On October 2nd, 3rd and 4th 2015, the gorgeous seaside village of Kyparissi will be introduced to the climbing world as a new sport climbing destination. Kyparissi is a small village in one of the last remaining untouched niches of Greece. Surrounded by cliffs of exceptional quality and wild beauty, it waited a long time until a bolting project was able to be implemented under the supervision of Mountain Guide Aris Theodoropoulos.

Special guest Angy Eiter is something of an “ambassador” of Kyparissi abroad. Angy, double lead climbing world champion, has been winning major competitions for the past decade but she is equally accomplished on the cliffs with three 9a free ascents in 2014 and 2015 (Hades, Big Hammer, Era Vella). Angy Eiter has been to Kyparissi repeatedly to climb and to bolt routes, and she will be coming back to Greece once again for the Kyparissi Festival.

Climbing in Kyparissi
Approximately 100 sport routes of all levels have been equipped in Kyparissi to-date. They are distributed across six beautiful crags, with shade both in the morning and in the afternoon. A free printout of the routes in Kyparissi will be given at the festival registration desk, including routes equipped just a few days before the festival.

Festival registration
Climbers can register online by filling in one of the forms below. The first 100 climbers to register will receive a free Kyparissi Festival t-shirt by The North Face, the event’s main sponsor. To register online, you must have arranged your accommodation (hotel, free camping, etc.) for the days of the festival and note it on the registration form. By registering you are helping the organizers compile a profile of the climbers coming to Kyparissi. Registration is not mandatory, and by registering you are not obligated to participate in the climbing marathon. To register in person, visit the registration desk at Hotel Cavo Kortia. Tip: Book your accommodation in advance if possible, as Kyparissi is small and rooms are expected to fill up.

 
Festival registration | GREEK
 
Festival registration | ENGLISH

Kyparissi accommodation
There is accommodation for all budgets in Kyparissi with prices starting at EUR30 per day. Please book ahead of time, though, because Kyparissi is small and rooms are expected to book quickly. Some accommodation options are listed on the left sidebar of our Kyparissi page.

Getting to Kyparissi
The quickest way to get to Kyparissi from Athens is to drive via Sparta. From Sparta, continue to Kyparissi through the villages Geraki, Agios Dimitrios and Harakas. Total time about 4 hours (300km) from Athens. Coordinates: 36.972558, 22.990644

Other outdoor activities: Hiking
Kyparissi also features very beautiful marked hiking trails on Mt Hionovouni, with stunning views of the Myrtoan Sea. More information and a free hiking map here.

Event planned by:
Municipality of Monemvasia
Municipal division of Zarakas
Bodossaki Foundation
G. Kellis Fund
Climb Greece
Supported by: RocKit Cream
Sponsored by: The North Face

Festival schedule

Friday October 2nd, 17:00–22:00
• Open registration at the festival information desk
• Distribution of free topo of Kyparissi routes and information about the Climbing Marathon
• Festival t-shirts

Saturday October 3rd, 09:00—17:00

• Climbing Marathon or free climbing. There will be two categories in the Climbing Marathon. First category: routes up to 7a; second category: 7a+ and above. Each route climbed freely by a climbing party will be awarded points depending on its grade; for example, a 6a route earns each climber 1000 points; a 7a earns each climber 2000 points; and so on. The climbing parties with the highest number of points will receive prizes from The North Face, RocKit Cream, and local products.
• 18:00: Gathering at Cavo Kortia hotel
• Awards to Climbing Marathon winners and special guests
• Angy Eiter presentation
• Greeting by local authorities
• Food; free buffet with specialties of the area
• Traditional music and dance

Sunday October 4th
• Watch Angy Eiter try to free some very hard projects! (Or, feel free to sample the area’s crags.)