Arrive on your own in Stemnitsa. You may visit the official Menalon Trail office in the central square of Stemnitsa for a briefing/general orientation and suggestions (though these will be thoroughly explained also inside your roadbook). Stemnitsa is traditionally the village of goldsmiths and still houses the Stemnitsa's Silver and Goldsmith School. There is also a nice folk museum. *Easiest arrival via Athens and Kalamata airports. From Athens Airport: public transport to the KTEL bus station Kifissou with the direct Airport Express Bus (line X93), followed by a direct bus to Tripoli (appr. once per hour; 2hrs drive). From Tripoli bus station to Stemnitsa you can take a taxi on the spot or pre-order private transfer with us. From Kalamata Airport: public transport or taxi to the KTEL bus station in Kalamata, followed by a direct bus to Tripoli (appr. 5 buses daily. From Tripoli bus station to Stemnitsa you can take a taxi on the spot or pre-order private transfer with us.

Start the hiking tours from the village following a on old mule track that heads towards Prodromos Monastery - hanging on the high cliffs. You can visit it or continue along the path that traverses the gorge. If you wish, you can ascend to the Old Philosophou Monastery dating back to 963 before continuing to the New Philosophou Monastery that was founded in 1691. Greece is very rich of monasteries that kept the traditions, culture and language alive throughout the centuries or foreign rule.  Through lush plants, you ascend via the left bank of the Lousios River towards Dimitsana. Tzani bridge will cross the river and will take to the very interesting Open Air Water Power Museum. You can observe watermills and gunpowder mills that made the fame and wealth of Dimitsana, a town built on the ruins of ancient Theftis.

The Menalon hiking trail is divided into sections and today's one (“Dimitsana-Zygovisti”) ascends from Lousios valley to the outskirts of the pine forest. The trail is not steep so you can enjoy it on your own pace with enough time for taking pictures and admiring the beauty that surrounds you. From the church of St. Paraskevi you can enjoy impressive views of median basin of Lousios river with the settlements of Dimitsana, Paliochori and Zatouna standing out in the wooded landscape. Your walking journey continues on dirt roads through old agriculture fields with remarkable peaks in the distant. Every place here has played even a simple role in forming the eternal history but Zygovisti played a huge role during the Greek independence war of 1821. A big Memorial located nearby is dedicated to this event of great local importance. Take a break in some of the local cafes until feeling ready to continue to the Western Menalon massif. The first part of the trail passes a beautiful ravine where you will reach another church (Agios Georgios) and the adjacent spring. The other half of the route will go uphill through dense forests, where you can optionally climb the highest peak - Pliovouni (1643m). After this challenging section, you descend via small roads and paths to the mountain settlement of Elati.

You can postpone your hike by visiting first the woodcraft workshop before descending from Elati to the riverbed of Mylaon River. Once you start today's trek you will pass through Pirgaki Springs that supply village of Vytina with water, after which you reach a stone build Makrinou fountain - a very nice place to make a stop. Along the trail the vegetation becomes even more rich with high plane trees. Then you leave the valley and start zigzagging uphill via path carved into the rock until you reach the Artotsi fountain. Another church on your way will give you the opportunity to stop and admire the great scenery over the valley and the mountain. A small road will take you then down to Vytina - a small mountain village protected according to legends by Poseidon and Demetra since ancient times.

Today you will have the chance to admire an amazing landscape. A zig-zag path from Vytina will lead you to the valley of Mylaon River. Many bridges you will cross (wooden/stone) but probably the most impressive one will be Zarzi - a single-arch stone bridge with beautiful openings from both sides. The path takes you further past a peculiarly shaped limestone pillar. Another stone bridge is the connection between Vytina and the Western Gortynian villages (Tzavarenas’ bridge). The path gains altitude and reveals a unique rocky landscape covered with shrubs. A more gentle trek descends down towards Nymphasia - a small vivid satellite of Vytina. You follow the route towards Kernitsas Monastery and just before the monastery turn to your accommodation.

Today’s walk starts from Kernitsa Bridge and steeply goes uphill to Kernitsas Monastery - a big monastic complex dated back to 12th century - probably the oldest monastery in the prefecture of Arcadia. Surrounded by well-maintained terrace fields, on the top of a rock, it gives the sense of a very isolated place. Back then and even now this is the preferred way of ascetic life for those who want to devote their life to God. Your trek continues on a long steep slope of Kastro. The old pathway will take you then to Gavros Spring, after which you enter a small village of Magouliana where you can spend some time in a cozy tavern or café. Once you are ready to leave Magouliana, the trail will show up with impressive views, surrounded by rocky peaks. Descend towards an old sanatorium, known as the Mana Sanatorium and then gradually lift off to the village of Valtesiniko (well-known for its woodcarvers). The village has plenty of taverns where you can enjoy your evening meal.

Your final walking day, before you finish your Greek Adventure, will pass by an impressive old school in Valtesiniko Village and access the upper peripheral road of the settlement, from where the view overlooks all the northern plains. Gain attitude via a cement road (1250 m) after which the footpath runs along the ridge where the old Byzantine fortress of Valtesiniko is nested. The trail traverses a dense fir forest through numerous widened paths. You will pass many open spaces, forests, splendid panorama, churches, watermills and fountains until you reach the end of the Menalon Trail and your trekking adventure - Lagkadia, the village of the stone builders.

To Athens Airport: from Lagkadia to Tripoli bus station: you can take a taxi on the spot (or pre-order a transfer with us at the time of booking). There is also a public bus (about 3x per day). Please check the time table with the reception staff a day in advance. From Tripoli bus station to Athens/Airport there are relatively frequent bus services (1,30hrs drive to Athens and then 30min to Athens Airport). To Kalamata Airport: from Lagkadia to Tripoli bus station: you can take a taxi on the spot (or pre-order a transfer with us at the time of booking). There is also a public bus (about 3x per day). Please check the time table with the reception staff a day in advance. From Tripoli bus station to Kalamata/Airport there are appr. 5 buses per day (1,30hrs drive to Kalamata and then 30min to Kalamata Airport).