On Sunday 10th March 2024, the Agios Nikolaos Mountaineering Club ventured to the picturesque Kalo Chorio, Merambellou area near the town of Agios Nikolaos for a day of exploration in nature's beauty.

A Floral Stroll to Prophet Elias

Here's a delightful portrayal from the club members:

In the company of favourable weather, the serene allure of hiking, and its convenient proximity (just 10 minutes by car from Agios Nikolaos), a contented group of hikers assembled at our starting point, Pyrgos, Kalo Chorio. Among us was our esteemed friend, Christoforos Chiladakis, who had journeyed from Heraklion expressly for the ‘floral stroll’ we had arranged. And when Christoforos joins us, one thing is certain: we will glean a wealth of knowledge about nature, plants, trees, locales, and the timeless customs of our people!

As we begin our ascent, tracing a picturesque, well-maintained path through the forest, a group of flower enthusiasts lingers behind from the start, capturing photos of the blooms: eight species of orchids [known as 'little lilies' in my village, elsewhere as 'little bees,' each distinguished by Christoforos with its Latin name: giant orchid (Himantoglossum robertianum), pink butterfly orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea) etc.], anemones in various hues, and other more common flowers that we often overlook, like irises or daisies (forming entire carpets).

If you tear your gaze away from the flowers and cast your eyes upwards, you'll be greeted by a spectrum of greens in every conceivable shade. The forest comprises pine, oak, juniper (a type of shrubby cypress intertwined with cedar), and olive trees, while the forest floor culminates in a lavish carpet of wildflowers. Above, the expanse of blue unfolds as we ascend, revealing the endless bay of Merambello and the azure spring sky! ‘Nature is magic, and a dream!’ This is how all our Sundays should unfold—a leisurely stroll in nature, a gift everyone owes to themselves!

Lost in admiration of this beauty, we hardly noticed when we reached the chapel of Prophet Elias, where we paused for a little raki and a chat. Continuing along dirt roads, we passed near the village of Meseleri and retraced our steps back to our starting point, pausing for a while at the climbing field of Peza—a breath-taking area with striking vertical red rocks, caves, and a fantastic view of the plain of Kalo Chorio and its villages, as well as all the northern coasts. Here, climbers from the area gather on Sundays for training.

Approaching, I was greeted from above by a young man with an orange bandana. It was Themelis Marnellos, who, along with his outfit 'Explore Agios Nikolaos, outdoor activities' (www.exploreagn.com), organises such activities in the surrounding area. He insists that it's never too late to engage in the sport (He even has students who are 75 years old!) and that climbing is no longer considered a dangerous activity, as it is now deemed entirely safe.

After showing us his equipment and explaining how each piece works, they gave us a demonstration of technique and teamwork on a challenging track rated 7+ on the climbing scale (I later discovered that the most difficult rating is 9, and only a few people in the world have accomplished it). Picture a young girl attempting the difficult climb, clinging to the rock like a suction cup, while a group of onlookers below watched in awe, mouths agape, recording the scene on video!

We extend warm thanks to the team of climbers: Themelis (Casper) Marnellos, Giorgos Datsaris, Dimitris Kampourakis, Maria Koulougousidou, and Faye Eudaimon, and apologise if we've inadvertently forgotten anyone. We wish them health and strength and hope they continue their impressive pursuit until they're 100 years old. Climbing, like canyoning, is a related activity to mountaineering, and while we mountaineers may not possess the energy and courage of climbers, we still feel a sense of kinship and share in the same joys and thrills.

After another half an hour of descending, we arrived back at our starting point, passing through the fertile plain adorned with olive and citrus trees, the village of Kalo Chorio, and Pyrgos. After bidding farewell, we made plans to reconvene for the next Sunday. I didn’t miss the opportunity to visit the nearby beach of Agios Panteleimonas and its wetland, which was especially lovely at this time of year without the crowds of summer swimmers.

The hike may have felt easy, but we covered quite a distance: 17 km with a significant elevation gain of about 520 metres over 6 hours, breaks included. We extend our gratitude to the leader and President of the Club, Panagiotis Eudaimon, as well as to Christoforos Chiladakis and Themis Marnellos for their guidance—Panagiotis in the world of plants and Christoforos and Themis in climbing—both of whom are so knowledgeable and dedicated!

For more information, photos, videos, and route maps, visit the club's blog: Agios Nikolaos Mountaineering Club

Video of the route: Pyrgos-Meseleri-Peza-Pyrgos