14°C
From Kamares, we follow the asphalt-paved, slightly uphill road eastwards; after 2 km, the village of Vorizia comes into view. One of the many gorges of the southern part of Psiloritis opens out on our left.
We begin to descend, until we get to the first houses of the village.
We follow the sign that reads “Varsamonero”, on the first road to the right; continuing on the cement road which passes through the village, we reach the foot of the northern side of the low peak of Mesiskli. We then continue on an asphalt road, which passes through some olive groves on the slope; 3 km after Vorizia, we arrive at the ruined Monastery of Varsamonero.
The restored church of the monastery, which has important frescoes, is open to visitors, during working hours.
From Varsamonero, we continue southwards on the unsurfaced road and then come to a water spring with a well. Then, we take the left branch at the first fork we encounter, for about 100 m.
On the left side of the road, a shrine can then be seen; from this spot, we begin to walk down the low, bushy ridge, until a small dry-stone building. From here, we go down to a dry water course, which we cross and then begin to climb at the foot of the rocky slope.
After a while, we reach a flat area where the ruins of the settlement of Nea Vorizia can be seen between the slope and some rocks on our right-hand side.
The settlement was built in order to house the residents of Vorizia, a village which was totally destroyed by the German forces, however it was never inhabited.
We continue along the dirt road which crosses the main road that connects Vorizia to Zaros and then goes across to an uphill asphalt road which leads to the Monastery of Vrontisi; we arrive there after 1 km.
Southwards, slightly before the courtyard of the monastery, a dirt road which goes towards the south-east begins, parallel to the boundary of the monastery’s garden. We follow it for 200 m and then turn left, eastwards, for another 100 m. At the next crossroads, after 100 m, we continue eastwards, straight on. We ignore a left side road 100 m further down, and continue eastwards.
We keep on descending among olive groves, still on the main unsurfaced road, until we see a chapel with a characteristic pine tree on top of a low hill, on our left side.
A few metres further down, we come to an asphalt road, which we take eastwards and after approximately 1,5 km, we arrive at Zaros.
Easy
E4 (Yellow/Black)
3 hours & 30 minutes
12500m
All year round
Hiking
The Rural Greece is an online portal that connects travellers with unique destinations and local businesses in the countryside, offering authentic experiences through activities that highlight nature, traditions and culture.
For the Rural Greece accessibility is fundamental to enhancing an inclusive tourism experience. Following the principles of inclusion and equality, the epaithros Rural Tourism Network and its member businesses are constantly working to enhance the tourism services provided, ensuring that all visitors have the opportunity to experience the authentic beauty of the Greek countryside.
Sustainability in tourism refers to a way of developing tourism that respects and protects the environment while strengthening the local economy and preserving cultural traditions. The aim of sustainable tourism is to provide unique and authentic experiences for visitors without harming the natural and social environment, while ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism activity.
This type of tourism is based on three pillars:
With sustainable tourism, visitors can have authentic experiences, knowing that the impact of tourism on the region is positive and lasting for future generations.
For Rural Greece, localism is one of the most important factors for the development of sustainable tourism, as it promotes a strong link between the tourism product and the local society, economy and culture. Through localism, visitors get the opportunity to explore authentic elements of the destination, such as local products, traditions and culture. This not only boosts the local economy, but also helps to sustain and strengthen local businesses, creating new jobs and supporting the development of local communities.
Furthermore, localism contributes to the sustainability of the tourism sector, as it reduces the use of resources from other regions and encourages the use of local goods and services, reducing the ecological footprint of tourism activities. Thus, integrating localism into tourism practices enhances sustainability awareness, both among visitors and local businesses, creating a more responsible and sustainable tourism destination.
