Greece a country with a unique geographical diversity.
Nature here is rich and takes on many forms. It puts on the blue of the water, the green of the mountain, the grey of the rock, and the black of the volcano. It climbs summits, dives in gorges, hides in bays, and rests in valleys. These places, glorious and hidden away, also have their inhabitants. Rare flora and rich fauna, images worth being admired and preserved in our memory. Especially the flora in Greece explodes in places where there is no presence of humans, and, considering the country’s size, it can be said to be the richest in Europe. It includes at least 6.500 species of which, according to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, 1.150 can only be found here and nowhere else on the planet.
People’s return to nature is easy to explain. Life in urban centres lacks colour and oxygen, and so, increasingly more turn to hiking in the countryside. Hiking locations in Greece are full of fragrances and magic.
Nature lovers have a huge hiking network at their disposal, that consists of national trails, parts of European long-distance trails, like Ε4 and E6, many marked trails around the country, as well as certified European trails like the Andros Route and the Menalon Trail.
Let’s see the 10 clubs and societies in Athens dedicated to hiking, climbing and rock climbing, so that you can explore this national treasure in an organised manner. Most of the clubs are an ideal solution both for beginners and more experienced nature lovers. Some include schools for training and organise trips for beginners. While for experienced hikers the trails and trips are endless.
Alpine Club of Athens
The Alpine Club of Athens has a number of schools both for beginners and intermediate level athletes. It offers climbing, rock climbing, and hiking training all of them certified by the relevant institutions. They organise a variety of trips ranging from mountain hiking to river tracking and island touring. Their programme is rich and includes something for everyone, depending on the difficulty level and the available equipment. The club also organises environmental actions like trail maintenance. Info: Website, Facebook
Nature Club of Piraeus
A “grandfather” club with we relevant wisdom since it was born in 1927. Their members have completed great alpine climbs, since among others they have climbed Mont Blanc at 4.807 m., Elbrus, the highest peak of Caucasus mountains at 5.633 m. and the wild Lenin Peak of the Pamir mountains, at 7.13 m. Today the adventure continues with a variety of organised trips of different difficulty levels. Info: Website, Facebook
Nature Club of Nea Ionia
With 450 active members the Nature Clube of Nea Ionia organises a wide range of activities. They arrange excursions, sport activities, and trips all over Greece and abroad, while they also organise environmental actions like tree planting, cultural, and also humanitarian actions when the need arises. Info: Website, Facebook
Travellers
Travellers are a club that organises short trips and escapes focusing on hiking, climbing and trails with a cultural interest. Their programme includes hiking trails, bike tours, coast exploration with sea kayak, horseback riding, and many others. They combine exploring Greek nature with exercise and cultural tours. Info: Website, Facebook
Cultural Alpine Club of Fyli
The Cultural Alpine Club of Fyli organizes a large number of activities, including hikes, climbs and many more. They also have schools for rock climbing, climbing and canyoning at all levels. They utilize the plenty climbing spots in their area while they also have a climbing wall in their facilities. They also offer archery lessons, and their amateur athletes have received various distinctions. Finally, they also organise environmental actions, like trail cleaning, fire protection and forest clearing. Info: Website, Facebook
Society of friends of the Mountain and the Sea
Another group focusing on 3 main points: protecting the environment, exercising in nature, and promoting culture. They organise alternative trips and holidays in Greece and abroad with the main aim of giving prominence to the need for a different touristic model that respects natural environment. Their trips include a series of activities, be they nature related, like hiking, climbing swimming, kayaking, canyoning and rafting, or informational, like tours in historic sites, museums, and monuments.
Vrilisos Nature Movement
The Vrilisos society also has a rich programme. At Vrilisos, they focus on learning about Greek nature, getting acquainted with outdoor sports, and developing and nature loving spirit. Among other things, they organise climbing, rock climbing, bicycle, skiing, and camp trips in the mountains. They also have a climbing, canyoning, and windsurfing school. Its members participate in actions for the maintenance and cleaning of the trails. Info: Website, Facebook
Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature
The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature organises a wide variety of activities focusing mainly on a series of issues related to the environment. Basically, they are an environmental organisation that aims at preserving and protecting nature via focused programmes and activities, they put emphasis on environmental education, ecological management, and raising the public’s awareness of environmental issues. Info: Website, Facebook
