Vikos Gorge

The Vikos Gorge cuts through the Zagori mountains of northwestern Greece in a dramatic sequence of near-vertical limestone cliffs rising up to 1,350 metres above the river below. It is one of the most spectacular natural features in Europe and forms the heart of the Vikos-Aoos National Park. The standard hike through the gorge starts at the village of Monodendri and ends at the village of Vikos, taking about five to six hours — challenging in places but not technical.

The views from the rim at Monodendri and Oxia lookout before you descend are extraordinary: the gorge opens below you, the stone villages cling to the opposite walls, and the Voidomatis catches the light far below. Spring and autumn are the best seasons — summer can be hot in the gorge floor and winter closes many of the routes.

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A story
The Guinness Book of Records recognises the Vikos Gorge as the world's deepest gorge relative to its width: at its narrowest, the walls rise over 1,350 metres above a gap of just a few metres. The gorge floor is the Voidomatis river, whose crystal-clear glacial water has carved the canyon over millions of years — you can drink directly from it on the gorge walk, which is not something you can say about many European rivers.