Vikos–Aoös National Park

Vikos–Aoös National Park is a national park in Epirus in north-western Greece, founded in 1973 and located north of the city of Ioannina, in the northern part of the Pindus range. It is named after the two major gorges of the area, and its mountainous terrain holds numerous rivers, lakes, caves, deep canyons and dense coniferous and deciduous forest. The park is part of the Natura 2000 network and is one of the UNESCO Geoparks. Visitors come for rafting, canoe-kayaking, hiking and mountain biking.

Visiting Vikos–Aoös

The classic walk is the Vikos Gorge, from Monodendri to Vikos village or Mikro Papigo (or the other way), five to six hours on an obvious, waymarked path. The full loop is rated hard, about 24.8 km with 1,130 m of climbing. A shorter walk goes from Monodendri to the Agios Ioannis stone bridge. The gorge walk is open and well marked from early summer to early autumn; start early, carry plenty of water, and have cash for the taxi back from Vikos village. The Beloi viewpoint is an easy 30-minute walk from the car park near Vradeto village. Monodendri is the most convenient base, though Vikos village, Papigo and Vitsa also work. The Drakolimni lake walk starts from Papigo.