Take a short taste of west Mani’s landscape, from the old mountainous capital and the fortress of Kardamili down to the Viros Gorge through the 2500-year-old stone path that connected Kardamili with Sparta!
Exochori is a stone-built village with a very old tradition, mentioned several times in history as Androuvista, first seen around 1278 AD. It is located at an altitude of 450 m above Kardamili, in the Taygetos mountain fringes. It used to be the old mountainous capital and the fortress of Kardamili, not only in medieval but also in ancient times.
This is like a short taste of west Mani but fully rewarding as an experience. The exploration starts from Kardamili, as we follow the old stone path entering the mountain, walking through some of the upland villages.
Passing through olive groves, we end up in Exochori village, where we can have a breathtaking view of the Viros Gorge, the largest gorge in west Mani. Then, taking a different route to our way back to the starting point, we visit Aghia Sofia. This is a famous church built in the 16th century situated on the 2500-year-old stone path that connected Kardamili with Sparta. This is the path that will guide our steps back to Kardamili through its historical old quarter.
“What an amazing day! The hike up the Ridomo gorge was a highlight of our holiday. Iannis is an excellent guide – very professional and caring of the family, and expert knowledge of the mountain and the area. All the 2407 team are so friendly and helpful and we hope to do more activities with them! Thank you for such a unique and precious experience. :)”
This was one of our best days ever in Greece, and we have been coming here for over 20 years.
Our tour with Yanni, called the “Hidden Villages Tour”, because the villages cannot be seen from the sea, began at Yannis’ shop in Kardamili, just a few metres above sea level, and climbed for two hours and 20 kms to a hight of just over 750 metres. Fortunately, we were on shiny new ebikes from Haibike, improved versions of our own which we have had for four years. At that high point, we paused for lunch in the lovely village of Kastania, then began the exhilarating rush down to Ayios Nicholaos on the sea, and then a lovely flat ride on the very nice paved bike and pedestrian path to Stoupa. The ride back to Kardamili was on the highway, but that road is very wide and quite safe for cycling. The whole ride was around 3:45, a constant delight all the way.
Yanni is a great guide and a charming companion. If you are fit and love to ride, you will have a great day!
We had a really nice time hiking the Ridomo Gorge. Definitely recommend it if you enjoy walking in nature. Our guide Yiannis is a very friendly, passionate and experienced hiker with fun facts and helpfull tips.
Thanks for a lovely time!
hiking in Exochori isn’t the only hiking tour we provide. Find out more about hiking services we provide in our hiking section
We offer a wide range of hiking services around the region of the famous Taygetus Mountain, reaching 2.407 m high, thus we have selected to name our site.
The Taygetus Massif is about 100 km (62 mi) long, extending from the center of the Peloponnese to Cape Matapan, its southernmost extremity. It contains the tallest mountain in the Peloponnese, the Profitis Ilias summit, reaching 2,407m. this is probably the classical Mount Taléton mentioned by Pausanias, an Ancient Greek philosopher.
The summit is an ultra-prominent peak. It is even visible from the Isthmus of Corinth, which connects the Peloponnese with mainland Greece, from a height of only 60 m. Numerous creeks roll down from the mountains
Hiking in Greek is called “Pezoporia”. “Pezos” is the pedestrian and “Poria” is the path. One of the most interesting ways to get to know a place is to walk it and Greece has a wide variety of hiking trails in fascinating landscapes to explore.
From the mountains of mainland Greece to the Greek islands, there are hundreds of trails that pass through lush forests, olive groves and gorges, next to waterfalls, rivers and historical monuments, to reach beautiful beaches with blue waters and traditional villages, offering unique experiences for hiking enthusiasts.
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure was developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Religious pilgrimages have existed much longer but they involved walking long distances for a spiritual purpose associated with specific religions.
“Hiking” is the preferred term in Canada and the United States; the term “walking” is used in these regions for shorter, particularly urban walks. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the word “walking” describes all forms of walking, whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps.
The word hiking is also often used in the UK, along with rambling (a slightly old-fashioned term), hillwalking, and fell walking (a term mostly used for hillwalking in northern England). The term bushwalking is endemic to Australia, having been adopted by the Sydney Bush Walkers club in 1927.
In New Zealand a long, vigorous walk or hike is called tramping. It is a popular activity with numerous hiking organizations worldwide, and studies suggest that all forms of walking have health benefits.
What is hiking and its benefits?
Hiking is cardiovascular in nature, so it can provide great benefit to heart health while also improving blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Hiking helps increase the strength in the leg muscles, builds stability in the core muscles and enhances balance skills.
Is trekking and hiking the same?
Difference Between Hiking And Trekking. To put it in even simpler words, hiking involves a long energetic walk in a natural environment on hiking trails or footpaths for a day or overnight. Trekking involves a long vigorous hike in the wild natural environment for multiple days. It can be done off hiking trails.
Tour Plan
What is included
Professional guide service
Stand by vehicle in case of any discomfort or emergency
Why Do We Recommend It?
You get to experience the rugged beauty of this beautiful southern area
It has a spectacular view of the west Mani area
Entry level hiking difficulty, suitable for most people and all ages
Experienced hiking guide and first aider
Is it right for me?
This is a great activity for a holiday for those who want to have a first hike experience but also for those who love to hike. The difficulty of the trek is low level, so you don’t need to be especially fit. No trekking experience is required.
Great for solo travelers, couples, friends, and parents with young children (6 years minimum)
First-time hikers are welcome.
Keep in mind
Duration: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: Entry level
Meeting Point: Kardamili, aprox 08:00
Tour Ends: Kardamili, aprox 13:00
Group Size: max 12 people
Age: No limit, young children with hike experience
Must have with
Bottle of water – 1,5 litre
Hat
Sunscreen (especially during summer months)
Hiking shoes (low or high) or trainers, hiking sandals. Open shoes like summer sandals or flip-flops are unsuitable
One day hiking backpack 20lt (if available)
A spare T-shirt
A wind stopper jacket
A snack
Tour Map
2407 Mountain Activities, Kardamyli, Greece
Reviews
Reviews
Martin Black
18. October, 2023.
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Excellent customer service, very affordable bike hire, helpful and knowledge staff, highly recommended.
vicky
11. October, 2023.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Καταπληκτική εμπειρία, ο Γιάννης φοβερός οδηγός, τα τοπία ονειρεμένα. Δοκιμάσαμε τις δυνάμεις μας παραθαλάσσια, στο ίσιωμα, ακολουθεί ο γύρος των ορεινών χωριών.
Angela Canalese
24. September, 2023.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
An absolutely beautiful experience. I went on a sunset bike ride, and it was breathtaking. The entire ride was perfect. I recommend 2407 mountain activities, and I hope to return to do more activities with them soon.
Timothy Cate
8. September, 2023.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Very helpful, friendly and assisted in getting the parts I needed for my bike.
sara costi
19. August, 2023.
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Abbiamo fatto il giro del Mani Est e e-bike. Il tour è splendido è molto divertente! Le guide sono attente preparate e simpatiche, è stata una bellissima giornata. Lo consiglio!
Panayiotis Kanarellis
18. August, 2023.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
High on the Big Loop!
It must be those state-of-the-art e-bikes that take you effortlessly and quietly up the slopes while leaving you with enough energy to enjoy the stupendous views … or is it the hidden villages of Mani and the out-worldly byzantine frescoes in that old church … maybe the freshness of the tomatoes and the sfela cheese during the gorgeous breakfast at Kariovouni … wait a minute, it must be all of these plus Yiannis’s and Smaro’s presence (yes, I confess, I did the cycle tour twice and each time it was different). Whatever the reason and regardless which of the two you ride with as a leader, one thing is sure, you will never feel ‘low’ on the Big Loop, even at sea level.
Yiannis and Smaro, I can’t thank you enough!
Bay Magnar Engebråten
17. August, 2023.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Fint utleiebutikk med sykler i flere prisklasser 15-80 euro pr. dag, elsykler fra 40 euro pr. dag og oppover.👍👍
Er Jee
14. August, 2023.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Organiseert prima dagtocht naar taygetos! Goede gids die veel verteld en er alles aan doet om er een geweldige dag van te maken. Aanrader!
James Jones
12. August, 2023.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great bikes and very helpful people. Would be very pleased to hire bikes from them again and if they rent out stronger legs, that would be perfect!
Rustem Cullhaj Rustem Cullhaj
6. August, 2023.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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