The shelter of Panaitoliko Mountain is one of the least-known mountain shelters in Greece. However, it is certainly one of the most special because of its unique wooden construction. As well as being relatively easy to access, it offers all the amenities you need on the mountain and perhaps the best view of Greece’s largest lake. Our team recently visited the refuge and spent the night there. We couldn’t miss sharing this wonderful experience with you.
We start our journey in the early afternoon with the road to the village of Peristeri. Peristeri is a small mountain village of Aitoloakarnania, from where the uphill dirt road to the shelter of Panaitoliko Mountain starts. There we have a meeting with the Agrinio mountaineering club, who are the organisers of the expedition. After a short talk with members and friends of the club, we start the hike to the shelter. The walk from the village to the hut takes about an hour and a half and most of the way is on a dirt road. In general, the trail is technically easy, but there is quite a bit of continuous walking uphill. Nevertheless, the stunning scenery and views of the surrounding area make us forget our exhaustion and keep us going. We arrive at the refuge in the late afternoon and begin to organise our things.
The shelter of the Panaitoliko mountain
From the outside, the shelter looks very different from what we are used to. Mainly because it is built almost entirely of large spruce logs, which we later learned were brought in from Finland. Also, because of the altitude (1,170m) at which the shelter is built, it is surrounded by beautiful fir trees which make the whole scenery even more magnificent. After visiting the exterior we head inside to find our beds.
The inside of the shelter
Με μια πρώτη ματιά εσωτερικά θα μπορούσε κανείς να πει ότι μπήκε σε ένα έργο τέχνης. Αμέτρητοι κορμοί σε διάφορα μεγέθη και λεπτεπίλεπτα τοποθετημένοι διαμορφώνουν και έμμεσα διακοσμούν τον εσωτερικό χώρο. Αφού φτάνουμε στον δεύτερο όροφο βρίσκουμε τα κρεβάτια μας και τα στρώνουμε με τις χοντρές κουβέρτες που παρέχει το καταφύγιο. Έπειτά κατευθυνόμαστε ξανά στο εξωτερικό για να βρεθούμε στο κιόσκι του καταφυγίου από το οποίο μπορείς να δεις το υπέροχο ηλιοβασίλεμα πάνω από την λίμνη Τριχωνίδα.At first glance, you could say that you have entered a work of art. Countless logs of different sizes and shapes, delicately arranged, “decorate” the interior in their own way. Reaching the second floor, we find our beds and cover them with thick blankets provided by the shelter. Then we go out again and find ourselves at the shelter’s outdoor kiosk, from where you can enjoy the magnificent sunset over Lake Trixonida.
Evening at the shelter of the Panaitoliko mountain
Time is passing and most people have already arrived. In fact, some of the people in the kitchen have already started to prepare the food for dinner. Outside, people are beginning to sit around the wooden tables and the fire on the large barbecue is almost ready. Despite the season, the weather is on our side and allows us to enjoy the night outside under the stars and a clear sky. While the food is being prepared, the evening continues with great conversations with old and new friends. Amongst our great company, the musicians could not be missing and they make the evening even more special.
Dinner is finally ready and we enjoy our meal while discussing the details of the next day’s climb to the summit of the area. Admittedly, evenings in places like this are a magical experience. However, our evening is now coming to an end as we have to get up early the next morning. We visit the kiosk once again to take some photos of the beautiful evening scenery of the surrounding area before heading to our beds.
Climbing the peak of “Koka” and “Kira Vgena”
The next day starts early, but after a special night’s sleep to say the least. We quickly get ready and gather with the rest of the team outside the building. Our ascent to Koka Peak begins. The landscape seems to be full of life and nothing reminds us of the otherworldly silence of the night before. In fact, the weather is so good that we can see the forest, the surrounding mountains and even the town of Agrinio.
After about two and a half hours we reach the top of Koka and, after a while, the top of Kira Vgena. The views from both peaks are more than worth the effort, so we take a long break. After a stunning photo shoot with the clouds below us as a backdrop, we start to make our way down.
After four hours, we arrive back in the village of Peristeri, where we started. This time a table and food are waiting for us at the tavern of the village. The remaining day flows beautifully and with satisfaction for the success of the climb. At the end of the day, we update our plans for the next hike and head back to our homes.
For more information about accommodation and trails around the shelter, please contact the Mountaineering Club of Agrinio or our Page.
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