Ski Touring in Greece? Absolutely!
An adventure you won’t forget!
Whenever I mention that I’ve been skiing in Greece, I always get the same surprised reaction: “Wait, you can ski in Greece?” While Greece is a beloved summer destination for many Belgians, for me, it holds so much more significance. With Greek roots, this land has always been close to my heart.
My grandfather, who came to Belgium before the war, changed our family name from ‘Papageorgiou’ to ‘Papageorges’ to help integrate. Though both my father and I were born in Belgium, making me only 25% Greek, Greece has always intrigued me. I visited several times as a child, but it wasn’t until my 50s that I truly began exploring this magnificent country. Yet, I never imagined I’d be skiing here one day!
A Mount Olympus obsession
I’ve been ski touring for years, and annually I team up with my friend Roland, a mountain guide in Saint-Gervais. When he mentioned ski touring expeditions in Greece, my interest piqued. Greece’s proximity to the sea makes it ideal for snowfalls, and all I could think about was skiing on Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest peak.
Though Roland couldn’t join me, I reached out to Explore-Share, a Belgian start-up by my friend Gauthier Poncelet, which connects adventurers with local guides. That’s how I met Babis Marinidis, an IFMGA-certified guide who splits his time between Greece and Chamonix. We planned my trip for mid-February 2023, just after a significant snowfall in the region. But a week before departure, the weather warmed up both in Belgium and Greece—yikes!
Discovering Litochoro
On February 19th, I flew from Brussels to Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city. Landing there brought back childhood memories of passing through on our way to Nea Kalikratia. Waiting for my skis at the airport in Greece was surreal, but I wasn’t the only skier—several ski bags joined mine on the conveyor belt.
Babis greeted me with a warm smile, and as we drove to Litochoro, a village at the foot of Mount Olympus, we got to know each other. Babis laughed, saying I was crazy to ski in Greece, especially alone. But for me, it was a return to my roots. We planned to climb Mount Olympus the next day and then head further north to explore more ski spots near the Albanian border.
A dream realized
At 6 AM the next day, Babis picked me up, and after grabbing supplies, we drove around Mount Olympus, climbing steadily to a small car park at 1,700 meters. We hiked with skis on our backs, excitement building, until we could finally strap on our skins and ascend. In less than two hours, we reached the second-highest peak of the massif, Skolio, at 2,911 meters—an incredible moment after years of dreaming about it.
We spent the rest of the day skiing various slopes, with the breathtaking Aegean Sea just 15 kilometers away. Later, Babis suggested we enjoy a Greek-style après-ski on the beach. We sat in our ski suits, sipping wine and eating olives while listening to the waves — absolutely surreal!
Greece: a skier’s hidden gem
In just 24 hours, my dream of skiing in Greece had come true, but there was more to explore. Greece boasts around 20 ski resorts. Parnassos, near Athens, offers 13 lifts and 19 runs, making it a top winter destination. Skiing in Crete has also become popular, with the Psiloritis massif and White Mountains offering snow-covered peaks over 2,450 meters high.
The next day, we climbed Mount Ossa, offering stunning views of both the Aegean Sea and Mount Olympus. After lunch, we drove to the Pindus massif, near the Albanian border. The journey took us past Meteora, a spectacular geological formation with Orthodox Christian monasteries perched atop steep cliffs.
A culinary adventure
In the village of Samarina, we feasted on calamari, Greek salad, tarama, and lamb kebabs—so different from the usual Alpine fare. The next morning, we ventured into the forest, emerging after two hours of climbing to breathtaking views and crusty snow, which we eagerly skied.
On our last day, we headed to the Vasilitsa resort, home to Greece’s first snowpark. The facilities might not be as modern as those in the Alps, but they work perfectly, and the views of Mount Olympus are spectacular. After a thrilling descent, we relaxed with drinks at a restaurant terrace, surrounded by young snowboarders enjoying the sun and music.
Bright future
As I reflect on these four incredible days, I’m grateful to Babis for showing me a new side of Greece. If the snow holds, Greece has a bright future in ski touring. I’ll definitely be back!
