Pelineo
1,297 m
Greece
Also known as Πελιναίο, гора ПелинеонAlso known as
Πελιναίο · гора Пелинеон
- Elevation
- 1,297 m
- Prominence
- 1,297 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Apr–May
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The classic way up the highest mountain on Chios: from the hamlet of Viki above Kardamyla by old footpath and dirt road to a disused mountain refuge, then past a dark rock wall and a spring and up long zigzags across bare slopes to the Agia Triada chapel and the 1,297 m trig point. About 900 m of ascent and 2½ hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 6.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +952 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,297 m
- Time Up
- 3h 59m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 44m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start just before Viki on the Kardamyla side (roughly 350–400 m). An old footpath and the mountain road climb south in about an hour to the Viki mountain refuge, near a spring with drinkable water. The refuge is reported abandoned (2024) and in any case needs permission from the Viki community; do not count on it. Above the refuge a dark, vertical rock face dominates the slope: keep it on your right and climb beside a small stream to the plateau above it. From there a long zigzag path crosses the bare upper slopes, past a spring mapped at about 915 m, and becomes steeper and rougher on the final stretch to the small chained metal chapel of Agia Triada and the trig point just beyond. In antiquity an altar of Zeus stood on the site of the chapel. Chiosnet gives about 2½ hours and 900 m of height difference for the ascent. Descend the same way, or traverse to Spartounta (500 m, the island's highest village) on the west side by the path past the old Panagia chapel and the mountain road (about 3 hours in ascent from Spartounta). The ridge south to Edelos (1,231 m) is largely pathless. In winter, after snow, the gullies and upper slopes freeze easily in the strong, icy north winds and crampons and an ice axe are needed.
Start
Viki366 m
- KTEL bus from Chios town to Kardamyla; taxi from Kardamyla to Viki (no bus to Viki was confirmed).
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Viki → Pelineo | 6.1 | 952 | 21 | 3h 59m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Viki366 m
- Hut: Viki refuge693 m
Disused mountain refuge near a spring; position inferred from where the OSM track ends
- Feature: Spring918 m
- Feature: Agia Triada1,278 m
not on route line
- Summit: Pelineo1,297 m
Key Passages
- Dark rock face above the refuge (keep it on your right)
- Long zigzags across the bare upper slopes
- Steeper final stretch to the Agia Triada chapel
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 60%Overview
The 1,297 m high point of Chios, a bare limestone and schist summit in the island's wild north crowned by the tiny metal chapel of Agia Triada. A steep but straightforward half-day hike from the hamlet of Viki, with views across the Aegean to the Turkish coast.
Pelineo (Pelinaio, also spelt Pelinneo or Pelinaion) rises at the northern end of Chios, the fifth-largest Greek island, between the mountain villages of Viki and Amades on the east and Spartounta, the island's highest village (500 m), on the west. With a prominence equal to its height it is one of the highest summits in the Aegean islands. The lower slopes carry pine, oak and cedar woods and fir forest around 1,050 m; the upper mountain is open, stony and windswept. The highest point is called Agia Triada after the small chained metal chapel beside the trig point.
The usual route climbs about 900 m from Viki past a disused mountain refuge and a spring, then up long zigzags to the top in about 2½ hours; a path from Spartounta on the west side takes about 3 hours. Waymarking is patchy, cloud forms quickly, and in winter strong, icy north winds can freeze snow-covered slopes hard enough to need crampons.
The north of Chios is quiet and little visited compared with the mastic villages of the south, and you are unlikely to meet other walkers on the mountain. The summit traverse of Chios's five highest tops (Oros, Kamenos Lakos, Charkos, Edelos and Pelineo) is an organised local challenge.
Climbing Notes
A fit hiker can do the Viki route as a 4–5 hour return walk; there are no technical difficulties in normal conditions, but the upper zigzags are steep and stony. Start early in summer: the slopes are bare and very hot from June to September. Carry all the water you need, a windproof, and a map or GPS track, since signposting is incomplete and mist can roll in fast. The refuge above Viki is reported abandoned and was in any case only usable with permission from the Viki community.
After winter snowfall the slopes and gullies ice up in the north winds; then you need crampons, an ice axe and the skills to use them. Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) are the most pleasant seasons.
History
The name is linked to Pelinaean Zeus: according to local tradition Pelasgians from Thessaly settled Amades and worshipped the god here, and an altar of Zeus stood on the site of the Agia Triada chapel in antiquity.
Season
Best Apr–May- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Good
- July: Possible
- August: Possible
- September: Good
- October: Best
- November: Best
- December: Good
- Jan
- Snow and ice possible on the upper slopes; crampons may be needed
- Feb
- Icy north winds; possible snow
- Mar
- Wild flowers and orchids; occasional late snow
- Jun
- Hot; start at dawn
- Jul
- Very hot and exposed; springs may run low
- Aug
- Very hot; wildfire risk
- Sep
- Still hot early in the month
- Nov
- Short days; rain
- Dec
- Cold winds; snow possible
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No staffed hut. Accommodation in Kardamyla, Amades or Volissos.
- Rules
- The Viki mountain refuge is reported abandoned; historically its use required permission from the Viki community
- Getting There
Kardamyla
Chios Island National Airport (JKH)
- Ferry from Piraeus, Lesvos or Çeşme (Turkey) to Chios town
- KTEL bus from Chios town to Kardamyla, then taxi to Viki
- Car: Chios town–Kardamyla road north, then the Kardamyla–Kampia road to Viki
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
1- 693 m
Viki refugeRefugeUnstaffed