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Hard Hiking Trails in Greece

We track 55 routes that match this search in Greece. They average 93.5 km and 2,335 m (7,661 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 758 km.

That is 8 percent of the 675 routes we map in Greece. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 93.5 km against 12.4 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 2,335 m (7,661 ft) on average versus 342 m (1,122 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Hard

ST531 Ivaylovgrad - Ptylákio

Macedonia and Thrace · Greece

Distance
21.3 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
469 m
Typical duration
5 hr 20 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST532 Ptylákio - Edirne

Macedonia and Thrace · Greece

Distance
28.2 km
/ 17.5 mi
Elevation gain
620 m
Typical duration
7 hr 11 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST721 Svilengrad - Dikaia

Macedonia and Thrace · Greece

Distance
21.2 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
466 m
Typical duration
5 hr 18 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST722 Dikaia - Edirne

Macedonia and Thrace · Greece

Distance
29.0 km
/ 18.0 mi
Elevation gain
638 m
Typical duration
7 hr 25 min
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sammiana I2

Epirus and Western Macedonia · Greece

Distance
196 km
/ 122 mi
Elevation gain
4,303 m
Typical duration
52 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sammiana I3

Macedonia and Thrace · Greece

Distance
131 km
/ 81.1 mi
Elevation gain
2,872 m
Typical duration
34 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Εθνικό μονοπάτι O2

Macedonia and Thrace · Greece

Distance
175 km
/ 109 mi
Elevation gain
3,842 m
Typical duration
46 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Εθνικό μονοπάτι O3

Epirus and Western Macedonia · Greece

Distance
172 km
/ 107 mi
Elevation gain
3,776 m
Typical duration
46 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Εθνικό μονοπάτι O31

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
109 km
/ 67.8 mi
Elevation gain
2,401 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Εθνικό μονοπάτι O4

Macedonia and Thrace · Greece

Distance
322 km
/ 200 mi
Elevation gain
7,092 m
Typical duration
87 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

KAS 02

Region of Crete · Greece

Distance
15.4 km
/ 9.6 mi
Elevation gain
795 m
Typical duration
4 hr 25 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Gorge and Mountain PLA 02

Region of Crete · Greece

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,129 m
Typical duration
4 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Hard

1 - Western Hydra

Attica · Greece

Distance
17.2 km
/ 10.7 mi
Elevation gain
675 m
Typical duration
4 hr 40 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

M38 Diakofti-Avlemonas-Diakofti

Attica · Greece

Distance
16.0 km
/ 9.9 mi
Elevation gain
788 m
Typical duration
4 hr 32 min
  • Coastal
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Corfu Trail

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
155 km
/ 96.6 mi
Elevation gain
5,683 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

from Embonas to Attaviros

Aegean · Greece

Distance
11.0 km
/ 6.8 mi
Elevation gain
900 m
Typical duration
3 hr 39 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Pilgrim's Way

Thessaly and Central Greece · Greece

Distance
65.0 km
/ 40.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,429 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

KAS 08

Region of Crete · Greece

Distance
11.1 km
/ 6.9 mi
Elevation gain
945 m
Typical duration
3 hr 43 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Agrafa

Thessaly and Central Greece · Greece

Distance
29.5 km
/ 18.4 mi
Elevation gain
650 m
Typical duration
7 hr 34 min
Hard

1- Palia Strata

Aegean · Greece

Distance
14.6 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
770 m
Typical duration
4 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Apollo Trail 2

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
10.2 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
892 m
Typical duration
3 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Apollo Trail 3 - Trail of Love

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
819 m
Typical duration
3 hr 49 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

CHA 03

Region of Crete · Greece

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,410 m
Typical duration
3 hr 38 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

CHA 07

Region of Crete · Greece

Distance
11.9 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
992 m
Typical duration
3 hr 59 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Corfu Paths CC18

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
14.0 km
/ 8.7 mi
Elevation gain
580 m
Typical duration
3 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

KAS 11

Region of Crete · Greece

Distance
12.8 km
/ 7.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,027 m
Typical duration
4 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Kyparissi - Kremasti

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
15.9 km
/ 9.9 mi
Elevation gain
350 m
Typical duration
3 hr 52 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Lepida - Megali Tourla

Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian · Greece

Distance
9.9 km
/ 6.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,200 m
Typical duration
3 hr 52 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Askyfou-Anopoli

Region of Crete · Greece

Distance
18.3 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
402 m
Typical duration
4 hr 31 min

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
eEuropean Walking Route E4, Greece, CreteRegion of Crete554 km12,184 m149 hrExpertOctober to May
ST531 Ivaylovgrad - PtylákioMacedonia and Thrace21.3 km469 m5 hr 20 minHardOctober to May
ST532 Ptylákio - EdirneMacedonia and Thrace28.2 km620 m7 hr 11 minHardOctober to May
ST721 Svilengrad - DikaiaMacedonia and Thrace21.2 km466 m5 hr 18 minHardOctober to May
ST722 Dikaia - EdirneMacedonia and Thrace29.0 km638 m7 hr 25 minHardOctober to May
European long distance path E4 - part Greece, CentralEpirus and Western Macedonia758 km16,681 m205 hrExpertOctober to May
European long distance path E4 - part Greece, PeloponnesePeloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian292 km6,424 m78 hrExpertOctober to May
European long distance path E6 - part Greece, EastMacedonia and Thrace530 km11,658 m143 hrExpertOctober to May
European long distance path E6 - part Greece, WestEpirus and Western Macedonia610 km13,414 m164 hrExpertOctober to May
Sammiana I2Epirus and Western Macedonia196 km4,303 m52 hrExpertOctober to May

If you only have time for one, start with eEuropean Walking Route E4, Greece, Crete, ST722 Dikaia - Edirne, ST721 Svilengrad - Dikaia. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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