Nevrokopi - Volakas

  • Distance: 18.0 km
  • Duration:
  • Elevation Profile: show

Overview

This is an easy and quite interesting route, with a good portion on footpaths through mixed pine and beech forests. It involves a gentle climb up to Tsakalina pass and then down to Volakas village.

Description

Take the road out of the village towards Drama and after passing the health center stay on the left side of the road and turn left after 200m (sign on a telephone pole 50m ahead). Continue on a dirt road east along the broad valley ahead ascending slowly.  After 4.5 km turn right at a signed junction on a smaller track through pine forest and soon at another junction veer left on a logging track (sign 50m ahead). Follow this track gently uphill with nice views of Agio Pnevma peek ahead. Where this track fades out, at a clearing, continue straight along a logging path, a bit overgrown yet easily passable. The logging path ends by a shallow gully and spring and you have to continue now more steeply on a footpath partly obscured by fallen barks and branches but otherwise easy to follow. Eventually emerge on a forest track. Turn right along it for 250m and then turn left (marked) on the footpath again now climbing with switchbacks towards the obvious saddle ahead (Tsakalina pass at 1100m). A small path to the left goes to Agios Petros chapel and continues to Agio Pnevma peek with great views (2.5 there and back).

 

Continue on the other side of the pass eventually out of the forest where the path becomes less distinct. After a metal pole with E6 sign join a grassy path/track along the edge of the forest to finally join the dirt road to the chapel. Follow this for 4 unattractive km past a couple of farms to join the national road and follow it to Volakas village with nice views of Falakro mountain range and of the not so nice scars of marble quarries.

Amenities

Plenty of accommodation offerings, restaurants, and shops.

Signposting

Generally sufficient but sparse signposting. A few key junctions at the first leg of the hike are unmarked.

Transportation

Relatively frequent bus to Drama (Tel: 25230-22511). Not so frequent local bus to Kato-Vrontou.