One of the most spectacular trips in
North-west Greece is into the fascinating Zagoria country on the
perimeter of the Vikos Gorge and the Pindos Mountains. As I have said on the Metsovo page - most tourists never
know about this region, let alone make a point of seeing it. By a twist of fate I booked myself on a tour, only to find the bus had
broken down - instead I was driven in a car with two other tourists. Consequently we discovered the real Zagoria - the
storks on their nests, the ancient bridges, grey stone towns, the wildflowers and of course the stunning Vikos Gorge itself.
I have since been back several times, driven each time by the same driver. The whole area is truly awesome.
(See also my page of Metsovo for more pictures of the Pindos Range.)
perimeter of the Vikos Gorge and the Pindos Mountains. As I have said on the Metsovo page - most tourists never
know about this region, let alone make a point of seeing it. By a twist of fate I booked myself on a tour, only to find the bus had
broken down - instead I was driven in a car with two other tourists. Consequently we discovered the real Zagoria - the
storks on their nests, the ancient bridges, grey stone towns, the wildflowers and of course the stunning Vikos Gorge itself.
I have since been back several times, driven each time by the same driver. The whole area is truly awesome.
(See also my page of Metsovo for more pictures of the Pindos Range.)
 1200 Stork Nest on Power Pole (one baby) P1040765.JPG |
 1201 Mama Stork P1040955.JPG |
 1202 Mama and Papa Stork P1050549.JPG |
 1203 Mama and Papa Stork and Friends P1050554.JPG |
 1204 Mama Stork and three babies P1050937.JPG |
 1205 Ancient Stone Bridge at Kipi, Zagoria P1040780.JPG |
 1206 Bridge at Kipi, Zagoria P1050240.JPG |
 1207 Crossing the Bridge, Kipi, Zagoria P1040783.JPG |
 1208 Crossing the Bridge, Kipi, Zagoria P1040791.JPG |
 1209 Cattle crossing the river, Zagoria P1050243.JPG |
 1210 Old 3-span Bridge, Kipi, Zagoria P1040804.JPG |
 1211 Old Stone Bridge, Kipi, Zagoria P1050251.JPG |
 1212 Another view of the stone bridge, Kipi, Zagoria P1040807.JPG |
 1213 In among the wildflowers, Zagoria P1040811.JPG |
 1214 Monodendri, Zagoria P1040823 (2).JPG |
 1215 Monodendri, Zagoria P1040835.JPG |
 1216 Monodrendri, Zagoria P1050127.JPG |
 1217 Monodendri, Zagoria P1050125.JPG |
 1218 Monodendri, Zagoria P1050126.JPG |
 1219 General Store, Monodendri,Zagoria P1050131.JPG |
 1220 Old Slate Roofs, Monodendri, Zagoria P1050133.JPG |
 1221 Pathway to the Gorge Lookout, Zagoria P1050140.JPG |
 1222 Old Stonework along pathway, Zagoria P1050153.JPG |
 1223 Pathway to Vikos Gorge P1040859.JPG |
 1224 View from Pathway to Vikos Gorge P1050146.JPG |
 1225 Narrow Precipitous Path to Vikos Gorge P1050161.JPG |
 1226 As far as you can go! Vikos Gorge P1050167.JPG |
 1227 Top of the Vikos Gorge Path 1050175.JPG |
 1228 Vikos Gorge P1040866.JPG |
 1229 Wild geraniums on edge of drop to Vikos Gorge P1040874.JPG |
 1230 Lookout Point, Vikos Gorge P1040878.JPG |
 1231 Vikos Gorge P1040881.JPG.JPG |
 1232 Edge of Vikos Gorge P1040880.JPG |
 1233 Vikos Gorge P1040863.JPG |
 1234 Lookout Point, Vikos Gorge P1040891.JPG |
 1235 Lookout Point, Vikos Gorge P1040884.JPG |
 1236 Looking down into the Vikos Gorge P1040888.JPG |
 1237 Looking down into the Vikos Gorge P1040894.JPG |
 1238 Vikos Gorge P1040871.JPG |
 1239 Vikos Gorge P1040882 (2).JPG |
 1240 Vikos Gorge P1040895.JPG |
 1241 Vikos Gorge P1040867.JPG |
 1242 Vikos Gorge P1040870.JPG |
 1243 Vikos Gorge P1040873.JPG |
 1244 Amazing Vikos Gorge P1040885.JPG |
 1245 Helen and Richard with 2 Dutch Tourists, Vikos Gorge P1050204.JPG |
 1246 Orlaya - Wildflowers, Vikos Gorge P1050121.JPG |
 1247 Wild Grape Hyacinths, Vikos Gorge P1040886.JPG |
 1248 Pink Vicia - Wildflowers, Vikos Gorge P1040902.JPG |
 1249 Tiny Visitor, wildflowers, Vikos Gorge P1040818.JPG |
 1250 Beautiful Wildflowers, Zagoria P1050637.JPG |
 1251 Petrorhagia velutina - Wildflowers, Zagoria P1040906.JPG |
 1252 Wild Bee Orchid, Zagoria P1050234.JPG |
 1253 Phlomis cretica - Wildflowers, Zagoria P1050148.JPG |
 1254 Wild ranunculus, Zagoria P1050226.JPG |
 1255 Tortoise on the road! I picked him up to save him. Zagoria P1040830.JPG |
 1256 Slow and steady... Zagoria P1050652.JPG |
 1257 Little Lizard, Zagoria P1050179.JPG |
 1258 Rock formation along the road, Zagoria P1040824.JPG |
 1259 Rock formations, Zagoria P1040826.JPG |
 1260 Vikos Gorge from Vikos Lookout P1040913.JPG |
 1261 Best seat for the view, Vikos Gorge P1050580.JPG |
 1262 Sit among the wildflowers, Vikos Gorge P1040921.JPG |
 1263 Another view of the Vikos Gorge P1040918.JPG |
 1264 Hillside and yellow flowers, Vikos Gorge P1040925.JPG |
 1265 Hillside and flowers, Vikos Gorge P1050582.JPG |
 1266 Hillside and flowers, Vikos Gorge P1040915.JPG |
 1267 Wildflowers and the Vikos Gorge P1050602.JPG |
 1268 Cafe in Vikos, Zagoria P1050577.JPG |
 1269 Lunchtime in Vikos, Zagoria P1050573.JPG |
 1270 Grey Stone Villages of Zagoria P1040927.JPG |
 1271 Grey Stone Villages of Zagoria P1040947.JPG |
 1272 View from Aristi, Zagoria P1040948.JPG |
 1273 Grey Stone Villages of Zagoria P1050560.JPG |
 1274 Grey Stone Villages of Zagoria P1050561.JPG |
 1275 Voidomatis River near Aristi, Zagoria P1040931.JPG |
 1276 Miasma on the Voidomatis River, Zagoria P1040937.JPG |
 1277 Miasma on the Voidomatis River, Zagoria P1040935.JPG |
 1278 Shady tree picnic spot, Voidomatis River, Zagoria P1040945.JPG |
 1279 Orlaya and Fennel, Wildflowers, Zagoria P1050252.JPG |
 1280 Switchback Road - Aristi to Papingo, Zagoria P1040949.JPG |
 1281 Switchback Road - Aristi to Papingo, Zagoria P1050571.JPG |
 1282 Stone houses - Papingo, Zagoria P1050609.JPG |
 1283 Stone Houses - Papingo, Zagoria P1050610.JPG |
 1284 Stonework - Papingo, Zagoria P1050620.JPG |
 1285 Working on the slate roof - Papingo, Zagoria P1050623.JPG |
 1286 Old water tap - Papingo, Zagoria P1050628.JPG |
 1287 Eleni Gage's Rebuilt House, Lia, Epiros P1050647.JPG |
 1288 Helen outside Eleni Gage's House, Lia, Epiros P1050639.JPG |
 1289 Old deserted house, near Lia, Epiros P1050650.JPG |
 1290 Hillside towns - Greek side of border with Albania P1050649.JPG |
 1291 Lysimachia serpyllifolia - Wildflower, Zagoria P1060072.JPG |
