Vasilitsa: the back story

About Vasilitsa: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Ski Resorts Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Vasilitsa rises in the northern Pindus, the spine of mainland Greece, where the region of Grevena meets Epirus. Its slopes are covered in Bosnian pines and beech, its views reach the great peaks of Smolikas, Gamila and Astraka, and since 1975 it has been one of Greece’s best-loved ski mountains.

Between Macedonia and Epirus

At 2,249 metres, Vasilitsa is the 18th-highest mountain in Greece and the natural border between the regional units of Grevena and Ioannina, and so between Macedonia and Epirus. The ski centre on its slopes has been running since 1975. Since the Egnatia Odos motorway opened up the north, it has drawn skiers and snowboarders from all over Greece.

Skiing through the pines

What makes Vasilitsa special is its forest. Runs wind between Bosnian pines and beech, and the trees give skiers reference points even in fog. On the Elimeia runs, floodlit night skiing lights up the pines; the Tymfaia run looks across to the village of Samarina; and the permanent snowboard halfpipe is a point of reference: Greece’s first jump contest was held here. From the top of the lifts the view runs to Smolikas, Gamila and Astraka and the Flegga lakes.

Since 1975 Vasilitsa has been one of Greece’s best-loved ski mountains.

The Tethys geopark

Vasilitsa lies within the Grevena–Kozani Geopark, Tethys, one of the six Greek geoparks recognised in UNESCO’s Global Geoparks network. Close by is the Valia Kalda National Park, a wild forest valley of the northern Pindus, with hiking in summer.

Samarina and the Vlach villages

Eleven kilometres from the ski centre lies Samarina, which calls itself the most picturesque and highest village of the Pindus, a place of Vlach tradition where guesthouses have welcomed winter and summer visitors for decades. On the other side of the mountain, Smixi is the closest village to the lifts.

The land of mushrooms

Grevena, the regional town about 45 km away, is known as the land of mushrooms, and its local produce is part of any trip here, along with the region’s stone bridges and gorges.

Our advice: drive with snow chains, check the centre’s Facebook or Instagram for the day’s lift status before you leave, and if you can, come on a weekday, when passes are cheapest and the slopes quiet.

Vasilitsa in numbers

From vasilitsa.com and the Greek National Tourism Organisation.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Vasilitsa: the back story before you go.