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Delphi and Mount Parnassus

An ancient sanctuary on a mountainside with a sea of olive trees below it stretching to the Gulf of Corinth. Above it lie fir forests and a cave from the myths. Our two campsites sit right in the middle of it all.

View from Delphi over the valley full of olive trees towards the Gulf of Itea
From Delphi you look out over the Pleistos valley to the sea at Itea.

Sanctuary, olive grove and forests of fir

The sanctuary of Delphi lies on the south-western slope of Mount Parnassus between the steep rock faces of the Phaedriades. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. The slope and the olive grove below it are protected.

Below Delphi lies the olive grove of Amfissa. It is the largest continuous olive grove in Greece with more than a million trees. Many of them are centuries old. It runs all the way to the sea. Part of it was damaged by fires in 2013 and 2022.

Above Delphi begins the Parnassus National Park. It has been protected since 1938 and has forests of Greek fir and peaks of almost 2,500 metres. High on the mountain lies the Corycian Cave. In antiquity it was dedicated to Pan and the nymphs. The mountain village of Arachova lies 12 kilometres further on.

April and May with slopes full of flowers

It is at its most beautiful in April and May when the mountain slopes are full of flowers. After that, September and October are good months. In July and August it gets over 30 degrees during the day and among the olive trees you walk mostly in the sun: start very early or late in the afternoon. From December into April there is snow higher up on Mount Parnassus.

A valley full of olive trees below Delphi
The olive grove below Delphi.

Beautiful walks

The pilgrims' path through the olive grove

2.5 to 5 hours · one way · up to 550 m of descent · starts at the bottom of the village of Delphi

This is the old path that pilgrims walked from the sea up to Delphi. Today it is part of the European long-distance route E4. You descend through the olive grove to Chrisso and if you like you can carry on to Kirra or Itea on the coast. The length depends on where you finish.

View route on the map

Over the Kaki Skala to the Corycian Cave

there and back · a full day · 700 to 870 m of climbing · starts in Delphi

Up the Kaki Skala: a paved zigzag path through the rock face above Delphi with views over the olive grove and the gulf. Then through fir forest to the cave. First you follow the yellow and black markers of the E4 and later red markers. Take plenty of water: there are few springs along the way. You return the same way.

View route on the map

Short route to the cave from the plateau

there and back · 2 to 3 hours · about 200 m of climbing · starts on the Livadi plateau a good half hour's drive away

Along a forest track through the firs to over 1,300 metres and the entrance of the cave. The forest track is no place for a motorhome: park it where the track turns off the road between Arachova and Eptalofos. That spot is on the plateau about 3 kilometres past Kalyvia.

View route on the map

Loops from the campsite

16 and 18 km · circular walk · starts at the campsites

At our two campsites the map shows two circular walks that start at the campsite. Download the route as a GPX for your phone.

View route on the map

The rocky path of the Kaki Skala with mountains behind it
The Kaki Skala above Delphi.
Fir forest with the peaks of Mount Parnassus in the background
On the way to the Corycian Cave.

Our campsites nearby

For each campsite the map shows the circular walks that start close by.