The pearl of the Vikos-Aoösv National Park
The Vikos Gorge is located in the Vikos-Aoös National Park in the Epirus region in northwestern Greece. Established in 1973, the park is one of ten national parks in mainland Greece and is located 30 km north of the city of Ioannina in the northern part of the Pindus Mountains. Named after the two main gorges in the area, you will find mountainous terrain interwoven with many rivers, lakes, caves, deep canyons, dense coniferous and deciduous forests.
The main part of the gorge is located between the villages of Vikos and Monodendri and reaches a depth of about 1,000 m. At one point, the gorge measures 900 m deep and 1,100 m wide from rim to rim, earning it a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the deepest canyon on the world in proportion to its width.
Monodendri
As a starting point for a tour of the Vikos gorge, drive to the village of Monodendri. It is far and away probably the most touristic place with lots of restaurants, cafes and accommodation, but it still has its charm. You can park for free right next to the village and after a 10-minute walk you will reach the monastery by the gorge.
Monastery of Saint Paraskeva
From the village of Monodendri, you can walk along a stone path to the monastery of Saint Paraskeva. It is an abandoned monastery located on the edge of the Vikos gorge, which was founded in 1413–1414 and consists of a small stone chapel, which is the oldest preserved in Zagori. There are beautiful panoramic views of the gorge from here.
Views from the monastery
From the observation terrace of the monastery you have beautiful and safe views of the gorge and the river at its bottom.
A trail for the brave
In the middle of the rough side of Vikos, north and east of the monastery, there are a number of caves where hermits and persecuted Christians took refuge during the Ottoman rule, and several small dwellings were also built here for the same reason around 1816. Those who have an adventurer's heart and do not suffer from vertigo can follow the rest of this path further into the interior of the competition.
Path under the rock cliff
We went to walk the trail just before sunset so we had the whole place to ourselves. It made an impression on us with its size, the steep walls of the competition and the feeling that we are discovering a not very visited place. The path is cut into the side of the rock and leads surprisingly far into the interior of the gorge. You have to be really careful where you step, because there is no railing separating you from falling into the kilometer depth below you.
Wooden bridges
The road is more maintained in the region. You will find wooden bridges that have patched holes from falling rocks. Furthermore, it is already more visible that there are no funds for maintenance. It is also, after all, an unofficial path, on which signs warn before entering that entry is at one's own risk.
View of the gorge
For us it was a great experience full of adrenaline and surprises, because we had no idea where the trail would take us. We like these unplanned stops on our travels the most, probably because they are not burdened with expectations and we just enjoy the present moment.
View of Oxia
In the morning, we drove about 15 minutes by car on the way to Kaňov to the Oxia viewpoint. This way I had the Vikos Gorge in the palm of my hand even in full daylight.