Greece, Pelopenese: Menalon trail variation - 5 days from village to village

Splendid Mediterranean scenery along one of Greece's few long-distance trails. 72-75 km total can be broken down into 5 days of 12-16 (recommended) or 4 days of 18-20 (faster and slower versions are also possible). Easy to walk and well designed trail, with nights in pretty villages (must be pre-booked). Part dirt tracks, part walking trails, and part old Kalderini (masterfully stone-built historic paths). The common direction is from south to north, but there's no issue to reverse the direction if desired.

Season: Located in a relatively dry area, this trek can be hiked year-round. Summer is very hot (25-35 C) and winter is mildly chilly (0-15 C).
Access: The starting point near Staminitsa village is 1 hour drive from Kalamata airport, or 2.5 hours drive from Athens airport. A taxi will cost 100 Euro or 300 Euro respectively, each way - probably cheaper to rent a car and let it stand. Public transport is too difficult.

The first day is one of the highlights, so arrive the day before to Staminitsa or a nearby village. Start walking from Staminitsa for the official trail, finishing the first day in Dimitsana, after visiting a couple of amazing monasteries along the Lusious gorge. If you wish to save yourself the steep 500m descent from Staminitsa to the gorge, then take a short taxi to the starting point on this map, and start walking from there up stream - you will still visit all the same sights. The next 3-4 days are quite straightforward. Walking times and distances depend mainly on the pensions and hotels you booked, and can be long or short according to your plan.