Tour Details

Get the max of what nature has created through this amazing hiking experience. Follow the Ursa Trail (Bear’s Path), one of the Leading Quality Trails of Europe and walk through beautiful meadows where you can see horses, cows and sheep grazing.

Transfer Service

We leave early in the morning and our luxury buses will take you straight away to Metsovo.

WATCH AND LISTEN WHEN NATURE CALLS

Route 1

We leave early in the morning and our luxury buses will take you straight away to Metsovo, a picturesque village around 50km away from Ioannina. Our hiking route starts outside the Dairy Foundation Tositsa. Just in front of the cavalry’s military monument, we enter the Ursa Trail our hiking trail (Bear’s Trail) certified as the Leading Quality Trail of Europe. The first part of the trail goes through the ridge of “pande al ghine” which is characterized by the amazing panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and the artistic creations made by the students of the Athenian Fine Arts School. After passing through the breathtaking beech forest we end up on the plateau “Politses” with its beautiful characteristic meadow. At this point we leave the Ursa Trail and take the old “horse path’’ used by the locals in the past in order to move around. The “horse path” will lead us downhill at the entrance of the village of Metsovo where our hiking route ends.

Distance 5-6 km estimated time about 1:30 – 2:00 hours.

Route 2

  Our hiking route starts from the plateau “Politsora” which is located at a height of 1300 meters. Here, we follow the Ursa Trail (Bear’s Path), the Leading Quality Trail of Europe, after having gone through a beautiful meadow where you can see horses, cows and sheep grazing. We continue our route and climb through a beech forest, about 500 meters higher, up to the top of “Karakoli”. From there, the path goes downhill and it is characterized by amazing panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the artistic creations made by the students of the Athenian Fine Arts School. After about 3 km we arrive at the old Tositsa-Averoff woodwork factory which is at the edge of the village of Metsovo. Moving through the narrow, picturesque streets, one can admire the architecture of the settlement, drink fresh water from the tiny fountains, and observe the daily routine of the habitants. Our hiking route ends at the center of the village where there are many souvenir shops and traditional restaurants to eat

Distance 5-6 km estimated time 1: 30-2: 00 hours.

hiking route

hiking route

Our hiking route is just a small part of the Leading Quality Trails of Europe; it is a 40-kilometer walking path on a hill divided in 4 consecutive sections. Its design, organization and infrastructure were made in accordance with the European Ramblers Association for the certification of Leading Quality Trails. The hiker passes through historic paths and monuments of particular aesthetics and natural value which have been cleaned and maintained by volunteers and the Athletic Club of Metsovo.

Ursa Trail (Bear's Path)

Ursa Trail (Bear's Path)

The term ‘Ursa trail’ derives from the Vlachian dialect according to which ‘Ursa’ means ‘bear’ while ‘trail’ is the ‘path’: bear’s path. The area around Metsovo is the brown bear’s habitat since large populations are found in the mountainous areas of northern and central Pindos. The design of the route brings the hiker into the brown bear’s habitat sensitizing them on environmental issues regarding the protection of this species in extinction.

 

 

amazing panoramic view

amazing panoramic view

The moment the visitor reaches the highest part of our routes they will have the chance to admire the breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, relax for a while and take some shots of the beauty nature has created. The route goes through some historical pathways and monuments of exceptional aesthetic and natural value. Students of the Athenian Fine Arts School employed their skills and fantasy to decorate this dramatic landscape with artistic creations inspired by the sounds and sights of the forest.

Book this Tour

Your Contact Details