10. route

Perched at 1100 metres altitude and 34 kilometres from Elassona, one can find the mountainous, Vlach village of Kokkinopilos (or Kokkinoplos). It is a “base” for climbers, as the village runs through European E4 long distance path, which leads to some of the main peaks and retreats of Mount Olympus. The Kokkinopilos – Petra route is 19 kilometres, of medium difficulty and lasts around 50 minutes. It is considered one of the most impressive road routes of Olympus. It can be undertaken from spring up until the end of autumn. The road is hard to traverse in many places and it is safer to cross it with a 4×4 vehicle. 

When on the trip, make sure to visit the Tsoureka water fountain. Have a seat on one of the benches and savour the crystal-clear drinking water. After the fountain, take a detour on the first fork to the right. You will find Xerolaki and pass by the Naoum caves. The view facing the peaks of Olympus, Kazania, Mytikas and Stefani is superb! Further down, on the left side of the road, there is a large plateau with a small lake called Bara. Enjoy the beautiful natural scenery. At the end of the route, at an altitude of 520 metres, stands the picturesque village of Petra. You can rest and try out the local cuisine while enjoying the gorgeous view of Mount Olympus.