Karava
2,184 m
Greece
Also known as Карава, Καράβα (Αγράφων), +1Also known as
Карава · Καράβα (Αγράφων) · Карава (Аграфа)
- Elevation
- 2,184 m
- Prominence
- 1,006 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The classic, short ascent of the highest summit of Agrafa: from the chapel of Agios Nikolaos on the col of the Karditsa–Petrilo road (about 1,500 m), path A1 follows a dirt road west, then climbs meadows past a seasonal pond (the Loutsa, about 1,900 m) to a steep final 350 m to the summit. About 6 km and 700–820 m of ascent; 2–3 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 6.2 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +687 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,184 m
- Time Up
- 3h 05m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 15m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive from Karditsa via Mouzaki (about 32 km from Mouzaki) or from Lake Plastiras to the Agios Nikolaos col on the road to Petrilo, where the chapel of Agios Nikolaos stands at about 1,500 m. The same col is the start for Voutsikaki and Kazarma. Path A1 (red-and-yellow marks, maintained by EOS Karditsa) heads west on or beside a dirt road for about 3 km. After about 45 minutes, at roughly 1,650 m, a signpost points left to the Loutsa and Karava. The path climbs meadows with Koulkoutsari on the right to the Loutsa, a small pond at about 1,900 m (the Drakolimni of Karava) that dries up in summer; there is a spring on the route. The last 350 m of height are the steepest: the path fades and the line follows the edge of the summit cliffs, which needs care, to the broad top of Karava (2,184 m), with views to Olympus, Kissavos, Tzoumerka and southern Agrafa. Descend the same way, or traverse south-east to the village of Vlasi (about 13 km and 7 hours in total for the traverse; the descent to Vlasi is steep in places).
Start
Άγιος Νικόλαος Βλασίου1,510 m
- None to the col. KTEL buses run to Karditsa; taxi from Mouzaki or Karditsa.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Άγιος Νικόλαος Βλασίου → Καράβα (Αγράφων) | 6.2 | 687 | 17 | 3h 05m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Άγιος Νικόλαος Βλασίου1,510 m
Chapel of Agios Nikolaos on the Agios Nikolaos col, Karditsa–Petrilo road
- Feature: Δρακολίμνη Καράβας1,900 m
Seasonal pond (Loutsa), dry in summer
- Summit: Καράβα (Αγράφων)2,184 m
Key Passages
- Signpost leaving the dirt road at about 1,650 m
- Loutsa pond
- Steep final 350 m along the cliff edge
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
Karava (2,184 m) is the highest summit of the Agrafa mountains in the southern Pindus, a broad grassy top with cliffs on one side. A short, waymarked hike leads from the Agios Nikolaos col above Lake Plastiras past a seasonal pond to the summit.
Agrafa is one of the remotest mountain areas of Greece, a tangle of ridges and deep valleys in the southern Pindus between Karditsa in Thessaly and Evrytania. Karava, at 2,184 m, is its highest point, standing in the northern Agrafa west of Lake Plastiras. Its slopes are mostly grassy meadows used for summer grazing, with steep cliffs on the summit edge and a small pond, the Drakolimni or Loutsa, below the top.
The usual ascent is unusually short for a peak of its height because the road from Karditsa to Petrilo crosses the Agios Nikolaos col at about 1,500 m, just 6 km from the summit. The same col gives access to neighbouring summits such as Voutsikaki and Kazarma. From the top the view reaches Olympus, Kissavos, the Tzoumerka and the southern Agrafa.
The mountain's quiet has been threatened: hiking sources note proposals to build a wind farm on the ridge.
Climbing Notes
A half-day hike for anyone with normal hiking fitness: about 700–820 m of ascent and 2–3 hours up. The final 350 m are steep and partly pathless near the cliff edge, so take care, particularly in fog or wind. Carry water (one spring on the route; the pond dries up in summer) and sun protection.
In winter the road to the col may be closed by snow, the pond is frozen and snow-covered, and the ascent becomes a winter climb rated difficult; crampons, ice axe and winter experience are needed.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; access road may be snowbound
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Snow; for experienced winter hikers
- Apr
- Snow patches; pond frozen early in the month
- May
- Spring flowers; pond full
- Jun
- Good conditions
- Jul
- Best season; start early
- Aug
- Pond usually dry
- Sep
- Stable weather
- Oct
- Cooler; first snow possible
- Nov
- Early winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Mouzaki
Volos (VOL)
- Car: Karditsa–Mouzaki, then about 32 km of mountain road to the Agios Nikolaos col on the road to Petrilo
- Public transport: KTEL buses to Karditsa; taxi onward
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather
- Remoteness