Papingo lies at the foot of Astraka and consists of two settlements, Megalo Papigo and Mikro Papigo, which are about two kilometres apart. This division is useful when planning your trip: paths to the Ovires Rogovou lead from both settlements, while the route to the Astraka refuge starts in Mikro Papigo. A local festival is also held in Megalo Papigo every year around 20 July. Nature, hiking and the village festival can therefore be considered as distinct focuses for a stay in Papingo.
Astraka, settlements and trails
Five distinctive towers of Astraka rise above the settlements of Papingo. The landscape and the layout of the villages are closely intertwined: the two settlements are spread out at the foot of Astraka, about two kilometres apart. If you are planning around a specific starting point, you can take this layout into account alongside the activities available at each location.
Paths from Megalo Papigo and Mikro Papigo lead to the natural stone pools of Ovires Rogovou, which are filled with water from the Rogovou stream. The pools offer a separate excursion from the route to the Astraka refuge: while the Ovires Rogovou can be reached by paths from both settlements, the trail to the refuge starts in Mikro Papigo. When planning, you can choose between a destination by the stream and a hiking route that starts in the village.
The trail from Mikro Papigo to the Astraka refuge starts in Mikro Papigo and follows the central paved village path from the church. The route is part of National Hiking Trail 03. Check current trail conditions before setting out if you plan to include this hike in your itinerary.
Certified hiking guides can accompany visitors on trails on Mount Tymfi or along the route to Drakolimni (Dragon Lake). If this kind of guided outing suits your plans, check in advance which options are available for your travel dates. In addition to the specific route to the Astraka refuge, you can choose from other guided options, each with its own destination.
More broadly, the Zagori hiking route collection includes 32 routes, seven of which are considered mountain hikes because they are long and pass through high-altitude areas.
Village life and orientation
A local festival is held in Megalo Papigo every year around the feast day of the Prophet Elijah on 20 July. It usually begins on the evening of 19 July and lasts for two days. If the festival is a key factor in your trip, check the dates in advance; the usual schedule provides a useful guide for planning your timing.
The Papigo Information Centre is near the village square, in the stone building of the former primary school beside the Church of the Taxiarchs. The ground floor of the Papigo Information Centre for Nature and Culture presents the work of WWF Ελλάς. If you plan to visit, check the current opening hours.
Discover more destinations: Perama, Negades, Neochori, Ravenia, Lippa, Kalendsion, Platania, Sirako.
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