Climb Mount Psiloritis from Kouroutes

The route at a glance

Route suitable for: Mountain hiking.

Hiking on: dirt roads and footpaths.

Degree of difficulty: Moderate + (for the level of experienced hikers)

Start: Kouroutes village.

End: Timios Stavros (Psiloritis peak), where the stone church of the same name is located.

Stages: The hiking is developed in two stages. The first one on a dirt road from Kouroutes to the shelter at Tumbotos Prinos, and a second from Tumbotos Prinos to the top, on a path. The first section can also be done by a suitable 4X4 vehicle, following the dirt road that starts from the southern exit of Kourouti towards Nithavri. Caution! This road is quite difficult for drivers without mountain dirt road driving experience, especially between the 9th and 12th kilometers.

Special features: Rough relief just above the shelter, very strong winds at the top (especially when blowing southerly in autumn and early spring), heavy snow cover above 1500m during the winter months, with frequent ice around the ridge between Agathia and Timios Stavros peaks.

Marking: Very good marking (E4 signs in yellow – black color), between the shelter of Tοumbotos Prinos and the peak of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross).

Drinking water point on the route: Source of drinking water in Pardi (at 7.6 km of the route Kouroutes – Tumbotos Prinos), but no other water point until Timios Stavros. In case of great need, water can be obtained from the cistern located in the NW part of the peak (just behind the chapel of Timios Stavros). But be careful! For the safety of your health, the amount of water you will put in your bottle should be disinfected with a suitable disinfectant.

Realization: Any time of the year.

Equipment

Spring – Summer – Autumn: Hiking or Trekking shoes, short pants, walking stick, hat, sunglasses, water (2-3 liters).

Winter: Winter hiking shoes, gaiters, crampons, piolet, winter clothing, raincoat, water (1½ liter water bottle).

The route in numbers

Stage Α. Kouroutes – Toumbotos Prinos

Route length: 12,8 km (on dirt road)

Duration: 2h45′ – 3h00′

Minimum altitude: 537m

Highest altitude: 1528 m

Total altitude gain / loss: +970m / -11m

Slope: Maximum +30,6% / -18,1%. Average +10,5% / -5,1%

Stage B. Toumbotos Prinos – Timios Stavros

Route length: 4.1 km

Duration: 3h40′ – 3h50′

Minimum altitude: 1528m

Highest altitude: 2456m

Altitude gain / loss:  +984m / – 59m

Slope: Maximum +43,1 % / -14,3 %. Average +23,3 % / -7,3 %