Wild, untamed, imposing, authentic… The truth is that adjectives of admiration for Tzoumerka do not dry up, and certainly, words are few to describe their greatness. The Athamanic Mountains, as is their second name, are part of the great mountain range of Pindos. Their northernmost part lies within the prefectures of Ioannina and Trikala, while the southernmost part, mainly Tzoumerka, belongs to the prefecture of Arta and is bordered by the rivers Arachthos and Acheloos.
Discovering Tzoumerka through a life experience
Tzoumerka, for many, is considered one of the “unexplored” parts of the country that you should definitely discover. Immense beauty, historic bridges, gorges, waterfalls, caves, virgin forests, and traditional villages with stone houses are the elements that compose the mosaic of Tzoumerka. The land of Epirus in all its glory, which you can enjoy if you come determined for a not-so-easy, but certainly exciting trek to the proud mountains of Epirus and the villages that so far have remained unscathed by mass tourism, keeping their character and tradition unchanged. The options are many, and you can choose which village you want to stay in to explore the surrounding area.
Syrrako
Along with the “twin” Kallarites, they are among the most popular villages in Tzoumerka. The traditional and stone-built Syrrako will enchant you from the first moment. Built at an altitude of 1200m. and at a distance of 52 km. The city of Ioannina maintains its traditional character with traditional bridges, cobbled streets, impressive mansions, and picturesque taverns.
Syrrako is a historic village of Pindos and the birthplace of eminent men (the first parliamentary Prime Minister of Greece, I. Koletti, and the poets Georgios Zalokostas and Kostas Krystallis), whose busts stand in the garden of the great Syrrakiotes. In fact, here is Krystallis’s family home, which today operates as a folklore museum, and among the exhibits are personal items of the great poet. Other exhibits you can admire and that take you back to the place’s history include the means of producing home cheese and textiles, as well as traditional costumes.
In the village, vehicles are not allowed, so you will have real privacy here. In the central square you will also find the church of Agios Nikolaos built in the 17th century and has a remarkable wood-carved iconostasis of 1900. Also, in the square, there is the central three-story stone fountain called “goura” and the three-story school, a century old, which today has been converted into a traditional Boutique.
Accommodation at the Old School Hotel
Location, cleanliness, service, and quality are the four characteristics that make Old School Hotel stand out.
The Old School in Syrrako has stood proudly for a century. It is characterized as a Modern Monument, retaining its original architectural design. Its interior was completely renovated and converted into 10 rooms, a reception area, and a breakfast area
Thus, at an altitude of 1,150 meters in the massif of Tzoumerka, where the intense soil, rich vegetation, deep gorges, and rivers create the perfect destination for all seasons, the visit will remain unforgettable to every traveler. The old primary school is waiting for you to enjoy your holidays!
Kalarrytes
It is, admittedly, one of the most beautiful villages in Greece. Kalarrytes, surrounded by the mountains of Peristeri and Tzoumerka, is built on the edge of a ravine, at an altitude of 1,200 meters, above the river Kalarrytikos. After all, that’s where they got their name. The whole area is drowned in greenery, while its climate has almost no humidity. And this is why Ali Pasha chose it as a resort, even opening a road connecting the village to Ioannina.
Kalarrytes is considered the twin village of Syrrakos, and between them are connected apart from the road and with a path worth crossing, if you are in good physical condition and can endure, as the route is difficult, but worth doing. Estimate that it will take you about 2 hours to get from one village to another.
have preserved their unadulterated character of Epirus, with the traditional stone-built houses and monuments. Vehicles are prohibited within the settlement, and as in Syrrako, so here, you will experience really quiet moments. The profession in which the Kalarrytians really excelled is that of silversmiths.
In their workshops, the most elaborate 18th-century ecclesiastical and secular silver artifacts were made, while the Voulgaris family, famous today as Bulgari, who, along with many other families, left Kalarrytes in 1821, comes from the village. They first settled in Paramythia and stayed there until 1874, when Sotirios Voulgaris left for Rome.
Agnanta
It is one of the villages of Central Tzoumerka and is built at an altitude of 650-700m.
The distance from Arta is 53 km, and it is one of the largest villages of Tzoumerka.
It is a rural, mountainous settlement nestled in a verdant area, with dense vegetation and running waters.
Pramanta
It is the seat of the municipality of North Tzoumerka, and you will find it at an altitude of 828 meters.
Pramanta is built amphitheatrically on the slopes of Strongoula and is crossed by three streams.
In the central square of the village, apart from the perennial plane tree, you will see the fountain of Arapis and the church of Agia Paraskevi. Nearby is the Anemotrypa Cave.
Elliniko Village
Elliniko, the sculptural village of Tzoumerka, is built at an altitude of 740 meters and belongs to Katsanochoria and the municipality of North Tzoumerka. From the entrance, you will see scattered sculptures on the street that will impress you. Besides, Hellinikon attracts many people because of the Museum of Contemporary Art “Theodoros Papagiannis”, where you will see works of the famous sculptor.
You will also see his works on the way to the Monastery of Panagia Tsouka, while every year in the village takes place the sculptural symposium (See here our recent tribute)
Kipina Monastery
One of the most impressive monasteries in Greece, in terms of its architecture, is located in Tzoumerka, near Kalarrytes. It is the Kipina Monastery, wedged into a rock on a steep slope, while below flows the river Kalarrytikos. Externally, the small monastery is quite reminiscent of Panagia Soumela in Pontos and is another element that inspires awe in pilgrims.
At the Monastery of Kipina, during the Turkish occupation and until today, you can see pieces of that era.
Inside, you will admire the 17th-century frescoes, while apart from the prayer area, there are also the monks’ cells, divided into two levels, as well as the reception areas. As for its name and where it came from, according to the most prevalent version, it is due to the gardens cultivated by the monks in a rocky, extremely inaccessible area.
To climb to the Monastery, follow the cobbled path to its entrance, and believe us, it is one of the most fascinating cobbled streets you have walked, gazing at the view stretching before you, with the wild and verdant ravine that the Kalarrytikos River crosses as it joins Arachthos.
Cave of Anemotrypa
Three kilometers from Pramanta, at an altitude of 900 meters, you will find the cave of Anemotrypa, the whitest cave in Greece, as it is composed entirely of pure limestone in its bays. Its history begins somewhere in 1960, when two young people of the time were ordered by the then president of the community to open a fissure, from which cool air was coming out, to explore its interior, on the occasion of the arrival of the honorary president of the Hellenic Speleological Society, Anna Petrocheilou.
Creeping with great difficulty after 10 meters they found themselves in front of a wide hollow, but the lack of lighting means did not allow them to continue the research. After that, a 270-meter section of the cave was studied and explored; it was exploited in 2000 and is accessible to visitors today.
The cave has three levels. The highest and oldest have collapsed, and some of its parts are preserved.
The middle level is the one that has been exploited for tourism. The third level is the bed of an underground river, which can be seen at the end of the tourist path, just before it forms a 2-meter waterfall, 10 meters lower than the path. The river water reappears in a spring located in the ravine, 25 meters below the cave’s entrance. The cave is inhabited by various insects, such as Lepidoptera.
Rafting in Arachthos
It goes without saying that you do not leave this trip without first rafting in the Arachthos River, the eighth largest in the country. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience not only for those who love adventure but for everyone, big and small, since there are routes of varying difficulty.
And believe us, you will enjoy rafting in Arachthos, in a magical landscape. 
Authentic flavors of Epirus
Leaving Tzoumerka, you will take not only pictures with you but also flavors.
In the traditional taverns of the villages, you will taste authentic Epirus flavors and traditional dishes, with pies having their honor.
