Full Day Botanical Tour In Mani, Peloponnese

The route will be a circular one starting from Kardamyli with a two and a half hour trek up the Virou Gorge to see some of the unusual chasmophyte plants. You will be all the time by a profesional biologist that knows the area and the species like the back of his hand. From the gorge you will climb up to the ridge and walk along a track to the church of Agia Sofia for a lunch break.
From there the walk becomes easier with a descent into a shady gorge near the village of Petrovouni and then a walk through olive groves on the way to Proastio village. Along this part of the walk you will pass through an area nicknamed ‘Orchid alley’ for its profusion of orchid species.
Once you reach Proastio you will descend on a steep kalderimi (a cobblestone-paved road) to the coastal road and walk back the short distance into Kardamyli via Kalamitsi, passing what used to be Patrick Leigh Fermor’s house.
Once we are back in Kardamyli you can have a cold beer and relax talking about the activity and learning local tips.