Τα 8 Sections
Menalon Trail extends to a length of 75Km. Passes through the villages of Stemnitsa, Dimitsana, Zygovisti, Elati, Vytina, Nympasia, Magouliana, Valtesiniko and Lagkadia, activating the entire tourist infrastructure and services of the prefecture of Gortynia.
The structure and organization of the trail as well as the generic infrustructure is compliant with the standards of the European Ramblers Association (ERA) , an alliance of 33 european national federations with 3.000.000 members. After Menalon Trail was reviewed according to 41 check points-parameters, based on quality and technical criteria, received certification as one of Trails Master Quality (Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe) and proposed from ERA to europeans as a coherent, interesting and safe mountain for adventure. Menalon Trail is the 10th European trail receiving safety and quality of service certification. Check the 8 sections of the trail, choose one and begin your adventure…
Section 1: Stemnitsa-Dimitsana
Time: 5h length: 12.5 km
The trail head for this first route is Stemnitsa, the village of goldsmiths and headquarters for the Peloponnesians Senate in 1821, point of convergence of many other routes and trails. Follow the trail coming out of the village and head towards...
Section 2: Dimitsana-Zygovisti
Time: 2 hrs | Lenght: 4.2 km
The section Dimitsana-Zigovisti ascends from the Lousios valley to the outskirts of the fir forest. The trail head starts in Dimitsana and passes next to important historical buildings like the Library...
Section 3: Zygovisti-Elati
Time: 5 hrs | Lenght: 14.9 km.
Leave Zigovisti behind passing by the old church of Agios Ioannis and the Pera Vrisi fountain where the trailhead wends through a beautiful ravine to the country church of Agios Georgios and the adjacent spring.
Section 4: Elati-Vytina
Time: 2 h 30' | Length: 8.5 km
The route descends from Elati to the riverbed of the Milaon River (in this first part the marking is with ), where it meets the obvious pathway situated on the banks. (from this part and after the marking is with ). Following the well waymarked trail (parts paved, parts plain path) pass by the big water drilling rig of the Pirgaki Springs (that supplies Vytina with water) and then the stone built Makrinou Fountain.
Section 5: Vytina-Nymphasia
Time: 2 h | Lenght: 5.6 km
After resting and provisioning, leave Vytina and continue on the route leading to Nymphasia. After walking 850 meters on asphalt you’ll reach Old Vytina and the trailhead of the footpath that will leads to Mavra Litharia, a massive limestone boulder...
Section 6: Nymphasia-Magouliana
Time: 3 h 30' | Length: 8.9 km
Coming out from Nymphasia the route follows a small road that that enters a pleasant oak wood, to the trailhead that heads downhill to cross the Kernitsa Bridge. From the bridge the trail ascend to the Kernitsas Monastery...
Section 7: Magouliana-Valtesiniko
Time: 2 h 30' | Length: 6.6 km
Walk across Magouliana (the village of loggers) through small roads and arrive to the saddle west of the village, where an intersection to Lasta is located and point of splendid views, surrounded by stone built threshing floors. Descend toward the old sanatorium...
Section 8: Valtesiniko-Lagkadia
Time: 5 h | Length: 13.9 km
From Valtesiniko square, following , pass by the impressive stone built school and access the upper peripheral road of the village, from here the view overlooks all the northern plains. Gain altitude from the footpath...
