Hike, Kayak and Raft Greece's Wild North

I am still so thrilled I went on this adventure. Mike was an incredible guide and I was so lucky to have a great group that really bonded together. It was exciting to see parts of Greece that typical tourists don’t think about, and really feel like you’re going where the locals are. Mike did an amazing job setting the pace on hikes, sharing information about each region we were in, and of course just as important, he ordered all the food when we went out for meals. Because of him, I really think the food was one of the highlights of the trip. Plus can’t forget the homemade snacks from his mom! I went into the trip considering myself physically active but not necessarily an experienced hiker. I was definitely challenged by a few of the hikes (especially because of the heat), but l adjusted just fine. I also thought the variety of activities was great, breaking up the hikes with swimming, rafting, and kayaking. 10/10 itinerary and if I have any feedback it’s that I didn’t really like the area around the Athens hotel, was a bit sketchy. But the Guesthouse Selini was so awesome, as well as the views from some of the other hotels throughout the trip, that I’m just nitpicking. Some may not enjoy the close quarters of the mountain hut/lodge (none of us got very good sleep), but we had good attitudes about it and was absolutely worth it for the views around Drakolimni. Absolutely would recommend this trip to others!! Also massive shout out to Mike for some incredible photos he took throughout that I can’t wait to put in an album.

I had an incredible time on this 8-day guided hiking tour. Michalis and Marios were outstanding guides, knowledgeable, supportive, and fun to be with. The hiking schedule was definitely challenging, but still manageable even for those who aren’t seasoned hikers. The food throughout the trip was absolutely amazing; at times it felt like a food tour with some hiking in between! My favourite day was river rafting through a UNESCO heritage site and also watching the sun set at the Astraka Mountain Refuge. When windy weather cancelled our final day of kayaking, the guides quickly arranged canyoning instead, which I never would have tried on my own but turned out to be one of the highlights. A truly unforgettable experience.

As with every group holiday a huge part hangs on who you are with and this group couldn’t have been better. Putting that aside the trip and the guides were also perfect so all in all I wouldn’t have changed a thing. The variety of activities, the outstanding natural environment and beauty of the area, and the accommodations were all brilliant. Michalis, our main guide, and Marios were determined that every person on the trip would fall in love with Greece. Mission accomplished. They also flexed the schedule to suit everyone’s needs and put in the effort to make sure each and every person was having the trip of a lifetime. The food selections by Michalis was on point every time and the thought and effort that went into choosing the places and the dishes meant we all got to try the absolute best Greece has to offer.

What a great trip! My second with MBA and once again really well organised and excellently guided - Dimitris was great fun and did an excellent job of making sure we were really well fed every time we stopped. His music taste is also absolutely impeccable! Northern Greece itself was a revelation - I had no idea what to expect and was surprised in the best way possible. It's beautiful and I really enjoyed the hikes we did. River levels were low, so the rafting was more of a sightseeing tour than the adrenaline rush some people might expect, but was still really enjoyable to float down the river and soak up the scenery. The last day in Athens with the kayaking was a really nice way to end things by doing something different and enjoying a dip in the sea before two more fantastic meals. Would absolutely recommend this trip.

Another superb MBA trip. The photos to not do justice to the breathtaking beauty of the scenery. Great hikes, wonderful food, good comfortable accommodation. Our guide Dimitris was brilliant, friendly and helpful at every step (and he ordered great food to share). Faultless in every way, MBA you’ve done it again, looking forward to another MBA trip. 2 of the hike days were tough but well worth the effort

This was hands down one of the best trips I’ve ever taken—far beyond anything I had imagined. Northern Greece is wild, rugged, and breathtaking. It’s a side of Greece that’s often overlooked—think towering peaks, crystalline rivers, deep gorges, and ancient villages tucked into the hills. We hiked to Dragon Lake at nearly 2,000m, rafted the turquoise waters of the Voidomatis River, and kayaked the Corinthian Gulf. Along the way, we passed wild horses, met tortoises in the forest, played games late into the night, and laughed until we cried. What made it truly special, though, was the people. The dynamic of our group was incredible—supportive, hilarious, and full of energy. I couldn’t have asked for better company. And then there’s Mike—our guide, our motivator, our fountain of knowledge and calm presence. His passion for the region, endless patience, and attention to detail brought everything together seamlessly. He made the trip feel not just safe and well-organised, but personal, meaningful, and genuinely fun. Add to that the freshest food you can imagine, the friendliest locals, and landscapes that move you to silence—and you have a trip that stays with you long after it ends. If you think Greece is just beaches and islands—think again. This is a hidden side of the country that feels like a gift to discover. I can't recommend it enough.

An amazing trip where every day delivers something special. Northern Greece has it all; breathtaking views, beautiful hikes, interesting history, lots of wildlife, the most delicious locally produced food & really friendly people. Thanks to our knowledgeable & fun guide, Dimitri, our small group of 4 had a fabulous adventure - favourite moments being swimming in the crystal clear spring water of Vikos Gorge & an evening hike with stunning views in Meteora.

Well, Greece was a revelation! Such a hidden gem, mountains and rugged terrain mixed with awe-inspiring expanses and exquisite waterways. The trip was the perfect mix of activities and relaxation, some days pretty tough and others more chilled. Food was amazing: plentiful, interesting and varied. Our guide Dimitri was outstanding - really cared about and listened to all of us individually and flexed according to our requests and needs. He was incredibly well organised, everything worked perfectly, and made recommendations and suggestions. The group was really lovely, we all got on well and were like-minded! All-in-all the best holiday I've ever been on! I'll be booking another trip soon.

Such beautiful hiking, the cracking views, the quaint Greek villages and the great food all adds up to this relatively remote and under-explored area of Greece deserving to be far better known than it currently is. Although of course it is the lack of tourist crowds that is part of what makes this trip so special so maybe it's best if this stays as 'Greece's best kept secrets' The day 4 hike up to the Dragon lake ('Drakolimni') was a particular stand out for epicness - over 1,500 metres of climbing on that day if you climb the extra hill that sits above the lake (which you totally should, as for me it provided the best views of the whole trip, from what was a crowded list of contenders). As billed, the rafting was pretty tame but still enjoyable to glide down the river, even if it took less than half the advertised time to cover the 6km distance. The drive to/from Athens was pretty long but the creation of a group Spotify playlist made it feel a lot shorter (despite the execrable music taste of some of my fellow group members 🙂) I did this trip back-to-back with the 'Greek Island Hopping in the Cyclades' trip and apparently I was the first person to do this. The two trips were very different, showcasing two totally different sides of Greece and as a result I thought it worked well in combination. Both trips are run by the same local host (Nomads Path) with both of my trips being guided by the hard-working, metal head Dimitris, who did a great job. He was particularly adept at ordering food for the group to share at dinner ('family style' as he calls it). And what great food it was, so my advice would be to just let him do all the ordering!

Northern Greece is truly incredible! I was unprepared for how extremely beautiful it was, especially the Vikos Gorge and Pindus Mountains. We were blessed with perfect weather throughout. I have so many highlights of this trip it’s hard to choose, though overall I’d say the first couple of days hiking the gorge and to Dragon Lake were standouts for me. I felt so lucky to experience such beauty alongside great people, and with Kostas as the best guide! Swimming in the crystal clear Voidomatis after a long day hiking in the gorge and watching the sunset from the mountain refuge after our hike to Dragon Lake were really special moments. It was my first time rafting on this trip which was also so much fun! The accommodation was all high quality, and the food was unbelievably good. Even as a vegetarian I never felt left out, Kostas ordered more than enough food for everyone and there was only ever 1 or 2 dishes I couldn’t eat. I highly recommend this trip - Northern Greece is relatively untouched by mass tourism so it felt very authentic, with kind people, delicious food, stunning scenery and incredible biodiversity. I’ll remember this trip forever!