The Menalon Trail is a long mountain trail in Arcadia, in the center of Peloponnese, that unfurls through the Lousios River gorge, the western slopes of Menalo Mt., the valley of Mylaon River and the Northeast Gortynian Mountains. The total distance of the route is 75km (46,6 miles) and pass through the traditional villages of Arcadia Stemnitsa, Dimitsana, Zigovitsi, Elati, Vitina, Nimfasia, Magouliana, Valtesiniko and Lagkadia, featuring the historical – cultural spots and the natural beauty of the area.
The Menalon Trail created by a group of volunteers from Eastern Gortynia, with the participation of the Club of Arcadian Mountaineers and Ecologists (SAOO) and the support of the Municipality of Gortynia.
Menalon trail is incorporated in the prizewinning programme “Greek Paths of Culture” of the ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage. The programme aims to give new life to paths of particular natural beauty and historical importance, all over the country, stimulating local communities with an important factor of sustainable development, that of hiking tourism.
The design and organization of the Menalon Trail, as well as the overall infrastructure that surrounds it, conforms to the standards set by the European Ramblers Association for the certification of walking networks complying to a criteria system of 41 quantative, technical and qualitative parameters, in order to be certified and proposed to walkers from all over Europe as a reliable, attractive and safe mountain adventure.
Menalon trail is the 1st trail in Greece and amongst the 10 in Europe, with the international certification “Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe”
