Walking and Hiking around Mount Taygetos

The Taygetos Massif (Taygetus) extends across 70km from the southern tip of mainland Greece, to the northern part of the Mani Peninsula.  This is one of the rare mountains that rise from sea level, containing successive ecosystems from coastal Mediterranean to Alpine as the altitude increases.  These include beautiful forests, gorges, and ravines shaded by plane trees, along with several small villages.  Though it is probably the most densely forested area in the Peloponnese, the image that prevails is of bare ethereal peaks and unforgettable panoramic views of the sea.

The highest peak is call Prophet Elias (Prophitis Ilias) that is a perfect limestone pyramid peak standing at 2,407m high, where at the top there is a small stone church dedicated to the prophet Elijah.  It is built, perhaps, on the foundations of a temple to his ancient Greek predecessor, the weather god Zeus, who was worshipped during the same season on the summits near the sky.  Today the Prophet Elias peak is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and every year on the 20th of July the small chapel holds a large festival, including a massive bonfire.

There are many hiking trails crossing the Taygetos Massif including the challenging 2-day traverse of Pentadaktylos ridge or walking through the beautiful Vyros Gorge above Kardamili, as well as the popular ascent of the highest peak of Prophet Elias. Other significant peaks are Chalasmeno (2,204m high) and Koufovouni (1,850m high).

The Taygetos Massif area is a hiker’s paradise with 130 peaks higher than 1,000m, with hundreds of footpaths, from cobblestone mule roads to steep and narrow crossings.  Many of these paths are waymarked and the E4 long distance trail and National path 32 also cross the region.

The Taygetos Walking Map and Guidebook describes 18 hiking routes in the Taygetos Massif through a dense network of challenging trails and rugged gorges.  It also includes a separate map of the Taygetos Mountains, at a scale of 1:25,000. Buy this Taygetos Massif Walking Map and Guidebook from our shop.