Tour at a glance

Tour description

In short, a destination offering many alternative options, which is suitable for all seasons of the year. A short escapade with paths of rare beauty, on a route along traditional villages of Central Greece where, traveling on curvy roads, we will marvel at the artificial lakes, the thick forests, the majestic mountains, and the unique monasteries that we will come across.

Code | Route Name GRWK 08 | Lake Plastiras II

Location Central Greece, Thessaly, Kalabaka, Meteora, Elati, Pertouli, Metsovo, Lake Plastiras

Type of route | Route grad-ing level

Paved roads | Intermediate level 3

Duration / Overnight stays 3/4 days / 2/3 nights, including breakfast

Distance covered daily 70-400 Km (the entire tour runs on paved roads)

Route distance Approximately 1000 Km

Riding time 6-10 hours per day

Number of participants Minimum 4 - Maximum 8 riders

Lake Plastiras is, without a doubt, the most touristic part of the county of Karditsa. Never-theless, the entire mountainous area that is covered with fir forests, rivers, and lusciously green valleys (Lake Plastiras – Kalabaka – Meteora – Elati – Pertouli), and essentially the en-tire county, are just as beautiful. Accordingly, their corresponding towns have all got some-thing special to in store for each traveler.

Recommended for…

Notable Sights of the Tour

Domokos, Kalabaka, Kastraki, the Monasteries of Me-teora, the panoramic view of the Pineios river and the areas surrounding the rocks of Meteora, Livadia of Pertouli, Pertouli, Elati, the Falls of Palaiokaria, Pyli, the single-arch bridge of “Porta Panagia”, Trikala, the Museum of Natural History of Meteora & the Mush-room Museum, Metsovo, the artificial lake of the springs of the Aoos river, lake Plastiras, Monastery of Koroni, Mesenikolas, Morfovouni, Kalyvia of Pezoula, Fylakti, Monastery of Pelekiti, lake Plastiras dam, La-bero.

All tours and journeys depart and end at our company premises.

All tours can be adjusted according to your own requirements and wishes.

Motorcycle rental.

Basic third party insurance.

Safety lock for the motorcycle.

A safety technician with his own motorcycle.

24-hour Roadside Assistance.

Photographs or videos from the tour.

Planning and organisation of the tour and providing participants with information prior to departure regarding the day’s schedule. Free luggage storage in Athens. Three (3) or four (4) days’ riding on predetermined routes. Two (2) or three (3) nights’ accommodation with breakfast in luxury hotels or high-quality traditional guesthouses. Road navigation map of the tour (depending on availability).

Comprehensive motorcycle insurance or coinsurance . Fuel, toll fees, boat tickets.

Entrance tickets for scheduled visits to sights, entrance and guide fees within archaeological sites. Everything marked in the itinerary as ‘optional’.

Travel insurance. Travel insurance. Driver’s helmet and/or passenger’s helmet upon agreement regarding sizing. Meeting and transfer from Athens International Airport (or from another pick-up location of your choice). Luggage cases, GPS, action cameras (GoPro, Sony or similar).

Stored routes on a GPS with all the daily itineraries. Mini-van or mini-bus for the luggage, with a second driver.

>Recommended fleet for the tour: HONDA NC 750Χ or similar.

General Information:

Not included in the tour price:

Additional provisions (extra charges apply):

Recommended fleet for the tour

Included in the tour price:

All tours can be adjusted according to your own requirements and wishes. For more information, please call us at +30 210 6533968 or

send us an email at info@andelimototouring.gr

All tours and journeys depart and end at our company premises.

All tours can be adjusted according to your own requirements and wishes.

Motorcycle rental.

Basic third party insurance.

Safety lock for the motorcycle.

A safety technician with his own motorcycle.

24-hour Roadside Assistance.

Photographs or videos from the tour.

Planning and organisation of the tour and providing participants with information prior to departure regarding the day’s schedule. Free luggage storage in Athens. Three (3) or four (4) days’ riding on predetermined routes. Two (2) or three (3) nights’ accommodation with breakfast in luxury hotels or high-quality traditional guesthouses. Road navigation map of the tour (depending on availability).

Comprehensive motorcycle insurance or coinsurance . Fuel, toll fees, boat tickets.

Entrance tickets for scheduled visits to sights, entrance and guide fees within archaeological sites. Everything marked in the itinerary as ‘optional’.

Travel insurance. Travel insurance. Driver’s helmet and/or passenger’s helmet upon agreement regarding sizing. Meeting and transfer from Athens International Airport (or from another pick-up location of your choice). Luggage cases, GPS, action cameras (GoPro, Sony or similar).

Stored routes on a GPS with all the daily itineraries. Mini-van or mini-bus for the luggage, with a second driver.

>Recommended fleet for the tour: HONDA NC 750Χ or similar.

General Information:

Not included in the tour price:

Additional provisions (extra charges apply):

Recommended fleet for the tour

Included in the tour price:

Day-by-day tour itinerary:

GRWK08 – Lake Plastiras II – suggested 3/4 day tour in Thessaly

Day 1: Athens – Kalabaka (353 Km).

Day 2: Elati – Pertouli – Trikala (100 Km).

Day 3: Kalabaka – Metsovo - Kalabaka(70 Km).

Day 4η: Kalabaka – Lake Plastiras – Karditsa – Athens (410 Km).

Please note: We will not be visiting Metsovo on the 3-day tour (total distance: 870 Km). Departing from Athens with destination Lamia, we will travel on the new national motorway of Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Evzones (P.A.Th.E). Later on, we will make our way through the plain of Thessaly via Domokos, having as our destination the beautiful town of Kalabaka, which is built on the ‘roots’ of the rocks of Meteora. We will settle into our ho-tel that will act as the base for our excursions. We will go on a Panoramic Tour of Meteora and visit the monasteries. We will enjoy the unique view offered by the rocks, owed to this rare geological phenomenon, where they rise almost vertically upon the land. We will also marvel at the view of the Pineios river and mount Koziakas (Kerketion). Meteora had acted as a refuge for many hermits. Before returning to Kalabaka, we will have the option of visiting the new and impressive cave of Theopetra, which is where the oldest footprints in Greece have been discovered. On the following day, we will depart for the mountainous resorts of Pindos, riding along forested, paved curvy roads towards the famous and amazingly beautiful “Livadia of Pertouli”, consisting of lusciously green lands where the cows of local farmers graze carefree! Following that, we will reach the picturesque village of Pertouli, which is a wonderful area of eastern Pindos, built at an altitude of 1200 metres.

Pertouli, which has characteristic stone-built houses, is surrounded by the famous moun-tains Neraida, Koziakas, Loupata and Avgo, and it is filled with thick forests, lush green mead-ows and wildflowers that spring in full colour next to the tall fir trees.

All these, along with the running waters of the stream that are filled with aquatic plants, com-pose a picture that one could easily perceive as being a mountainous paradise. The chapel of the Holy Apostles, a small miniature amid the lush green landscape, becomes even more pic-turesque and beautiful, offering a vision that cannot be grasped by the human mind unless one witnesses it in person!

We will continue our journey towards Elati (Tyrna), a picturesque village built among ancient plane trees and running waters, which is also a cosmopolitan resort that rests at an altitude of 950 metres. During the time of the Greek Revolution, it was the largest wood-producing vil-lage of one of the three largest areas of Aspropotami.

Saint Kosmas the Aetolian passed through Elati and addressed its residents in 1777 and 1778. The unique beauty of the landscape, its abundant forests and lush green valleys, its healthy climate and the traditional hospitality of its residents, have all made Elati one of the most de-veloped holiday resorts of the region. Green mountain-peaks, such as “Arkoudotrypa” at 1600 metres, as well as many springs (such as those in Kanalia, Kalogeromandri, Gouves, etc.) com-plement the most beautiful picture of Elati.

At the village entrance, and at specially designed wooden stalls that have been set up by the municipality, residents offer various local products for sale, including rare types of herbs, mountain tea, oregano, lime blossom, musk, etc., a selection of beverages, home-made li-queurs, dairy products, honey, preserves, tsipouro, traditional pasta products, and dried flower arrangements. The visitor has many choices, which also include hand-crafted pies with home-made pastry and wholesome ingredients, traditionally kneaded bread, lamb cooked in a clay pot, and other special delicacies (such as “splinadero” and “kokoretsi”) made with local meat, as well as game (wild boar, roe deer, deer, hare, partridge, and woodcock).

Shortly before arriving at Pyli, we will make a brief stop in order to admire the single-arch stone-built bridge and waterfall of Palaiokaria, which is 26 metres long. Following this, we will visit “Porta Panagia” (a byzantine church) and the single-arch bridge of Porta, which is believed to have been built by Saint Vissarionas, the patron saint of Pyli, Kalabaka and Trikala, who is a notable figure of Christianity. The bridge was built in 1514 AD, connecting the rivers Iktamos and Koziakas, while it was also the only passage way for the mountainous popula-tions to and from the plain of Trikala.

Continuing our exploration, we will visit the beautiful town of Pyli (meaning ‘Gate’, in Greek). The two mountains that face one another, namely Koziakas and Itamos, are separated by the Portiatis river and form a natural, grand-looking Gate (/Pyli) – which is also where the name of the town comes from.

GRWK08 – Lake Plastiras II – suggested 3/4 day tour in Thessaly

Day 1: Athens – Kalabaka (353 Km).

Day 2: Elati – Pertouli – Trikala (100 Km).

Day 3: Kalabaka – Metsovo - Kalabaka(70 Km).

Day 4η: Kalabaka – Lake Plastiras – Karditsa – Athens (410 Km).

Please note: We will not be visiting Metsovo on the 3-day tour (total distance: 870 Km). Departing from Athens with destination Lamia, we will travel on the new national motorway of Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Evzones (P.A.Th.E). Later on, we will make our way through the plain of Thessaly via Domokos, having as our destination the beautiful town of Kalabaka, which is built on the ‘roots’ of the rocks of Meteora. We will settle into our ho-tel that will act as the base for our excursions. We will go on a Panoramic Tour of Meteora and visit the monasteries. We will enjoy the unique view offered by the rocks, owed to this rare geological phenomenon, where they rise almost vertically upon the land. We will also marvel at the view of the Pineios river and mount Koziakas (Kerketion). Meteora had acted as a refuge for many hermits. Before returning to Kalabaka, we will have the option of visiting the new and impressive cave of Theopetra, which is where the oldest footprints in Greece have been discovered. On the following day, we will depart for the mountainous resorts of Pindos, riding along forested, paved curvy roads towards the famous and amazingly beautiful “Livadia of Pertouli”, consisting of lusciously green lands where the cows of local farmers graze carefree! Following that, we will reach the picturesque village of Pertouli, which is a wonderful area of eastern Pindos, built at an altitude of 1200 metres.

Day-by-day tour itinerary: continue

We will arrive in Trikala in the afternoon, having the opportunity to explore the city, with free time for a stroll. Return to Kalabaka and optional visit to the new Museum of Natural History of Meteora & the Mushroom Museum.

On the next day, we will set out for Metsovo after having our breakfast, following a route that will take us through incredible natural landscapes, with amazing tree varieties and pic-turesque villages.

You will have the opportunity to sample the local traditional cuisine and, following that, we will have free time for a coffee. Alternatively, we can admire the artificial lake of the springs of the Aoos river. We shall make our way back to Kalabaka through a lush green route.

Following breakfast on the last day of the tour, we will depart for a tour around lake Plasti-ras, where the scenery is absolutely enchanting, filled with fir, chestnut, and plane trees.

Lake Plastiras is artificial, and it was constructed on the plateau of Nevropolis by sealing the bed of the Megdovas river, which is a tributary of the Acheloos river. In the old days, at the site where the islet of Morfovouni is currently situated, there was a small natural lake that was referred to as “gourna Vava” by the locals.

The various intersections constitute, in and by themselves, a temptation for the traveller, who is inspired to visit those villages that lie outside his set itinerary, and include Meseniko-las, the Monastery of Koroni, Morfovouni, etc.

At the north-western “tip” of the lake lies the picturesque settlement of Kryoneri, and fur-ther south one can find the Kalyvia of Pezoula. At the village of Fylakti, we will see the church of Agia Triada with its magnificent iconostasis, crafted in 1852 AD.

On the main lakeside road we will come across Neochori, where we will visit the Monastery of Pelekiti, as well as the large natural fiord in Belokomitis.

We will pass through various picturesque villages, arriving at the dam of lake Plastiras, mov-ing on to the village of Moucha and, further on, to Kastania and Labero for a coffee stop and a walk along the lake shores.

Following this, we will make a stop at the pretty town of Karditsa, where we will have the op-tion of enjoying a meal and a stroll around its pedestrianised streets. We will return to Ath-ens late in the afternoon.

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