Mythical Caves and Ancient Olive Grove Hikes in Delphi: Uncover Nature's Secrets

At Delphi Awakening, the setting of Delphi is as much a part of the retreat experience as the formal programme. To ensure that we’re immersed into the surroundings during the Retreat, we’ve partnered with the esteemed Trekking Hellas Parnassos to offer two hikes during the week that dig deeper into Delphi's natural and historical roots.

Eleni Prablanc, our Outdoor Activities guide from Trekking Hellas Parnassos, tells us more:

Gaia's Mythical Cave Hiking: Raw Nature and Ancient Myths

This hike takes you through a thick fir forest for an hour until you reach the Corycian Cave, perched on the summit of Paliovouna hill. Dedicated to Gaia and the nymphs, and frequented by the wild god Pan, this cave isn't just a pretty sight; inhabited since the Neolithic era, it holds ancient secrets and boasts rock walls that offer tales of the past..

I love this hike because - as the entrance of the cave is at 1350m of altitude at the summit of Paliovouna hill - you actually climb up a mountain to get deeper into the earth. Before entering the cave, you have an amazing view to the altitude plateau of Livadi with the sea reaching away in the background.

I think that everyone must visit the Corycian Cave at least once to connect in a simple yet authentic way to nature, Mother Earth and the history of men who have always found protection within it. The cave has a special acoustic quality, and light plays with darkness - you can free your feelings and connect to something greater than you! 

This hike will allow you to feel the vibrations of a cave considered by the Greeks to be the center of the ancient world.

Tour link: https://trekking.gr/en/activities/hike-gods-pan-mythical-cave

Delphi Valley Ancient Olive Grove Hiking: History and Wisdom in Nature

Following the footsteps of ancient pilgrims we descend into the heart of the world-famous Crisaean olive grove, a UNESCO-listed landscape boasting over 1.5 million olive trees.

Descending into this olive ocean, you'll be struck by the sheer scale of the trunks, some reaching almost a thousand years old. French archaeologists dubbed it "la mer des oliviers," and you'll see why. The silver-green foliage whisper and provide shifting shade throughout the day, and the naturally carved trunks are a testament to the olive tree's endurance through the ages.

Today they are still here generously offering us their fruits for us. I love observing the silver-green foliage of the olive trees changing colors depending on the time of the day; here you will really understand why the olive tree is a worldwide symbol of immortality, wisdom and abundance.

A hike that will make you feel the value of time and the wisdom of nature!

Tour link: https://trekking.gr/en/activities/ancient-olive-grove-hiking