VIKOS THROATS

These gorges (Φαράγγι του Βίκου/Farangi tou Vikou) are magnificent with wild nature and cliffs carved by the Voïdomatis river that reach between 120 and 1,350 m in height. It is one of Europe's deepest canyons, after the Tara in Montenegro and the Drina between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. The Vikos Gorge is the centerpiece of the "Zagorian Cultural Landscape", which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023. They are part of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark, created in 2010 under the aegis of Unesco, and the 2,000 ^km2 North Pindus National Park. Located to the southwest of Mount Tymphe (2,497 m above sea level), they are 32 km long and vary in width from 2 km to a few meters. The main part lies between the villages of Vitsa and Koukouli (17 km south-east of Monodendri). This is the home of the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) and the chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra).

Magnificent views, hiking... In summer, a 12 km trail leads from the villages of Monodendri to Vikos (5 km north-east of Aristi): from the church of Agios Athanasios in Monodendri, it takes 45 minutes to descend to the bottom of the canyon. Another 6 km path links the villages of Papingo and Vikos, passing the Voïdomatis spring. And, from the heights, you can enjoy magnificent views at the Agia Paraskevi monastery in Monodendri (850 m walk from the village), at Oxya/Οξυά (7.4 km north of Monodendri by road) or at Beloï/Μπελόη (2.1 km walk from the hamlet of Vradeto, itself 14.7 km north of Koukouli). Several agencies offer hiking or rafting trips, as well as canyoning or cave tours with caving equipment. Renowned for their breathtaking panoramas, the gorges are also home to a rich flora. Some 1,800 plant species can be found here, including 350 medicinal plants known as the "Vikos doctors" (vikouiatri), such as wormwood, silver linden, spearmint, fraxinella (Dictamnus albus), St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis ) and Sideritis raeseri, one of the variants of "mountain tea" (tsaï tou vounou). Finally, in the southern part, around the village of Kipi, you'll discover some fine stone bridges from the Ottoman period: the Kokkorou bridge (1750), the three-arched Plakida bridge (1814), the Lazaridi-Kontodimou bridge (1764) and the Petsioni bridge (1830).