Greece Climbing Retreat

Whether you climb 5.4 or 5.14, the crags of Leonidio offer some of the most fun and accessible sport climbing in the Mediterranean. Tufas, pockets, steeps, slabs - they’re all there, and they’re all good. Vacation climbing really doesn’t get any better. What’s more, most of the approaches are short, and the variety of settings from the hills to the seaside never seem to get old. This trip is perfect for climbers of any skill level, and is a great place to push your limits, work on your lead game, or just enjoy the ride. 

We have booked the entire Hatzipanayiotis Hotel for our retreat. The manor house is distinguished for its authentic architectural features that takes us back on a journey deep in the past, when houses in North Peloponnese were constructed with stone.

The story of the Mansion dates back to many centuries ago. The building is named after the outstanding ship-owner Kostas Hatzipanayiotis (Politis), a great personality of navigation before the Greek revolution. The Hatzipanayiotis family contributed much to the Fight for Liberation in 1821, while a member of the family, K.N. Hatzipanayiotis served as a Member of the Parliament for Kynouria and as Mayor of Limneos area, the capital city of which was Leonidio.

You get yourself to the Athens International Airport and we’ll meet you there. We’ll pick you up and drive you to the Coco-Mat hotel where you’ll be free to explore the enchanting ancient city, marvel at the Acropolis, and dip your finger into the world of Greek food on your own at one of the Plaka neighborhood’s many delightful restaurants. If you want to spend a few days exploring Athens beforehand, just let us know and we can help set you up with a great itinerary to explore on your own, or a local guide if you’d prefer.

We’ll again start with a breakfast buffet and packing a lunch full of freshly-baked goodies before we head out for the day to climb. Most of our favorite cliffs are less than a half hour’s drive from town, with some even walking distance. We’ll spend the day on the rock and come back to town in time for a little downtime before dinner and drinks at the local taverna, home of the absolute best souvlaki on the planet (if you ask us, at least).

For folks who are keen on another day of climbing we’ll head out again, while if folks want a day off, they’ll be free to explore town or join us on a field trip to visit one of the many local artisans. Either way we’ll head over to the nearby village of Poulithra for a delicious dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Myrtoon.

We’ll try our best to get an early start for a half-day of climbing before we have to pack up and get ourselves back to Athens. We’ll spend another night at the Coco-Mat, and go out for one last farewell dinner.