An endless playground for nature lovers
Mount Parnassus is far more than just Arachova and the Parnassus Ski Center. The eighth highest mountain in Greece has been designated a National Park since 1938, successfully preserving its rich wildlife. Peaks, forests, meadows, historic caves and waterfalls await you to discover them, offering countless outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, mountaineering and ski touring.
The renowned fir forest of Mt Parnassus, reaching up to 1,800 metres altitude, shelters countless species of birds and animals as well as rare species of plants, some of which bloom nowhere else in the world, such as Paeonia parnassica. Here, you will enjoy breathtaking hikes, discover caves and enjoy nature at its best.
One of the highlights is the European Path E4, which crosses the western part of Mt Parnassus from Agoriani to Itea, connecting the mountain with the sea and the fir forest with ancient olive groves.
A very popular and easy route is the trail-forest road that starts past Livadi and leads after 1 hour to the famous Korykio Andron, a cave located at an altitude of 1,360 m.
Three scenic circular trails through the forest, fully signposted, start from the location Varko, while two longer routes are Livadi - Deffner shelter (2 hours) and Agoriani-Polydrosos (5 hours).
Setting off from the village of Vargiani, you can reach Neraidospilia (Fairy Cave), while the most important geological formation, also in the fir forest, is the Eptastomos precipice, home to the southernmost glacier in Europe.
Besides hiking, you can also explore the area by mountain bike and in winter with snowshoes, at the edge of the alpine forest.
On the fringes of the fir forest, villages such as Ano Polydrosos, Agoriani and Vargiani have been attracting their own visitors in recent years. Stone-built houses, beautiful village squares, sweeping views of the peaks and the forest promise an unforgettable mountain escape.
The renowned fir forest of Mt Parnassus, reaching up to 1,800 metres altitude, shelters countless species of birds and animals as well as rare species of plants, some of which bloom nowhere else in the world, such as Paeonia parnassica. Here, you will enjoy breathtaking hikes, discover caves and enjoy nature at its best.
One of the highlights is the European Path E4, which crosses the western part of Mt Parnassus from Agoriani to Itea, connecting the mountain with the sea and the fir forest with ancient olive groves.
A very popular and easy route is the trail-forest road that starts past Livadi and leads after 1 hour to the famous Korykio Andron, a cave located at an altitude of 1,360 m.
Three scenic circular trails through the forest, fully signposted, start from the location Varko, while two longer routes are Livadi - Deffner shelter (2 hours) and Agoriani-Polydrosos (5 hours).
Setting off from the village of Vargiani, you can reach Neraidospilia (Fairy Cave), while the most important geological formation, also in the fir forest, is the Eptastomos precipice, home to the southernmost glacier in Europe.
Besides hiking, you can also explore the area by mountain bike and in winter with snowshoes, at the edge of the alpine forest.
On the fringes of the fir forest, villages such as Ano Polydrosos, Agoriani and Vargiani have been attracting their own visitors in recent years. Stone-built houses, beautiful village squares, sweeping views of the peaks and the forest promise an unforgettable mountain escape.
