Mount Cholomon
1,165 m
Greece
Also known as Холомондас, Cholomondas, +4Also known as
Холомондас · Cholomondas · Χολομώντας · Cholomontas · Cholomon · Cholomóntas
- Elevation
- 1,165 m
- Prominence
- 616 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Apr–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Summit not accessible
The highest point is inside a fenced military transmitter compound; walkers stop beside the fence a few metres lower.
outdooractive.com
Routes
1A forest walk of about 500 m from the village of Taxiarchis (670 m) through oak and fir woods to the summit ridge of Chalkidiki's highest mainland mountain, about 2 hours up. The top itself carries a fenced military and transmitter station; walkers stop beside it.
About 8% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 3 check notes
- summit inside closed area — route ends at the boundary (Arnaia road shrine parking, 646 m from the summit)
- summit reached only via terrain-checked gaps (282 m past mapped ground)
- Taxiarchis → Arnaia road shrine parking: corridor (detour; 441 m of gaps, 5.5 km)
This route ends at Arnaia road shrine parking, about 650 m from the summit, which is not accessible. Distance, ascent and times are to that point.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 5.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +426 m
- −72 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,028 m
- Time Up
- 2h 15m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 55m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Taxiarchis lies at about 670 m in the forest on the south side of Cholomontas, north-east of Polygyros. Waymarked village paths, cleared by the volunteer group Trace Your Eco and used by Thessaloniki hiking clubs, climb north from the village through dense oak, chestnut and fir forest on forest roads and old mule tracks towards the summit ridge. A club party starting in Taxiarchis in January 2026 reached the summit in about 2 hours. The paved mountain road between Taxiarchis and Arnaia crosses the ridge just south of the top; there is a parking area by a wayside shrine at about 1,025 m. From there a forest track leads up towards the summit buildings; they are fenced, so leave the track at its hairpin (about 1,115 m) and walk pathlessly up to the ridge, then along it to the summit transmitter, about 30 minutes from the road. Driving to the shrine shortens the outing to an hour or so. Descend the same way, or traverse north-east through the forest to Arnaia (about 14 km in total from Taxiarchis) or to Palaiochora on the old village paths. Paths in the forest are partly overgrown on the ridge and the summit is usually in snow for part of the winter, when timings lengthen.
Start
Taxiarchis674 m
- KTEL Chalkidiki buses run from Thessaloniki to Polygyros and Arnaia; Taxiarchis lies in the hills north-east of Polygyros, so a taxi or car is the practical option
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Taxiarchis674 m
- Parking: Arnaia road shrine parking1,029 m
Paved-road access point about 30 minutes below the summit (not on route line)
- Waypoint: Arnaia road shrine parking1,029 m
Summit not accessible beyond this point
Key Passages
- Pathless final slope to the ridge beside the fenced summit compound
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 60%Overview
The forested backbone of central and eastern Chalkidiki, rising to 1,165 m north-east of Polygyros. An easy walk through oak, chestnut and fir woods from the village of Taxiarchis leads to a summit ridge crowned by a fenced military transmitter.
Cholomontas (Cholomon, Holomontas) is the mountain that fills the interior of the Chalkidiki peninsula between the Thermaic Gulf and the Athos peninsula. After Mount Athos it is the highest mountain in Chalkidiki. Its broad, rounded ridges are almost entirely wooded, with oak at lower levels and chestnut, pine and fir higher up, and much of it is in the Natura 2000 network. Villages on its slopes include Taxiarchis, Arnaia, Palaiochora, Varvara and Neochori; Taxiarchis is known in Greece for its Christmas-tree plantations and for the university forest run with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The summit is not dramatic: a forested ridge whose highest point is occupied by a fenced military and transmitter installation, which walkers cannot enter. The appeal is the cool forest in summer, the network of old village paths reopened by local volunteers, and the combination with Arnaia's stone mansions and Taxiarchis's tavernas.
A paved mountain road crosses the ridge just south of the summit, so the top can be reached in half an hour from a car. Walkers usually start in Taxiarchis (about 2 hours up) or make a traverse between Taxiarchis, the summit and Arnaia or Palaiochora.
Climbing Notes
A straightforward forest hike that suits anyone with basic fitness; there is about 500 m of ascent from Taxiarchis and no technical ground. The final slope to the ridge is pathless for a short stretch and some ridge paths are overgrown, so carry an offline map or GPS track and wear long trousers. Signage is mainly red waymarks on trees and stones.
The mountain is walkable all year. Summer is warm but shaded; spring and autumn are the most pleasant, with autumn colours in the chestnut woods. The upper forest often holds snow in winter, which lengthens timings. Respect the fenced military area at the top and do not photograph it. Combine the walk with lunch in Taxiarchis or Arnaia; for a full day, traverse from Taxiarchis over the top to Arnaia (about 14 km).
History
In antiquity the mountain was known as Ypsison. The forest around Taxiarchis has long been managed for timber and is today a state forest managed in cooperation with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a small forest museum. From 2016 the volunteer group Trace Your Eco cleared and signposted the old village path from Palaiochora to Taxiarchis over the summit, later extending it towards Arnaia on the old O4 path.
Season
Best Apr–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow often lies in the upper forest; slower going
- Feb
- Snow possible on the ridge
- Mar
- Wet underfoot; lingering snow high up
- Apr
- Spring forest; good walking temperatures
- Jun
- Forest shade keeps it cooler than the coast
- Jul
- Warm; start early
- Aug
- Warm; fire-risk days can bring forest access restrictions
- Oct
- Autumn colours in the chestnut woods
- Nov
- Hunting season on the forest roads; wear bright colours
- Dec
- Short days; snow possible
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- There are no huts on the mountain; stay in Taxiarchis, Arnaia or Polygyros.
- Rules
- The summit is occupied by a fenced military and transmitter installation: do not enter the compound, and do not photograph military installations
- Natura 2000 area: stay on paths and do not light fires; on very high fire-risk days in summer the Greek authorities may close forest areas to visitors
- Getting There
Taxiarchis (village); Arnaia and Polygyros (towns)
Thessaloniki Makedonia (SKG)
- By car from Thessaloniki to Polygyros or Arnaia, then on to Taxiarchis; a paved mountain road between Taxiarchis and Arnaia crosses the ridge just below the summit, with parking by a wayside shrine at about 1,025 m
- KTEL Chalkidiki buses run from Thessaloniki to Polygyros and Arnaia; onward to Taxiarchis by taxi or car
Hazards
- Weather