Mount Parnassos
Run “Arachova Trail 2017” and explore a mountainous village nestling picturesquely at the foot of Mt. Parnassos. Enjoy the most cosmopolitan winter destination in Greece, a great favorite for passionate ski and mountain activities lovers. Enjoy a place that combines grandeur with wild scenery, breathtaking views, healthy climate, peculiar architectural homes, nightlife and winter sports.
Welcome
Welcome to “Arachova Trail 2017” offering the chance to experience Arachova village, which is awe inspiring at first glance, either bathed in sunlight or half hidden in the clouds, or lit up at night with the rock of the infamous clock tower standing out clearly like a fort washed in orange light.
WHAT
Half Marathon, 10km and Kids’ race (1km)
WHERE
Arachova, a mountain village located at the foot of Mount Parnassos in altitude of 950 m. It belongs to the prefecture of Viotia and is about away 160 km from Athens.
WHEN
Sunday, 27th of August 2017
WHY
Participating in “Arachova Trail 2017” provides a remarkable occasion for runners to run along a fascinating route and enjoy a famous destination that offers visitors adventure, variety, and yet calm and relaxation for those who wish!
HOW
Contact us and we will make you an unbeatable offer to suit your needs and preferences:
We offer several options varying from short weekend breaks in Arachova including your entry to the race, to a full vacation plan in Arachova and the surrounding area!
Moreover, we can offer you training plans, actual training in the streets and routes of Arachova and, naturally, we will run with you!
For more information and detail please call: +30 6978 524 433
Or email: info[@]www.runningreece.com
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Happy runs!
Date of Races
Sunday, 27th of August 2017
Races
Half Marathon, 10km and Kids’ race (1km)
Event Schedule
Saturday, 27th of August 2017
Race Briefing and Party : 20.00
Sunday, 28th of August 2017
Half Marathon Trail Start Time : 09.30 am
10K Trail Start Time : 10.00 am
Kids’ race Trail Start Time : 10.30 am
Awards Ceremony: 14.00 pm
Entry Fee
Your participation in the race is paid and secured by RunninGreece.
The participation includes the following benefits
- Electronic timer (official time and place)
- Participation certificate
- Commemorative medal for participation
- Commemorative T-shirt
- Clothing and personal belongings management
Deadline for Registrations
The registrations service will be available until 24th of August 2017.
Electronic Timing
All participants will be timed by a timing company using an electronic timing system. For this reason, the runners must wear the timing chip they will receive from the registration office along with the participation number.
Attention: Your time will not be registered and will not be included in the results if you do not have the timing chip attached to your shoe or if you fail to pass over the timing mats.
Awards
There will be awards for the first three winners (male and female) in every age group (5 years age difference)
All the participants that finish the race will receive a medal.
Special Awards
• First finisher to be a resident of Elis
• The oldest runner of each race
• Largest team of each race (group registration)
Health coverage
In any case all runners participate solely at their own risk. The organisers have no responsibility for whatever happens to the runners related to health issues or owing to lack of a preventive medical check. It is highly recommended that the participants undergo a thorough medical examination before entering the race. The organisers will not ask for medical certificates from any athlete (male and female), since they all participate at their own exclusive risk and responsibility (parents or guardians have liability for their children). We will also provide offers for special health check-up for all runners, and members of their families.
Routes
Half Marathon
The route starts from Arachova High School (+ 950m) and after the athletes cross the village up to the Folklore Museum, they head east for the next five kilometers where is the first supply station Panagiotis (+ 890m). Then runners head north to the 11th kilometer of the route, where they will meet the 2nd'Mana' supply station (+ 1540m). They continue west for the next 4 km until the 3rd ‘Vlacholakka’ supply station (+ 1650m), at the 15th kilometer of the route. The route crosses the massif that rises north of Arachova with peak ‘Petriti’ (+ 1924m). The highest point is located at the 14th kilometer with altitude + 1880m. The route continues towards south-south to the 4th ‘Ligkerisos’ supply station (+ 1150m), at the 20th kilometer. Then runners meet the Historic Battlefield of Arachova, which they cross to enter the village. After they cross ‘ Egarsio’ (Steps leading to the Church of St. George),they run through the streets of the village and finish at Arachova High School.
Map
10km Race
The route starts from Arachova High School (+ 950m) and when the athletes cross the village up to the Folklore Museum, they head east for the next five kilometers with a height altitude until the first supply station ‘Panagiotou’ (+ 890m). Then runners head north to the 6th kilometer of the route ‘George position Faucet’ (+ 1145m). From this point they head west for the next 4 km until the second supply station (4th supply station for the half marathon race), ‘Ligkerisos’ ( + 1150m). Then they meet the Historical Area of the Battle of Arachova which they cross to enter the village. After they cross the ‘ Egarsio’ (Steps leading to the Church of St. George), they run through the streets of the village and finish at Arachova High School.
Time Limit: 5 hours
Register to the race: from €20 » BOOK NOW
The Simple offer is addressed to those who wish to come and stay in Arachova on their own.
It includes:
- BIB number
- Timing Chip
- Commemorative Medal for participation
- Technical running t-shirt
- Transportation to and from the starting line (where needed)
- your registration to the race and all the logistics of the race entry
- special RunninGreece starting pack
- safe keeping of your belonging during the race
- many more like: tips and advice for the specific race, training schedule depending on your personal targets
The Simple offer is addressed to those who wish to come and stay in Arachova on their own. It includes all the logistics of the race entry, tips and advice for the specific race, training schedule depending on your personal targets and safe keeping of your belonging during the race.
If you really want to feel like a champion, we are here to support you!
Running Offer #1: from €45 per night per person (two days/one-night accommodation) » BOOK NOW
This offer is ideal for those who want to experience Arachova Trail Race, and get the most out of their short visit in Arachova. We have selected the ideal locations for you in order to enjoy the race and discover the beauty of Arachova at the minimum of time and cost.
It includes:
- Hotel accommodation in Arachova in one of the following hotels: Hotel Parnassos
- The registration and all the logistics of the race entry
- Special RunninGreece starting pack
- Technical t-shirt
- Commemorative diploma for participation
- Tips and advice for the specific race
- Training schedule depending on your personal targets
- Safe keeping of clothing and personal belongings during the race.
It starts from €45 per person (runner or not) for a two days/one-night accommodation in Arachova. If you wish to stay longer, you may add as many nights as you want for an additional €25 per night per person.
- The above (2days/1night) offer is per person, double occupancy
- Single supplement: €10
Running Offer #2: from €50 per night per person (two days/one-night accommodation and transportation from/to Athens to/from Arachova by bus) » BOOK NOW
This offer is ideal for those who want to let us take care for everything from your transportation to the accommodation in Arachova and experience Arachova Trail Race. We have selected the ideal locations for you in order to enjoy the race and discover the beauty of Arachova at the minimum of time and cost.
It includes:
- Transportation from/to Athens to/from Arachova by bus on Satuday morning and Sunday evening respectively.
- Hotel accommodation in Arachova in one of the following hotels:
Arachova Inn, Hani Zemenou, Afanos, Doma, Nostos, Patriko, Parnassia (depending on availability)
- The registration and all the logistics of the race entry
- Special RunninGreece starting pack
- Technical t-shirt
- Commemorative diploma for participation
- Tips and advice for the specific race
- Training schedule depending on your personal targets
- Safe keeping of clothing and personal belongings during the race.
It starts from €90 per person (runner or not) for a two days/one-night accommodation in Arachova.
Running Offer #3: from 75€ per night per person (two days/one-night accommodation) » BOOK NOW
This offer is ideal for those who want to experience Arachova Trail Race, and get the most out of their short visit in Arachova. We have selected the ideal locations for you in order to escape your daily routine and a great relaxation weekend, joining a unique trail race event and experiencing the beauty of Arachova
It includes:
- Hotel accommodation in Arachova in one of the following hotels:
Skamnos, Iresioni, Tagli Resort, Ontas, Likoria
- The registration and all the logistics of the race entry
- Special RunninGreece starting pack
- Technical t-shirt
- Commemorative diploma for participation
- Tips and advice for the specific race
- Training schedule depending on your personal targets
- Safe keeping of clothing and personal belongings during the race.
It starts from €90 per person (runner or not) for a two days/one-night accommodation in Arachova. If you wish to stay longer, you may add as many nights as you want for an additional €50 per night per person.
- The above (2days/1night) offer is per person, double occupancy
- Single supplement: €50
Running Offer #4: from 70 € per person (three days/one-two nights accommodation) » BOOK NOW
This offer is ideal for those who want to experience Arachova Trail Race, and get the most out of their visit in Arachova. We have selected the ideal locations for you and we will prepare for you an ideal plan to discover the area of Arachova, visit Delfous and the surrounding area, swim on the beached of Itea or Galaxidi and enjoy a unique running event
It includes:
- Hotel accommodation for 2 nights in Arachova in one of the following hotels:
Nefeli, Hani Zemenou, Doma, Patriko
- The registration and all the logistics of the race entry
- Special RunninGreece starting pack
- Technical t-shirt
- Commemorative diploma for participation
- Tips and advice for the specific race
- Training schedule depending on your personal targets
- Safe keeping of clothing and personal belongings during the race.
It starts from €70 per person (runner or not) for a three days/one-two nights accommodation in Arachova. If you wish to stay longer, you may add as many nights as you want for an additional €25 per night per person.
- The above (3days/2nights) offer is per person, double occupancy
- Single supplement: €15
Special Running Offer » Get a Custom Quote
Please tell us all your requirements and preferences, how many days you want to spend in Arachova, what other places you wish to visit and we will come back with a tailor-made offer specific for you! We can add trainings, running tours, car/bike rental, excursions, family activities and many more. In any case our offer will include the hotel arrangements, transportation to and from your hotel, participation to the race and all the logistics of the race entry, transportation to and from the starting line, tips and advice for the specific race, training schedule depending on your personal targets, safe keeping of your belonging during the race and suggested vacation plan for all the days that you will be in Arachova.
Group Running Offer » Get a Custom Quote
If you are a group of people, please tell us all your requirements, how many of you are running, what you like and what you do not like and we will come back with a tailor-made offer specific for you and your company! We can add trainings, running tours, car/bike rental, excursions, family activities and many more. In any case our offer will include the hotel arrangements, transportation to and from your hotel, participation to the race and all the logistics of the race entry, transportation to and from the starting line, tips and advice for the specific race, training schedule depending on your personal targets, safe keeping of your belonging during the race and suggested vacation plan for all the days that you will be in Arachova.
Arachova is a mountain village located at the foot of Mount Parnassus in altitude of 950 m. It belongs to the prefecture of Viotia and is about away 160 km from Athens. Beautiful stone houses and narrow streets around water sources is the first images visitors see. Arachova, despite the high level of tourism development has retained its traditional character, while offering the amenities and activities, which the visitors are seeking.
Arachova offers the chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking or ski down the slopes of Mt. Parnassos at the biggest downhill ski resort in Greece. The mountain’s high altitude offers ski lovers long-lasting snow cover at the peaks. Discover the traditional character of the village by taking leisurely walks through its narrow cobblestone street and enjoy hot and sweet or soft and fruity drinks in cafés, or traditional kafeneia (coffee shops). Stay up all night and enjoy the village’s bustling nightlife, where you can find a plethora of bars and clubs up and down the streets of Aráhova.
Arachova offers a memorable gourmet experience; taste local specialties: kontosouvli (big hunks of pork skewered and put on a rotisserie with onions, tomatoes, peppers and seasoned with salt and pepper, garlic and oregano), kokoretsi (the intestines of the lamb stuffed with offal), sarmades (stuffed grape leaves), traditional pies, handmade trahanas (pasta soup, can be sweet or sour), and hilopites (egg noodles made in linguine-sized strips, cut into small pieces).
The town itself is extraordinarily charming and–especially during quiet weekday mornings–has a quaint side to it, featuring picturesque old districts, beautiful gray-stone houses, magnificent mountain views, and historical churches, such as the dominant Agios Georgios church at the top of the town. Walking around the main town and taking in the scenery will undoubtedly be part of your daily routine, and we encourage you to venture off into little side streets or stairs off the main road, discovering picturesque alleys and open spaces with breathtaking mountain views, blending in with the Greeks while sipping hot chocolate or Greek coffee in the local cafes, or dining on tasty Greek food in one of the main town’s tavernas and restaurants. Those are the simple pleasures that Arachova grants to its guests, and the town’s culture will draw you to discover them almost immediately upon your arrival.
The trademark of Arachova is its central road splitting the town in half, filled with shops that sell hand-woven goods, rugs, embroideries, and various souvenirs. Within the many local groceries you will find the local specialty food products, such as chilopites (a traditional kind of pasta), honey, sausages, and local cheese. Arachova’s famed delicacy is called formaela: a variety of cheese that is especially tasty when baked. Since customs officials may object to some of these fine food items entering your home country, you are lucky that a lot of the wonderful local tavernas offer dishes made out of those local products (not to mention the fine meat you will find in the area). Of course, access to the international press could not be missing from Arachova: you will find a variety of foreign newspapers at the cozy News Stand on the main road.
Arachova and the other villages of Mt. Parnassos have been hit by a massive construction wave in recent years, especially over the past decade. Today, you will see various villas, mansions, and wooden houses that have joined the dark pine forests of the mountain: those are the weekend getaway houses of wealthy Athenians that have chosen this beautiful area as their private retreat. Other than Arachova’s inherent beauty, the other reason for its development has been its proximity to Parnassos, the biggest and most popular ski resort of Greece. The most frequented ski slopes are located in Fterolaka and Kelaria, with a total of 20 ski slopes and 14 lifts, chalets, as well as all necessary infrastructure, cafes, and restaurants. There is also a smaller skiing area at Gerontovrachos with 3 ski slopes. Simply by asking the locals or the hotel staff, you are certain to pick the slope that is right for you, as long as the weather is on your side and snow has filled the slopes! Close to Arachova on the way to Parnassos, you will pass by Livadi (Field), an area on a small valley that has flourished in recent years and now hosts several tavernas, villas, and cafes.
Even some Greeks may be fooled into believing that Mount Parnassos is all about its ski slopes and colorful crowds, but after seeing the wonderful scenery it will come as no surprise to you that one of the ten National Parks of Greece extends into this mountain. Established in 1938, its vegetation includes black Kefalonian fir tree forests and many rare plants, especially in its higher parts. Exploring the routes and tracks of the park is a true joy, and most enjoyable during the spring and summertime.
Arachova may be the most developed village in the area, but there are plenty of equally picturesque small villages scattered around the mountains: Eptalofos, Lilea, Mariolata, Amfiklia, Polydrossos, Davlia, or Tithorea – all following the same pattern of traditional stone houses and cozy village tavernas. For those of you who have chosen to rent a car, those villages are worth exploring during your daily leisure time, as is of course the Monastery of Osios Loukas.
Delphi is only some 7 miles (11 km) beyond Arachova, an easy day’s excursion. It may come as a surprise that the village of Delphi is a modern one – the old village of Delphi sat on the ancient site and so had to be relocated here when serious excavations began in the 19th century. Today the Delphi village is almost exclusively designed around the tourist trade, with little else except numerous hotels, restaurants, and gift shops. The general opinion is that the restaurants of Delphi are of no particular distinction, geared as they are to serving a transient clientele, and that the bus and car traffic during high season can be overwhelming. However, one thing Delphi village and the archaeological site can boast of is a superb view down onto the great plain covered with olive trees and with the Gulf of Corinth in the distance. Most visitors will want to make sure they take at least a few moments to enjoy this dramatic vista.
If you come here during a quiet time of the day and sit on a stone under the breathtaking titanic rocks, the Phaedriades Petres (“Shining Rocks”), you may feel a certain power or silent energy coming out of the magnificent scenery. And this feeling is not unique or modern–ancient Greeks felt exactly the same way! As mentioned above, they believed that in Delphi lies the center –the “omphalos”– of the earth and they maintained that place as one of the most sacred sites of the ancient world. It was the god Apollo who came here and killed the dragon Python, then establishing a sanctuary near the Castalian Spring that eventually became the most famous oracle of the ancient world. Needless to say that its prophecies influenced decisions by both the famous and anonymous!
As Delphi’s role and influence in Greek society increased, it became the site of increasingly more ambitious structures–the great Temple of Apollo; a large stadium and an impressive amphitheater used for the Pythian Games; the Temple of Athena Pronoia; the Tholos, a rotunda of unknown function but considered one of the most beautiful of all ancient Greek structures; the bouleuterion (seat of the Senate); and numerous treasuries, the small temple-like structures dedicated by Greek cities and islands usually after military victories–the finest being the Treasury of Athens, said to have been built with the spoils after the Battle of Marathon. Many of these structures are in the Temenos, or Sanctuary of Apollo, home to the famous Sacred Way. Visiting these major attractions –and the nearby Castalian Spring– does require a certain amount of climbing up and down the slopes but nothing so demanding that millions of visitors have not been able to handle it. Just take your time to enjoy the total experience of the scene: we are certain that you will find the effort rewarding.
The remains of these and countless other structures can occupy as much of your time as you are willing to devote to them, and their functions are made clear by the names. But everyone will want to know something more about the Temple of Apollo. It was here, in the inner shrine, an underground chamber known as the adyton, that those who wanted to consult the oracle would be admitted and have their questions on lead tablets read by a male attendant of the female Pythia. It was actually here, over the entrance to the shrine, that the oft-quoted “Know thyself” was inscribed. Pythia, perhaps originally a young woman but for most of the later centuries an older peasant woman, would chew a bay (laurel) leaf, drink water from the nearby Castalian Spring, and then, in a sort of trance, she would deliver her answer in what was virtually gibberish. Supposedly the words direct from the gods, these would be “translated” into Greek (often into poetry) by the attendant. But the answers of the oracle have given rise to the English word “delphic,” meaning obscurely prophetic, for they were usually open to different interpretations. Perhaps the most famous is that given to Croesus, the king of Lydia, who was about to engage Persia in a war: told by the oracle that “he would destroy a great kingdom,” he plunged into the war–only to discover that the kingdom he would destroy was his own!
One could spend many hours – or even days – at Delphi seeking out all remains and just taking in the setting and views. But however many hours you spend there, you must set aside at least an hour for a visit to the Delphi museum, which contains one of the world’s finest collections of sculptures from temples of the Archaic Period (the pre-Classical phase, c. 650-480 BC) and the treasuries of the Classic age. There is also the Omphalos, a 4th-century BC sculpted egg-shaped stone found in the Temple of Apollo and said to have marked the center of the earth, as well as a large silver-plated bull donated by the legendary King Croesus of Lydia. And if you see nothing else in this museum, you must stand before the great Charioteer, a life-size bronze of a man guiding his chariot: a work of c. 475 BC, it commemorates the Sicilian-Greek Polyzalos’s victory in the chariot race of the Pythian Games.
Leaving Arachova by car and following the road to Amfissa, Itea and Galaxidi, driving through the famous olive plantations of Amfissa, and passing through the big harbor town of Itea, you will eventually end up on the rocky coastline of one of the most beautiful and picturesque towns of central Greece: Galaxidi. Galaxidi is built on a quiet small gulf next to a pine forest, and the small town long prospered due to its proximity to the Gulf of Corinth that gave it access to the seas beyond. On the edge of town, in a lovely setting and with a superb view, is the restored Monastery of the Metamorphosis.
The central road from Galaxidi to Nafpaktos has many beautiful secrets as it passes by green fjords and adjacent to the less known sea-side villages including Agii Pandes, Eratani, Tolofona, Agios Nicolaos, Marathias, and Monastiraki. At the little harbor of Glifada you can take the short boat ride that brings you to the tiny islet of Trizonia, a truly authentic and quiet place with the distinct characteristic of the absence of cars or motorbikes. Of course you cannot stop and visit all the coast villages, but making a short stop to taste some ouzo by the sea may be one of the highlights of your trip.
The rest of the route to Nafpaktos is certainly an enjoyable one, and as you move on you will be able to take in the magnificent views of the Gulf of Corinth and the Peloponnese mountains across the gulf. Nafpaktos itself is a charming town with a 15th century Venetian castle as well as a beautiful Venetian harbor, filled with small kafeneia (traditional coffee shops) and with direct view of the old fortifications. After sipping your Greek coffee, tasting some of the traditional Greek sweets at the local kafeneia, or having a fabulous meal at a local restaurant, you may continue to Antirio and cross over the most modern and spectacular bridge in Greece, reaching the coast of the Peloponnese for a journey to an entirely different Greek culture from the one that you have already experienced.
The region of Arachova is well-known for its textiles, woodwork, dry wines and the local cheese, called "formaela".It also produces a sweet smelling hard rind cheese of with a relatively mild flavour that you should definitely taste!
How to get there
By car: o go to Arachova by car, you take the National Highway from Athens to Lamia and at the junction of Thebes you follow the signs to Levadia. After Levadia, you continue to Arachova/ Delphi. The road from Athens to Thebes is modern and comfortable. The road from Thebes to Arachova is rural, which means it has only one line per direction, but it follows a scenic tour. The entire trip from Athens to Arachova is about 3 hours
By bus: Buses to Arachova depart from Liossion KTEL Station in Athens. If you take the bus to Delphi or Amfissa, you pass from Arachova so you will get off the bus there. The bus trip from Athens to Arachova is 3 hours.
