TGR’s Guide to Skiing With Greek Gods - The Bucket List

Skiing is a magical catalyst that can take you across the globe in a heartbeat. A great ski trip not only comes down to the perfect blend of terrain and snow, but an equally amazing combination of place and people. This is what drew TGR to the mountains of Greece last winter, to explore the mountains of this not so typically ski destination.

We talked to our guide Makis Logiotatidis and owner of Compass Adventures, a trekking guide service located in Greece, about the different options for skiing in this country. We hope this plants the seed to have your own Greece ski adventure.

Northwest Greece and the Pindus Range

Ian McIntosh and Griffin Post explore the Pindus Mountains. TGR photo.

The Pindus is a very large mountain range, with a lot of possibilities for skiing. The highest mountain is Smolikas, which is approximately 2,600 meter high. The range offers a lot of different backcountry skiing options, where you can find pretty much anything to fit your desired ski experience. It runs the full spectrum from steep couloirs, high alpine zones, and well-spaced pine forests for tree skiing.

The Pindus Mountains are very close to the town of Vasilitsa, which in addition to a small ski resort, offers plenty of options for lodging and entertainment.

Italian Dolomites or Greek mountains? TGR photo.

This area of Greece generally has the best snow quality. The snow usually falls the most around late February and early March. You will have good skiing until mid-April, and if you can cover a lot of altitude, ski corn snow into the late season.

The Astraka Refuge

Johnny Collinson, Ian McIntosh, & Griffin Post enjoy the view from the Refuge. TGR photo.

The Astraka Refuge is located at an altitude of 1930m in Radovoli place, in the neck formed between the peaks of Astraka and Lapatos. The refuge hut was constructed in 1966 and renovated in 2004, when it was expanded to its current form.

This is a unique, beautiful spot to stay and explore. Astraka is pretty famous in Greece during the summer, specifically for trekking, but in the winter it has access to amazing ski terrain. It is a rocky mountain range, so there are plenty of steeps and cliffs for the more adrenaline motivated skiers.

The Astraka Refuge. TGR photo.

They don’t open the whole Refuge in the winter; in the summer it usually holds about 50 people. In the winter they have smaller rooms available to skiers and snowboarders. These include dining rooms and some beds. In order to stay in the winter the manager and he can help arrange your visit.

Oceans on Both Sides

Greece is full of mountains. We have mountains all over, and well into the Southern part of the country. The island of Crete is awesome, unique place for skiing. It has three mountain ranges that are quite large, all above 2,000-meters. You can ski until end of March all while having views of the sea from both sides.

Skiing With Gods

Mt. Olympus, with only some options to ski shown. Wikimedia Commons photo.

Mt. Olympus is located on the coast; and it is the highest mountain in Greece. There you have two opportunities for skiing in the winter. There is a classic route with two refuges on it. One is at 2,000 meters the next one is up at 2,600 meters. This can be used as great rest points. Here the terrain is fantastic. You have big altitude difference so you can cover almost 3,000 meters of vert. You have couloirs and open bowls so you can ski until your legs get tired. Season is also much longer because of elevation, with terrain available until mid-May.

There is a lot of steep terrain so you have to watch for avalanches and use caution when traveling. You have other options if the danger is high, with forests up at the 2,000-meter mark.

Only the Half of It

A unique bridge in Greece. TGR photo.

There is not just the skiing, but the culture plays a big part of this place as well. There are over 46 villages in the Pindus with stone houses built during the 1800s, it really takes you to another time. There is big history in the mountains. A lot of wars were fought in them, most recently WWII. A lot of the villages were burned and this was a place for resistance with the for the Greek Partisans, you can still see monuments and graves for soldiers.