Climb Mount Samitos from Petrochori

The route at a glance

Route suitable for: Hiking.

Hiking on: tracks and paths created by goats (unclear in some places).

Degree of difficulty: Easy + (for experienced hikers).

Start: Petrochori village

End: Summit of Samitos, where the stone-built church of the Ascension of the Lord.

Stages: The hiking is developed in two stages. A first on a dirt road from Ptrochori to the church of Agios Antonios, and a second from Agios Antonios to the top on a path. The first section can also be done with a suitable 4X4 vehicle, following the dirt road that starts from the northern end of Petrochori towards Amari.

Special features: Lack of formal paths and presence of grids between the pastures – Rough terrain.

Marking: Limited

Drinking water point on the route: Water source a few hundred meters before the church of Agios Antonios (dirt road deviation to the west).

Realization: Any time of the year.

Equipment

Spring – Summer – Autumn: Hiking or Trekking shoes, long trousers (due to the presence of dense clumps of woody bushes), walking stick, hat, sunglasses, water (1½ liter water bottle).

Winter: Winter hiking shoes, gaiters, (for possible snowfall in January – February), winter clothing, raincoat, walking stick, water (1½ liter water bottle).

The route in numbers

Stage Α. Petrochori – Agios Antonios Chapel

Route length: 4,27 km (on dirt road)

Duration: 1h20′ – 1h20′

Minimum altitude: 367m

Highest altitude: 792m

Total altitude gain / loss: +433m / -1m

Slope: Maximum +39,4 % / -30,4 %. Average +12,6 % / -7,8 %

Stage B. Agios Antonios Chapel – Summit of Samitos

Route length: 1,4 km

Duration: 0h35′ – 0h40′

Minimum altitude: 792m

Highest altitude: 1013m

Altitude gain / loss:  +227m / – 9m

Slope: Maximum +42,9 % / -26,7,0 %. Average +16,9 % / -5,4 %