I completed the Menalon Trail in 5 days, with hindsight I should have added an extra day but I had a time constraint. The trail is extremely well marked and... read more coupled with the downloaded Topoguide there is very little chance of wandering off the trail and getting lost. There is such a wonderful variety of terrain, views, villages, history that this trail is one of the most memorable of the many that I've done over the years. The logistics of getting there is a bit difficult but I ended up getting to Tripoli from Athens by bus and then hiring a taxi to the start at Stemnitsa. From the finish at Lagkadia I was collected by family but I believe that there is a bus from there to Tripoli. I never made any prior accommodation bookings but on arrival at each village I was fortunate to find somewhere to stay. Note that I hiked late September and in peak season finding accommodation will not be that easy.
A fantastic trail well worth doing!

  We 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!

  This network of paths offers the visitor the chance to experience a scenic walk through the woods, by the river, on the top of mountains, in a gorge in a... read more constantly changing environment. The hiker must be well prepared for rapid weather changes and never hike by a river or in a gorger during rainy days. A guide is highly recommended for beginners.

  We had an awesome, memorable hike between Prodromos Monastery and the Philosopher's Old Monastery. A moderate hike that needs about 20 minutes to reach from one side to the other.... read more Excellent path signing, every few meters. Comfortable shoes are strongly recommended and the use of hiking poles would make your route easier, especially for a good balance in few steep parts. When reaching the Philosopher's Old Monastery, the view is breathtaking and it is really rewarding (yet almost unbelievable) to see the route you've just crossed, from above! Definitely worth the trip!

  We were looking for a 3 hour (ish) hike to explore the Louisos Gorge and see the Monasteries.
We were recommended to take the car to Ancient... read more Gortys, walk along to Prodomos Monastery, follow on to the old Filosofu Monastery and then to the 'new' Filosofu Monastery.
It took around 1.5 hours one way, although depends how long you spend at the Monasteries/ taking photos etc. You then need to return the same way, which while it's always nice to have a round trip we thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and you always see things differently coming back.
If you do intend to visit the Monasteries please remember they have dress requirements and it's important to be respectful. Men and women need to have legs covered and women need to have shoulders covered. Both Monasteries we visited had clothes/sarongs you could borrow, which was fine.
Prodomos also has refreshments and you can refill water bottles at both too.
We loved it and would recommend!

  I hiked the trail solo in the last week of June and it was fantastic. I did it in four sections and walked to a village with accommodation every day.... read more I want to share that it is possible because I couldn't find any other reviews where people did it this way before I went. (I’m a 35 year old female, pretty confident hiking).
Tip: FOLLOW THE SIGNS. They are frequent so if you haven’t seen one for a while, consider backtracking. They are visible but it only takes a minute to miss a turn into the forest. Sometimes the trail has to be changed due to conditions, so there are handwritten notes on the little signs.
My recommended alternative shorter adventure would be to walk day 1 and day 4 and spend more time relaxing in the villages.
My route:
Day 1: Stemnitsa to Dimitsana
Short day, about 5.5 hours including stopping to explore old monasteries.
Day 2: Dimitsana to Vytina (via Zygovisti and Elati)
It is admittedly a big day, up to 10 hours, but if you are reasonably fit and experienced and set off early it's achievable.
Day 3: Vytina to Valtesiniko (via Magouliana)
This is a long pants day, lots of scrub. Took about 8 hours with stops.
Shout out to my hosts at Petra & Elato Hotel and to the family that runs Taverna Vasilikos (Ταβέρνα Βασιλικός), they were so friendly and made me a superb pizza.
Day 4: Valtesiniko to Lagkadia
Definitely one of the nicest scenery days, and some of the best walking. About 5 hours. Glad for my leftover pizza.

  We split the trail into 4 days walking 2 stages each day starting 15th October. Stayed at Lagkadia, drove to the end of the stages each day and got a... read more taxi to the start to walk back to the car. Excellent scenery, fairly strenuous walking in places. Trail mostly well signed, took a couple of wrong turns. We had a map but didn’t bother to download the app.
We stayed at Agnantio Studios with wonderful hosts Takis and Dora and their son Demetri. Accommodation and breakfast was excellent and Dora arranged our taxis for us each day as we don’t speak Greek.
Would recommend both the accommodation and the trail. We had excellent weather as well!
Saw a tortoise, numerous lizards, a few small snakes which soon disappeared into the undergrowth, lots of goats but very few people.

  We walked from Stemnitsa town & saw two old monasteries along the way. However we had a bit of trouble getting a trail map. Before we left Australia, we bought... read more a map via Menalon Trail site, but no matter how I tried, I just couldn’t download the map they sent on the email. We just loved the look of Stemnista town as we drove through & rang Mpelleiko Guest House that afternoon & got a room there. Luckily the owner Nena was very knowledgeable about the trail & lent us a map & explained the good trail to walk. Anyway the first Monastery was called Prodromos in the cliff!!! Two monks greeted us with Greek coffee, water & some sweets. Saw some interesting frescos in a small chapel. The view from the verandah was so beautiful, but if I saw myself from the bottom of the cliff, I would be so scared to death!
Then we saw the other monastery was called old Philosophou(not in use) & also the new one. At the new one, a very friendly monk greeted us with some cold water & sweets & showed us the inside of the church full of beautiful frescos. Must shut the door of the church after you walk in or else, so many cats will follow you inside. Then we went down to Lousios River to swim, but the water was so cold & my husband did swim for 5 mins & I could only walk in for 1 mins & left. All this took 8 hours & that was one of the best memories of Greek holiday. Also we could easily drive to each monastery, we are so glad that we walked to find some interesting plants & great sceneries. We would like to do all 75 km of 8 sections one day.