Aetoi
1,852 m
Greece
Also known as Astri, Αετοί, +1Also known as
Astri · Αετοί · Αετοί (Aetoi)
- Elevation
- 1,852 m
- Prominence
- 1,223 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The standard ascent of Aetoi (1,852 m), highest point of the Valtos Mountains: from a dirt road just west of Astrochori (about 1,040 m) a red-marked path climbs through fir forest to a plateau with shepherds' huts and a burnt refuge, then up a long hollow on the western slopes to the twin summit on the edge of the eastern cliffs. About 810 m of ascent.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 5.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +851 m
- −51 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,852 m
- Time Up
- 3h 40m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 36m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive to Astrochori (Georgios Karaiskakis municipality, Arta) on the road from Ano Kalentini. At the saddle where the road starts to descend to Astrochori, an easy dirt road branches off uphill (about 1,040 m). A red-marked path cuts the first hairpin and rejoins the road; at the next marker the path proper begins and climbs through fir forest to an open plateau (about 1,350 m) with a small chapel, shepherds' huts and the burnt-out refuge of the Preveza mountaineering club (EOS Preveza). From the refuge head south-east up a large hollow on the western slopes; a series of flat steps gives natural rest stops. Higher up the path heads for big rock formations below the main summit, crosses boulders on the summit saddle and finishes with a short, steep climb, traversing the southern slope below the top. The trig point stands on the edge of the sheer eastern face, which drops several hundred metres towards Megalochari and the Acheloos. The twin summit lies a little further north. Return the same way, or follow the ridge north past the trig point of Astri (1,564 m) and drop back west to the plateau and the start. The red markers are frequent but the path is easy to lose, especially in fog. MountainsGreece gives 5–5.5 hours for the round trip in snow.
Start
Astrochori Aetoi trailhead1,052 m
- No practical public transport; reach Astrochori by car from Arta via Ano Kalentini.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astrochori Aetoi trailhead → Αετοί (Aetoi) | 5.8 | 851 | 51 | 3h 40m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Astrochori Aetoi trailhead1,052 m
Dirt road branching uphill at the saddle on the Ano Kalentini–Astrochori road
- Feature: Stani plateau (burnt EOS Preveza refuge)1,348 m
Plateau above the fir forest with a chapel, shepherds' huts and the burnt EOS Preveza refuge; footpath starts here
- Feature: Western hollow1,580 m
Long hollow (lakka) on the western slopes heading south-east
- Summit: Αετοί (Aetoi)1,852 m
Key Passages
- Fir forest below the plateau
- Long hollow on the western slopes
- Boulders on the summit saddle
- Steep final traverse below the summit; cliff edge at the trig point
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 60%Overview
Aetoi (1,852 m), also called Astri, is the twin-topped high point of the Valtos Mountains in western Greece. A marked path climbs from Astrochori through fir forest and a long western hollow to a summit perched on the rim of a sheer eastern face above the Acheloos.
The Valtos Mountains (Ori Valtou) are a long, modest range on the border of Arta and Aetolia-Acarnania, bounded to the east by the Acheloos river and its reservoirs. They barely reach 1,900 m, but the ridge is long and varied. Aetoi, 'the eagles', is the highest point: a twin summit at the northern end of the range, in Arta prefecture, also known locally as Astri. The northern part of the range is sometimes called Gavrogo.
The mountain is strongly asymmetric. The western side rises in fir forest, plateaus and grassy hollows used by shepherds in summer; the eastern face drops several hundred metres in cliffs towards Megalochari and the Acheloos, and once held a large vulture colony. The trig point sits right on the edge of this drop.
In clear weather the view is wide: the Acheloos down to Lake Kremasta, the Agrafa peaks, Tymfristos, Panaitoliko, Tzoumerka, Xerovouni, the Arta plain and Ambracian Gulf, and the Ionian Sea. It is a local club objective rather than a well-known peak, climbed in a half-day from Astrochori in summer and as a straightforward snow hike in winter.
Climbing Notes
A half-day hike for any fit walker: about 6 km and 810 m of ascent each way, with a steep, rocky final section. The path is waymarked in red but the markings are easy to lose above the plateau, so carry a GPS track, particularly as fog often builds on the summit saddle. Do not step close to the eastern edge at the summit.
In winter the hollow and summit slopes hold snow and the route becomes a snow hike; club groups climb it in January, but take crampons or microspikes and an ice axe. There is no usable shelter on the mountain and no confirmed water source on the route. The nearest services are in Astrochori and Ano Kalentini; Arta is the nearest town.
History
No record of a first ascent is known. The refuge of the Preveza mountaineering club (EOS Preveza) on the plateau below the summit was burnt and is out of use. The Arta mountaineering club (EOS Artas) holds winter outings here and runs multi-day traverses of the Valtos ridge starting from Aetoi.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow above the plateau; winter hike for equipped parties
- Feb
- Snow; fog and wind common
- Mar
- Snow on the upper hollow
- Apr
- Late snow patches possible
- May
- Good conditions; spring meadows
- Jun
- Good conditions
- Jul
- Hot on the open slopes; start early
- Aug
- Hot; afternoon storms possible
- Sep
- Stable weather
- Oct
- Good conditions; cooler
- Nov
- First snow possible
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Arta
Aktion / Preveza (PVK)
- Car: from Arta towards Ano Kalentini and Astrochori (Georgios Karaiskakis municipality); park where the dirt road branches off at the saddle above Astrochori
- From Trikala the drive via Mouzaki, Korakou Bridge and Piges takes about 2 hours
- No practical public transport to the trailhead
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather
- Remoteness