Sector: Lelaki
Sector: Sesi
Sector: Vrachokipos
Links
theguardian.com/travel/2014/jun/14/ athens-hotspots-top-10-new-places-eatdrink
Airport
Camping
campingdionissotis.gr
campingathens.com.gr
Hotels
cecilhotel.gr
attaloshotel.com
nafsika.coco-mat-hotels.com/
hotel-chris.gr
pantheonathens.com
hiathens.com
Climbing Gyms
eosacharnon.gr/anarihisi.html
rockway.com
thewall.gr
redpoint-athens.gr
oakaindoorclimbing.gr
Climbing Shops
polo.gr
alpamayopro.gr
thewall.gr
Hymettus (pronounced ee-mee-TOSS) is a small mountain range with its highest peak at 1026m. Bordering the Attica Basin on the east, it is only 20-30 minutes away by car from the Athens airport. In recent years, some short yet exceptional cliffs on the slopes of Hymettus have been equipped to produce three of the best sport crags in Athens: Sesi, Vrachokipos and Lelaki.
Climbing: Generally steep red and yellow limestone with pockets and tufas. Excellent, pumpy, 3D climbing on mostly good holds and some slopers on tufa blobs.
Gear: Α 70m rope for Lelaki, or a 60m rope for Sesi and Vrachokipos. 15-17 QD for the longer routes.
Best season: Year-round climbing is possible by selecting the appropriate sector.
Kids: All three sectors are good, though Sesi is best thanks to a minimal approach.
Getting to the crags
Sesi: Take the Attiki Odos motorway in the direction of the airport. At the turnoff to the airport, go right towards Koropi (Koropiou-Markopoulou Ave). Stay on this road. Eventually, it will turn into the main avenue running through Koropi (Vasileos Konstantinou Ave) and heading northwest. Exactly 4.6km after the turnoff from the motorway, turn left onto Fleming St. Stay on Fleming St. (which turns into Demosthenous St.) for 5.5km. This then turns into a dirt road. Continue on the dirt road for 2.2km. Drive past a small chapel then a small hunters’ building and a well on the left. Immediately past the well, turn left. Drive for 50m and turn left again. The remaining 200m to the crag is along a rough dirt road. If your vehicle is low-slung, park here and walk the rest of the way (37.925652, 23.797151 and 12.8km from the motorway turnoff). If your vehicle is suitable, continue along the bumpy dirt road and park just under the cliffs (37.924047, 23.798589). Walking time: 1-5 min.
Vrachokipos and Lelaki: Follow the directions to Sesi above until you pass the chapel, the hunters’ building and the well and turn left after the well. Then, do not turn left again (as you would for Sesi) but continue up and towards the right for 1.2km until you come to a plateau. Park on the left, under some tall pine trees (37.918228, 23.793894 and 14km from the motorway turnoff). Follow the footpath going south into a ravine. There are occasional red marks. In about 10 minutes, after a steep descent, Vrachokipos will be visible on the left and Lelaki on the right. Walk to your chosen crag. Walking time: 15 min.
