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4.0
| 2 reviews

Track Wild Bears and Hike in Northern Greece

5 nights
Easy

Hike through the world’s deepest gorge and track wild bears across the beautiful Pindos Mountains

What's Included?

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From

excluding flights
From

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.0
| 2 reviews
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
May 2022
Annik
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
May 2022
Laura
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
May 2022
Laura
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
May 2022
Laura
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
May 2022
Laura
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
May 2022
Laura

Explore remote bear territory and get involved in the conservation work being done to protect these incredible animals in the wild

Hike an unspoilt and little-known corner of Europe staying in local independent guesthouses

Visit the Greek Grand Canyon, Vikos Gorge – the deepest in the world

Key Information

Day 1

Kastoria

Kastoria, Northern Greece

Hiking

1.5hrs · 5km

Head to Kastoria, your base for the bear tracking adventure ahead. Check into your guesthouse, gaze out at the lake and then meet up with your guides and the rest of your team. If there's enough time, take a short hike to a nearby area frequented by bears, before heading out for dinner. You have an early start in the morning so you may want to hold back on the Ouzo.

Day 2

Bears

Hiking

3hrs · 7km

Head to an area where bears forage for food and If you're lucky, catch a glimpse of a wild bear going about its morning routine.Fuel up yourself, then hike to a spectacular wilderness area where your guides conduct regular field research. During the hike you'll learn about radio-tracking methods, look for signs of bear activity, measure footprints and watch remote camera traps being set. Visit the sanctuary at Nymfaio and see the important work being done to give orphaned and rescued bears a better life. Here you will definitely see them up close.

Day 3

The mountain trails of Gramos

Hiking

3hrs · 7km · 500m up

Pack your day bag and head to the spectacular Mount Gramos (2520m) for a days hiking in the mountains. This is a wild and beautiful area, with pine and beech forests nestled beneath the peaks of the Pindos Mountains and four different rivers descending into the forested valleys. Head back to Kastoria for a well-earned rest and then take a quick walk around the lake, followed by a classic Greek dinner in a local Taverna.

Day 4

Bears, bears, bears!

Hiking

2hrs · 5km · 100m up

Start the day with a spot of crack-of-dawn bear tracking. After breakfast, head out again for another wilderness hike, this time keeping an eye out for paw tracks, droppings, hairs and scratch markings on the trees. Wave goodbye to Kastoria and hop in the car for a drive to one of the most picturesque villages on the trip, Mikro Papigno, located right in the heart of Northern Pindos National Park.

Day 5

Vikos Gorge

Hiking

4-5hrs · 10km · 800m up

Hike through the world's deepest gorge (relative to its width), known as ‘Greece's Grand Canyon’. A small trail takes you straight down to the bottom of the gorge where you can stare up at the sheer walls until you reach your lunch spot on the lovely Voidomatis River. Here you can wild swim and drink the water straight from the bank.

Ascend back up and explore Zagori, an area of extraordinary natural beauty made up of two national parks and little villages connected by arched stone bridges. Head back to your guesthouse for a last Greek feast and have an Ouzo or two. You've earned it.

Day 6

Return to Thessaloniki

Have a final breakfast in Mikro Papingo and then pack up and drive back to Thessaloniki. You'll be dropped off at the airport in time for your return flight, or at a hotel in Thessaloniki if you are staying on in Greece.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Thessaloniki Airport

14:00

Ends

Thessaloniki Airport

13:30

Transfers

Your host will let you know meeting point prior to departure. On the final day you are free to book any flight that departs after 15:30.

If you are unable to take the group transfer from Thessaloniki on day 1, there are various options to make your own way to Kastoria. Buses from Thessaloniki to Kastpria take approximately 3 hours and cost around €25. You can also take a train from Thessaloniki to Florina, and then a 45-minute taxi to Kastoria. This option will cost around €70.

If you would like to be dropped off at a different location than Thessaloniki airport, please discuss this with your host before or during the trip.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Thessaloniki from major airports across the UK and Europe.

Day 1

Guesthouse · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 5

Guesthouse · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 6

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

A Greek salad with feta cheese on top.

You're in Greece, the food is incredible! You'll have traditional food at various points during the trip, including classic Greek evenings in local tavernas. Vegans and Vegetarians can be catered for on this trip, just let your host know in advance.

Your guide will help organise lunches to best suit the logistics of the itinerary and will suggest a variety of local foods for you to enjoy!

What is the accommodation like?

Vissinokipos Guesthouse, Kastoria
Kastoria

You’ll stay in a twin room in a locally owned, independent guesthouse where the views are almost as good as the local food and hospitality.

Dias Guesthouse, Mikro Papigo below the Dias Mountains
Mikro Papingo

You'll stay in another beautiful, Greek guesthouse beneath the towering peaks of the Pindos mountains - a spectacular and very comfortable base for your hikes in the area.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).

Annik(May 2022)
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...
This trip was really outstanding! The highl...

This trip was really outstanding! The highlight was the sighting of a bear! Never imagined that the mountains in Northern Greece were that beautiful!! The hike is the Vikos Gorge was really impressive!! Our guide Maria was super enthusiastic, very much driven and well informed!!! Our guide Pandelis and the driver Kostas were also very helpful. The food at the local establishments was very tasteful. I would recommend this trip to everyone that wants to discover a highly unknown but amazing part of Europe.

Laura(May 2022)
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...
I think this trip was good, but probably mo...

I think this trip was good, but probably more for a certain type of traveller. I was expecting the bear sanctuary to be the highlight but it didn't quite live up to expectations. The highlight was definitely Vikos Gorge.

Our guide Maria was lovely, very enthusiastic about nature, and also made some changes to work around the weather (we went to Prespa Lake instead of Mount Gramos due to the weather, and it was stunning). The accomodation was great - very comfortable, friendly hosts and great views.

For me the trip was slightly to slow a pace with a lot of time spent eating and drinking whereas I prefer to pack in as much as possible. Whether that is a good or bad thing will depend on you as a traveller.

Guides

Expert, English-speaking conservation guides

Accommodation

5 nights in local, independent guesthouses

Meals

All breakfasts and dinners

Transfers

To and from the airport and everything in between

Permits

All national park permits and entry fees

Our trips are hassle-free by design. We include all the activities and equipment, as well as many of the meals, so you can simply rock up with your rucksack and share the adventure with your new pals.

Personal Expenses

You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What do I need to bring?

Bags

  • Soft duffel bag or rucksack
  • Daypack
  • Waterproof liner for day pack

Clothes

  • Waterproof jacket
  • Waterproof trousers
  • Breathable wicking layers
  • Fleece jacket or similar
  • Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
  • T-shirts
  • Underwear & socks
  • Swimwear (for summer and autumn)
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunhat
  • Something to sleep in
  • Hiking boots (worn-in)
  • Sandals

Other

  • Universal travel plug adapter (if you travel from outside the EU)
  • Spare camera batteries
  • Binoculars
  • Passports (and visas if needed)
  • Travel Insurance documents
  • Earplugs
  • Insect repellent
  • Suncream
  • Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
  • Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
  • Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry out)
  • Alcohol hand-gel
  • Reusable water bottle x1 ltr
  • Energy bars and snacks
  • Walking poles (optional)
*Requests for optional extras can be made after booking on your “My Bookings” page

Double/Twin room in Kastoria

Payable Before Departure

Double/Twin room in Kastoria

Single room in Kastoria

Payable Before Departure

Single room in Kastoria

Double/Twin room in Mikro Papingo

Payable Before Departure

Double/Twin room in Mikro Papingo

Single room in Mikro Papingo

Payable Before Departure

Single room in Mikro Papingo

Optional Private Room Upgrade

Payable Before Departure

Optional Private Room Upgrade

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 267kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

Yes. You will visit the bear sanctuary at Nymfaio where you are guaranteed to see bears up close. As for seeing wild bears, nature can never make any guarantees, but you will be spending a good amount of time deep in bear-country guided by true experts, so you’ll have a fair chance. Be reassured that we follow responsible wildlife observation guidelines and will never use bear baiting to please tourists.

The water is perfectly safe to drink in each part of Greece that you will be visiting. You can even drink from certain rivers during the hikes. Do bring one or two reusable water bottles, as you'll need to load up before the bear tracking and hiking.

For current advice about travelling in Greece, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

We've got your back

Guaranteed to run

All Much Better Adventures trips are now guaranteed to run. Once you’ve booked your spot you can immediately make your travel arrangements, no uncertainty, no hanging about (excludes 'request to book' departures). Full details

Flexible payments

Secure your spot with the minimum deposit and pay off the remaining balance in as many instalments as you like, with no interest or fees. Full details

Happiness Guarantee

We’re so confident you’ll have an amazing time we’ll put our money on it. Full details

Full financial protection

To give you complete peace of mind Much Better Adventures is backed by ABTOT, ABTA and ATOL memberships. Full details

Tried & Trusted

Much Better Adventures is rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 1000 verified trip reviews averaging 4.8/5.

Connect before you go

You'll be invited to join a WhatsApp group to get to know each other before your big adventure together. Full details

DEPARTURE DATES

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