Activities - Recreation

Parnasos, Giona and Vardousia are of the most beautiful and suitable mountains of Greece for the lovers of climbing and hiking. They can be crossed from the E u r o p e a n pathway E4. Climbers can stay in climbing Shelter Municipal Regions.

1. P A R N A S O S, 1.900 m. above sea level.
2. G I O N A, 1.700 m. above sea level (information: Athens Hiking Club, tel. 210 88 11 520, 210 82 18 401), "Laka Karboyni" location and
3. V A R D O U S I A two Shelter Municipal Regions:

• Amfisa Alpine Club Shelter Municipal Region, 1.950 m. above sea level, tel. 22650 62 195, 22650 62 484. The Hellenic Alpine Club of Amfisa, tel. 22650 23 420 and K. Papageorgiou, tel. 22650 28 577 are in charge and
• Hiking Club Shelter Municipal Region, 2.050 m. above sea level, tel. 210 88 11 520, 210 82 18 401, both in Athanassios Diakos "Pitimaliko" l o c a t i o n.

A unique experience of 12 km. hiking is offered by the R e k a gorge, begging from the top of Giona until the plain of Viniani. The vertical slopes rising at an important height and the changing landscape, in combination with the waters running from three springs, lend a wild beauty and make the gorge an interesting place for climbing, scientific observation and environmental education.

The climbing area of Sykia with its negative inclination is one of the best in Europe and offers great excitement to sport fans.

Many slopes (site "Kofinas" - Amfissa, Profitis Elias - Malandrino, Itea region - Desphina, and others) are ideal for parachuting. Take offs to all wind directions. Information telephone numbers: 22650 34 548 and 6944862974.

The long seacoasts, which give on to the Corinthian gulf, are perfect for surface and undersea fishing.

The mountains of Fokida are an excellent natural environment for wild preys, both hairy (hog, hare) and winged (mountain partridge, woodcock etc.), which the hunters may hunt whenever and wherever hunting is allowed.
Besides the free-hunting, many hunters from all over the country are enticed in Fokida by the controlled hunting area of Parnassida (C.H.A.).
The C.H.A. lies in an area of 240.000 acres in the mountains Bardoussia, Giona and Oiti. The superior parts of the rivers Mornos and Voiotikos Kifissos run through a region that covers the entire fectures of the municipalities of Kallieon and Northeastern Gravia.
The region applies plenty local preys such as hogs, hares, roe deeres, partridges and also nurtured preys, such as pheasants and quails.
Information for the Controlled Hunting Area are available to every hunter who's interested, by the Forest's Inspection in the city of Amfissa (tel & fax: 22650-22650). The Forest's Inspection provides the necessary hunting license and details the dates & regions where hunting is allowed.

The Ski Centre of Parnassos is the biggest in the country. Hundreds of skiers visit it to enjoy the easy, as well as the difficult long pistes of the Centre. The calm waters of the Corinthian gulf are ideal for water sports.

The dense network of forest roads, crossing all Fokida mountains, brings the visitor close to streams, mountain peaks, dense fir forests and oak forests with gurgling fountains and recreation fields of exquisite beauty (Paliopanagia Delphon, Agia Triada, Kaloskopi, site "Tsouknida" - Potidania, site "Pouliani" - Perithiotissa, Agia Eleousa, Kirgia square, Polidroso, "Prata-Lako" - Pentagios, etc.

In the "heart" of Parnassos there is a National Park bearing the same name and covering 9.000 acres. It is the 2nd National Park founded in the country in 1938 in one of the 9 national parks existing today in Greece. The visitor, among the rich flora, will admire the endemic species "Peonia tou P a r n a s s o u" and the famous Cave of Apollo - "Kirokio Cave". Speleologists will try to explore the famous Karkaro - "Eptastomos", a cave with seven openings, where, according to the latest scientific researches, is the most southern glacier in Europe 70 m. deep.

Beside the "Eptastomos" cave, located in the Parnassos National Park, there many more significant caves, which could be interesting for speleologists, such as the Agia Eleousa cave - Polidroso, Neraidospilia - Vargiani, Katavothra - Agoriani, etc.
Photos taken by the "GREEK SPELEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION CLUB" Photo: Ή. Ίoulelis Delphi