Vatochori to Kastoria

“Beware bears, snakes and… Albanians!” was the advice as we hiked ever closer to the troubled Albanian border. We’d spent a restless night, lying trembling, as something large paced around our tents. Was it a bear? Maybe.  

So we were nervous when we came across a group of Albanian loggers. A dead sheep hung from a nearby bush, and they were preparing a barbecue. “Come and join us,” they cried. 

Then it was on to the lovely deserted village of Upper Kranionas, with its crumbling mellow brick houses. And finally Kastoria, centre of the fur trade – a wonderful place to relax beside the lake.

Route: Vatochori, Kranionas, Kastoria