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 is a bit of an undiscovered gem and one of the best walks I have done. We walked four sections of the trail with rest days in between. One... read more section is probably a day's walking although some sections you could do 2 in one day. Firstly it says the walk is moderate difficulty. I would agree but would clarify it: there are some steep uphill climbs and some long ones. You really do need a good level of fitness. Some sections there have been landslides and the paths are a little treacherous. Most of the paths we walked was well marked, but we did go wrong a few times and the section from Dimitsana to Filosophus we lost the trail completely. Lots of people walked Stemnitsa to Filosophus Monastery and it is really well marked but steep. All the other sections we walked we barely saw anyone. It is extraordinarily beautiful. I would say you need a good level of fitness. My biggest disappointment is that you can't easily hike with your things and then stay a night as some of the villages don't even have hostels. I had to stay in larger villages, get a taxi to the start point of a section, and then get a taxi back.

  I 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).

  We spent an enjoyable day walking from Stemnitsa- we had a map but didn’t need it as the route was well signed all the way. We walked for about... read more 5 hours including stops at the monasteries and a dip in the river but didn’t make it to Dimitsana in that time. We then decided to return by taxi as the kids were tired in the August heat. We got help from the hotel to call a taxi to take us back which cost about 20 Euros. At times it was a bit unstable under foot so you definitely need trainers. The views were stunning!

  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.

  This 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.

  The trail is long, we only tasted it. The part we did was well signed and the path was good. It seems to be very challenging in parts with steep... read more climbs. The river (in April) was full and fast. Very beautiful.

  i 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. ‏