Epirus is a mountainous region in northwestern Greece, bordering Albania to the north and the Ionian Sea to the west. It is one of the most dramatically beautiful parts of Greece, with the Pindus mountains running through its interior and the Vikos Gorge — the world's deepest gorge relative to its width — cutting through its heart.
The region has a character quite distinct from the islands or from Athens. The Zagori villages, 46 traditional stone settlements scattered across the mountains above Ioannina, are among the finest examples of traditional Greek vernacular architecture and are now a UNESCO Global Geopark. The regional capital Ioannina sits on the shores of Lake Pamvotis and has a well-preserved Ottoman old town; a short boat ride from the city leads to a small lake island where Ali Pasha, the powerful semi-autonomous Ottoman ruler, was assassinated in 1822.
Epirus is excellent for outdoor activities: hiking the Vikos Gorge, white-water rafting on the Voidomatis (one of the cleanest rivers in Europe), and skiing in the mountains in winter. The Cave of Perama, just outside Ioannina, is one of the largest show caves in Greece. The coast at Igoumenitsa is a major ferry port for Italy.