As soon as the first snow falls in Greece – up on the mountains and thus also in the ski resorts – the desire will come to visit them and enjoy their white beauty. A handful of snowballs, hours of games with the children, skiing, snowboarding, but also hiking on the snowy slopes. Of course we all long for a “white” day after so many gray ones and this is a brilliant opportunity to experience them.
Sitting in the chairlift to go up 1700 meters to the ski center of Elatochori, in the Pieria Mountains, I long to see Olympus, the mountain and abode of the ancient Greek gods, where the clouds have taken the shape of a dungaree. From such a picture HC Andersen must have been inspired for the “Snow Queen”, who, in her sleigh kidnapped and brought little Kai to her eerie palace, Kai who had been wounded in the heart by the fragments of the magic mirror, which distorted his perception of the world. But his good friend Gerda, despite the dangers, the magic river and all the other obstacles in her way, finally reached the palace where she, with a warm hug and hot tears, broke the spell.
On the mountain, every thought can become magical and all sadness can disappear at once. Ten slopes operate in the ski center Elatochori, mainly red and blue, i.e. of moderate difficulty; while it has one of the most beautiful regional slopes in Greece that if you start from the top and keep a normal pace, 20-30 minutes later you will be back where you started from. Easy for beginners, a nice route among the tall firs for the experienced.
What it offers: The two-seat aerial lift “ZEUS”, 1287 meters long, capable of transporting 1200 people per hour, used for two slopes, CLEO and ERATO. Where it ends there are escalators.
*”APOLLON” which can be used for two tracks CLEO and POLYMNIA and
*”HERMES” used for five tracks: CEO, POLYMNIA, TERPSICHORI, URANIA and KALLIOPI.
There is also a 500m SNOWBOARD course. There are also two BABYLIFTS installed, one of which is located at the foot of the ski resort, and the other is installed and working in the 200m long “LITHARISTRA” area for beginners.
Where the ski center located is: It is located on the north-eastern side of the Pieria Mountains, at an altitude of 1450 meters. It has a fantastic view towards Mount Olympus and the river Aliakmonas. At a distance of 8 km is the picturesque village of Elatochori where you can stop for rest, sleep and eat. Stone-built guesthouses and taverns serve local specialties, and everything is in harmony with nature; beeches, chestnuts and oaks.
Visit the area’s waterfalls:
1. Go to the ski center of Elatochori and at a distance of about 4 kilometers from the village, there is a dirt road that leads to the area of Nikola Pegadi. If you continue on, after a five-minute drive, you can park the car along a curve. You then follow an uphill slope on foot and after about 10 meters you will find yourself in front of a fantastic waterfall about 10 meters high.
2. Another of the most beautiful waterfalls is located in Pieria, on the way to Sarakatsana called “Kremastos”. Experienced climbers know it and you can participate if you want.
3. Leaving the southern side of the new settlement of Elatochori and following the stone-built path, you will be led to the exceptionally beautiful gorge of Elatochori and Ai Neri. There you will find a small and picturesque chapel. The water that falls from the roof is believed by the locals to have medicinal and healing properties.
Other activities:
Cycling: Enjoy cycling in nature on beautiful trails, forest roads and unexplored green areas, with ideal weather conditions and a variety of difficulty levels for adventure.
Horseback riding: Individual hikes and group hikes with horses, for a ride or for exercise, sport or adventure in places of special beauty in the forests, will offer you unforgettable memories. You will find organized riding groups in organized farms in the prefecture.
ATV ride: An ATV tour through Elatochori’s forest roads offers a special experience for those who choose it. Adrenaline hits the roof when you go through the region’s most difficult parts in the wonderful nature.
Mountain climbing, hiking: You will find routes of natural beauty and ecological interest for peaceful nature walks, but also adventure routes for all visitors looking for mountain activities.
