Το Μονοπάτι του Μαινάλου
Καλώς Ήλθατε στην Επίσημη Ιστοσελίδα του Menalon Trail.
Το πρώτο πιστοποιημένο μονοπάτι στην Ελλάδα από την ERA είναι πραγματικότητα και έτοιμο να εξυπηρετήσει ακόμα και τον πιο απαιτητικό λάτρη της φύσης από όλο τον κόσμο.
Ξεναγηθείτε στην ιστοσελίδα μας για να δείτε και να μάθετε για την περιοχή, τα χωριά, τη χλωρίδα και την πανίδα του Μονοπατιού του Μαινάλου.
75 χιλιόμετρα στη φύση και την ομορφιά της, σας περιμένουν μαζί με τους οικολόγους φίλους σας να “περάσετε” ευχάριστα τον χρόνο σας και να “ζήσετε” αξέχαστες στιγμές σε μία από τις υψηλά βαθμολογημένες διαδρομές της Ευρώπης. Το Μονοπάτι του Μαινάλου, στην Αρκαδία, στην Πελοπόννησο,στην Ελλάδα είναι γεγονός.
Ελάτε να μας γνωρίσετε…
Το 1ο Πιστοποιημένο Μονοπάτι στην Ελλάδα
Το Μονοπάτι του Μαινάλου βρίσκεται στην Αρκαδία, στην Πελοπόννησο, μια περιοχή πλούσια σε ιστορία και τοπία στην Ελλάδα. Μάθετε για τη γεωγραφία, την χλωρίδα και την πανίδα, τα χωριά, το θησαυρό της γαστρονομίας μας και ό,τι εκδηλώσεις εδώ.
Το Μονοπάτι του Μαινάλου, μήκους 75 χλμ, περνά μέσα από τα χωριά Στεμνίτσα, Δημητσάνα, Ζιγοβίστι, Ελάτη, Βυτίνα, Νυμφασία, Μαγούλιανα, Βαλτεσινίκο, Λαγκάδια, βοηθώντας στο δυνάμωμα του τουρισμού και των υπηρεσιών της Γορτυνίας.
Ξενοδοχεία, ξενώνες, ενοικιαζόμενα δωμάτια, καφετέριες, εστιατόρια, παραδοσιακές ταβέρνες, καταστήματα με σουβενίρ, παραδοσιακά τοπικά προϊόντα, Mini Markets, Ταξί & Εταιρίες Μεταφορών για το Menalon Trail είναι εδώ και έτοιμα για εσάς.
Που βρίσκεται το Menalon trail
& Πως να Έρθετε Εδώ
The Menalon Trail is in Arcadia, the center of Peloponnese. It unfurls through the Lousios River gorge, the western slopes of Menalon Mt., the valley of Mylaion River & the Northeast Gortynian Mountains.
The Menalon Trail is just 200 km from Athens center, the capital city of Greece. It is an easy and interesting route, full of small villages and places to visit and fortunately it needs only your basic driving attention to reach on time. Have a nice trip.
The Menalon Trail is just a highway of 245 km from Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) and only 110 km from Kalamata Airport. You can check flights for both of them and pick the best one for you and your hiking team.
There are 2 ports close to The Menalon Trail:
1) the one is the port of Piraeus and
2) the other one of Patra. From there you can have your car or rent one and come to us and start your adventure.
Εκδηλώσεις & Νέα
Ανακοίνωση – Πρόσκληση Κυριακή 21 Ιουνίου 2020 Πεζοπορία 6 χιλιομέτρων […]
Η ΜΑΙΝΑΛΟΝ Κοιν.Σ.Επ απέσπασε την κορυφαία διάκριση του Platinum βραβείου στην κατηγορία Specialty Travel (Ειδικές μορφές τουρισμού) και το Silver βραβείο στην κατηγορία STRATEGYQ "Τουριστική ανάπτυξη / Συνεισφορά στην τοπική ή εθνική οικονομία"
Τιμητική βράβευση από το Ευρωπαϊκό Ίδρυμα Friedrich Naumann για την Ελευθερία. “Menalon Trail – Ένα καινοτόμο, επιτυχημένο και πολλά υποσχόμενο εγχείρημα”
Ανακοίνωση – Πρόσκληση Κυριακή 21 Ιουνίου 2020 Πεζοπορία 6 χιλιομέτρων […]
Η ΜΑΙΝΑΛΟΝ Κοιν.Σ.Επ απέσπασε την κορυφαία διάκριση του Platinum βραβείου στην κατηγορία Specialty Travel (Ειδικές μορφές τουρισμού) και το Silver βραβείο στην κατηγορία STRATEGYQ "Τουριστική ανάπτυξη / Συνεισφορά στην τοπική ή εθνική οικονομία"
Τιμητική βράβευση από το Ευρωπαϊκό Ίδρυμα Friedrich Naumann για την Ελευθερία. “Menalon Trail – Ένα καινοτόμο, επιτυχημένο και πολλά υποσχόμενο εγχείρημα”
Είπαν για εμάς
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A wonderful walk - highly recommended. We staying in Dimitsana and took a taxi to Stemnitsa, and walked back along the trail. The section is 12.5km and a combined ascent... read more of 700m (although it felt more). The walk is about 5 hours plus stops. Setting off it the morning we were above the clouds which gradually cleared during the day. Basically the walk takes through the gorge starting at 1000m and dropping to 500m and then back to 1000m. The trail is extremely well way-marked, as are many Greek paths, pretty hard to get lost, and we did not take a map. We were lucky with the weather, there was torrential rain just after we return and I imagine it could get very hot in the summer months.
24 Οκτωβρίου, 2021We walked parts of the menalon trail early October. We had planned to do all the sections but couldn’t find accommodation in Elati so decided to just do stages. However,... read more we have since found out if you contact the people from the menalon trail directly, they have info for Airbnb in Elati, whilst the Chalet is closed.
We hiked from Stemnitsa to Dimitsana (amazing stay in the Archontiki Deligianni!!) which was a wonderful hike. Very varied, with wonderful monastery visits and great views. It is a well trodden path and well signposted. Took us 6 hours including breaks at each monastery etc.
We left the car at Stemnitsa and having bought the map for the menalon trail (highly recommend it, available in local shops) we took a different path back to Stemnitsa from Dimitsana the following day to retrieve the car. This is also very well signposted and goes through some beautiful forest. Takes a similar time.
We were also very fortunate to meet the man who initiated the menalon trail in Zygovisti, which was a delight. We got good tips on which sections were particularly stunning this time of year, and on his advice also hiked the section Elati - Vytina as an out and back, having left the car at the Nymfasia resort where we stayed (also highly recommended). Vytina is a lovely town and well worth staying at as a base. We wished we’d done that. It has good restaurants and lots of lovely shops selling special Vytina fir honey and wood products.
All the villages en route will at least sell you a frappe so it’s a pretty lovely way to spend a day if you linger and do it all slowly!
The trail is definitely worth doing, and fitness wise if you’re used to exercise you’ll be fine.
If you are planning to do the whole thing, it is definitely worth asking the nice guys from the menalon trail re recommendations. The lovely man we met side in a little office in Stemnitsa when it’s open, but you can always email.
Apparently hey are planning to connect all the ancient Peloponnese sites over the next years- ambitious, but we can’t wait!
The trail has been set up entirely by volunteers, who also maintain it. So it’s well worth buying the map and the beer (!) to support them. Enjoy!
21 Οκτωβρίου, 2018This trail is really amazing!
We did 3 parts:
Dimitsana - Stemnitsa: Both villages are beautiful. The trail takes you through the gorge where you have a great... read more view of the river Lousios. The nature is really something to see. Very peaceful trail, we encountered very few people. The monastery close to Stemnitsa is also worth visiting. Once you are at the top a great view awaits you.
Stemnitsa - Karitaina: Karitaina is really a very beautiful village. This is not part of the official trail and is not so well maintained, however it is really amazing. I would not recommend it to acrophobic people. Also consider that despite the fact the hike is short, it still takes a while to do since the path is not so easy to go through. You once more decent into the gorge of the river and, for the most part, hike along the river Lousios.
Elati - Vytina: An amazing part of the trail. First going through a cedar forest and along a small river. Really worth it. Again both villages are really beautiful. With a bit of lack we were able to get a cab from Vytina back to Elati for about 15 euro.
5 Μαΐου, 2019I have lots in four continents, and I find that the Menalon trail was well designed, with changing landscape, connection to culture and people, and ease of navigation/logistic. If you... read more have the time to do the whole thing I highly recommend doing the whole thing but if you just do a part then the Stemnitsana-Dimitsana section was really nice for the monasteries.
I did it in 5 days in July. The heat was bearable since I left early morning, stopped mid-day, and walked again from 2-3 pm until the next village.
I did (1) Stemnitsa-Dimitsana, (2) Dimitsana- Zygovisti -Elati, (3) Elati - Vytina - Nymphasia ; (4) Nymphasia - Magouliana - Valtesiniko; (5) Valtesiniko - Lagkadia.
Day 1: Stemnista is a cute village, Dimitsana has everything you need. In Stemnista I asked the B&B owner and he helped me arrange transfer of my stuff to Lagkadia. Lots of culture in the trail with several monasteries. Really interesting! A monk explained the history of the monastery to me (in perfect French). I had snacks for that day
Day 2: Long day, I ran out of water. I usually carry 2 liters and refill during the day but on that day 3 liters would have been necessary since some water streams/sources are dry in July. I did not stop in Vytina. In Elati there is no guesthouse, so I rented an apartment from a local person. I got the contact by emailing the Menalon trail people. Elati has one taverna - shout out to John the 13 years old son of the owner for speaking good English! Great, hard hiking day, beer tasted great!
Day 3: Nice walk in the valley. In Nymphasia I stayed at the Nymphasia Resort Hotel, 20 minutes from the village. I stayed 2 nights, did not do much, ate a burger, went to the swimming pool, and had a massage because I'm worth it haha! The staff is great and will work hard to make you happy (including yogurt for supper brought to your room). Shout out to the receptionist guy who seems to work every day from 7 am until midnight, and still found the energy to worry that I was "relaxed ok"!
Day 4: Great hike in forest and open scrub. Stopped at the ermitage and was able to toll the bell several times as I was the only one. Neat experience! Had lunch in Magouliana before the main square. The taverna was busy and people all said hi and smiling. Nice, welcoming experience! That day was particularly hot as the afternoon walk is in open land (not forest) so take you time. Valtesiniko is my favorite village: small, authentic, beautiful, clean, well organized. The priest kind of walks around the village entering cafés and tavernas saying hi! Moussaka was great! From the top of the village you can see the mountains stretching and the churches down below lighted in blue and white. Shout out to the owners of Thea Valtesiniko who were super welcoming and caring.
Day 5: Wonderful walk in varied fir forest. Felt elated walking and stopping in the deep forest moss. I had snacks as this day there is no village between start and end. The weather was nice and the walk easy. Towards the end of the walk I was sad it was already over! There was a bus back to Tripoli at 8 am the day after. (Check schedule at your hotel).
1 Αυγούστου, 2022 -
You can break this trail up into "do-able" parts. I walked one section with my very informative guide from Explore Menalo, guide highly recommended, but you can also explore independently.... read more Lovely river valleys fir forests and storybook villages it is a 70km trail, and it took 4 hours to walk 9 kilometers.
18 Οκτωβρίου, 2017i traveld whit giannis. a nice guid. he took us for a nice wallk over the melnia wallk. He knows all the trails in the area. It's worth a stroll... read more through the villages along the river that connects them. On the way to see monasteries hanging. You can also ask him for a bike ride. jonh942003@gmail.com.
12 Οκτωβρίου, 2019We have just finished the full 8 sections of the trail. Like many of the reviewers we enjoyed the fir forests, the rock perched monasteries, the picturesque villages and the... read more hospitality of the villagers.
The late season had its effect so some villages were practically vacant. This includes Zygovitsi, Elati, and Magouliana, with Nymphasia just a bit more lively. So when preparing accommodation better check availability beforehand. Luckily you can always call for a taxi from a neighboring village. People are very friendly - one time we were offered a ride to the guesthouse in the larger village, and in another the guesthouse owner took us to the next village to continue the trail.
Autumn proved to be very welcome for hiking. Except for few raindrops in the first two days the weather was shiny, with few clouds, and with just the right temperature, around 20c. The autumn also offers the special golden colors of the poplars and plane trees in the river beds.
Other memorable pictures are the great plane tree in the village square of Magouliana, and the clear quiet stream with moss-covered stones in the narrow shady creek before Elati.
Transportation from Athens should not be a problem. For access to and from the area we used KTEL Arcadia bus service. They have a quite regular line between Athens and Tripoli, few times a day from Tripoli to Stemnitsa and twice a day from Lagkadia back to Tripoli.
28 Σεπτεμβρίου, 2017I recently visited and walked part 5 of Menalon Trail, starting from Vytina to Nymfasia..but we also walked all the way to Kernitsa monastery...I am an experience and professional guide... read more myself from Evia island..My visit was part of the the 1st Panhellenic Meeting on Hiking Networks and the 3rd European Conference of Representatives of Certified LQT (Leading Quality Trails) paths. In my opinion this trail network does serve the purpose it was initially created for..to revive small mountain villages through outdoor and hiking activities, also promoting the landscape, culture and gastronomy. The trails are reasonably well maintained, and the marking are sufficient to keep you going..i wish the team good luck with their trail projects, as their future goal is to connect all ancient sites of Peloponnese, such as Mycenes and Ancient Olympia with the same walking path, which i find really fascinating..
6 Νοεμβρίου, 2017