern. The view of Messiniakos gulf unfolds magnificent right us. We continue steep course and after 1.30 min we reach in the pass, under conical top Triskono.Continue the ascent to northern in enough distinct path, and in 30min reach big terraces planted with Walnut trees. Continue steeply and then from 30min are in the ridge. From here «we are hanging about» Messiniakos gulf up to Kalamata and the Lakonikos gulf up to the Kithira island.
We are turned westwards and then from 20min we reach in level small extent, in which, according to the traditional, the Agios Nikonas built the micrometer temple of Saint Apostolon Petros and Pavlos and the lagoon for the storage of water, which even today has exceptional functionalism, after it gathers rain water from the roof of the undrground kamaras, that is useful as lodging of pilgrims (In the internal walls of lagoon exist various hagiographies with big religious and historical value). Little westwards in the 100 metres we found itself in Hypsometric 1.209 metres, in the place «kathisma». The view is astonishing. In Easternly all the mountain tops that compose the backbone of Pentadaktilos. In northern the taller top of Taygetos, the Prophet Ilias in the 2.409 metres, and around him the other tops. In southern the Sagias advances nonchalantly and enters in the In Mani. In westwards entire the Messiniakos gulf in our legs. The return becomes from the same way, after we fill water from the lagoon.
9th TRIP: Neohori - Saint Panteleimon - «Triethnes» - Georgitsi. Hours of course 5.
In the 10th kilometre of national street Kalamata-Athens, in Thouria village, we abandon the street with direction to the village Neohori, in which we reach after 30 kilometres. We eat turkish delight and drink water in the cafe of village and we begin from the last houses of village our walk, in a path, which after 1.30min leads us in a pass. We follow southern course above in the ridge and we approach the point «Triethnes», in which are linked three prefectures of (Messinia, Lakonia, Arkadia). Little more beyond we meet the small church of Saint Panteleimona. From here the view is magical. Front us are unfolded the tall tops of Taygetos, while in our legs we have the lakonikos plain. The locality is offered for overnight stay, after it allocates water from reservoir. Here exists building of forest inspection Kalamata, which is used as fire guardhouse. We return in the pass and we continue in path, which descent and crosses forest from pines. We descent abruptly and after hour we meet the forestall street. Him we follow also after we pass from stone source, we reach in the village Georgitsi, which is in the prefecture Lakonia. There we wait for the car for our return.
One-hour and forty-five minutes climb from Anavryti to Tsarkos where the botanical station is situated at the altitude of 1,700m and then from Ai Nicos Spring through Karea, Panaghia and Kapsodermatousa and Koskaraka Canyon to Gaitses or Pegadia.
From Mountain Refuge of the EOS of Sparta to Portes and Halasmeno Vouno and back or keep on to Sidirokastro, Rintomo and Panagia Kapsodermatoussa.
Mountain Refuge of the EOS of Sparta - Portes- Sidirokastro- Vintoli Canyon- Panagia Kapsodermatoussa- Gaitses. This route belongs to the National Path '32'.
Crossing the Vyros canyon (from Ayios Dimitrios down to Kardamyli).
Crossing Pentadaktylos.