Rock Climbing Around Patras
Within a 45km radius of Patras there are 4 significant rock climbing areas, which are Varasova, Kleisouri, Alepochori, and Chatzouri.
Rock climbing at Varasova
The largest climbing area by far is the big wall of Varasova, with long multi-pitch routes up to 800m long. The climbing is straight off the beach, and the crag has a mixture of sport and traditional routes. The first pitches are bolted to provide sport routes, though the spaces between the bolts vary from route to route. The multi-pitch routes then continue as traditional routes, requiring the placing of nuts and cams. There is also a small amount of bouldering to be found at Varasova as well.
| No | Crag | Type of Climbing | No. of Routes | Max Height | Type of Rock | Popular Grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varasova | Sport/Trad | 200 | 800m | Limestone | 5a to 6b |
| 1 | Varasova | Bouldering | 55 | N/A | Limestone | 5a to 5b |
| 2 | Kleisoura | Sport | 37 | 40m | Limestone | 7c & above |
| 3 | Alepochori | Sport | 85 | 45m | Limestone | 6a to 8a |
| 4 | Spartia | Sport | 10 | 20m | Limestone | 7a to 8a+ |
| 5 | Chatzouri | Sport | 61 | 70m | Limestone | 6b & above |
| 6 | Kalogria | Sport | 105 | 70m | Limestone | 7a to 8b |
Map of the rock climbing and sport climbing areas around Patras
Other sport climbing areas around Patras
The main sports climbing areas around Patras are at Kleisouri, Alepochori, Chatzouri, and Kalogria.
Chatzouri has a great cave providing power endurance climbing at grades between F7b to F8c. There are also some vertical wall routes between F6a to F7c+. Alepochori is full of tufa columns and stalactites located in an unspoilt mountain valley. Most routes are graded between F6a to F8a and some are particularly steep. Kleisouri is a roadside gorge featuring very steep cliffs full of tufas. Most of the routes are graded between F7a+ to F8c. Kalogria is a solid limestone crag set in maritime ecosystem of lagoons, pine forests and sandy beaches. It offers more than 100 routes between F7a to F8b and is perfect during the winter months.
What sets these crags apart from other sport climbing areas in Greece (except Leonidio and Kalymnos) is the abundance of pure, hard sport routes in the 7th and 8th grades on good quality limestone rock.
Big wall climbing at Varasova, straight off the beach
Patras Climbing Logistics
Rock Climbing Guidebooks for Patras – The Greece Sport Climbing Guidebook covers the best routes at Varasova and the sport crags at Kalogria, Kleisouri, Alepochori, and Chatzouri. Buy this guidebook from our shop. Currently there is no definitive guidebook for the Patras area.
Getting to Patras – Situated 45km to the west of Patras is Araxos airport, which has links to several European cities. Alternatively drive from Athens (around 200km) or take a ferry to Patras port.
Best time to climb at Patras – For Varasova and the sport crags at Kleisouri, Alepochori, and Chatzouri the best time to climb is either the Spring or Autumn, though it is possible during the winter as well.