These mountains receive a heavy snow-fall each winter, but the summits are usually accessible by late spring. We walk the 1000m-deep Vikos Gorge and explore forests of hornbeam, beech and pine. Above the tree line there are alpine meadows, a riot of flowers in spring. The Pindos region is thinly populated and much of the lower ground is still covered by dense forest within which live wolves, bears and lynx.
Griffon vultures soar above the peaks, while Egyptian vultures haunt the gorges.
The Pindos and Mount Olympus are botanically rich, with over 3000 plant species and many rarities, particularly on Olympus itself and on the unusual serpentine soils of Smolikas peak. The high alpine pastures are grazed in summer by flocks of sheep, which are milked to produce the many excellent local cheeses such as kefalotiri. A further attraction of this tour is the chance to visit the famous monasteries of Meteora, perched on almost inaccessible pinnacles. In order to complete the traverse of Smolikas in a day we also spend one night under canvas. In the pretty stone-roofed villages of Zagoria and on our last night on the island in the lake of Ioannina we stay in traditional small lodging houses.