Gafaris Gorge (Agios Nikolaos)
The gorge of Gafaris is an immensely beautiful gorge that offers a varied scenery and nice views. There are many different plants and flowers to see, lots of goats and large birds too. The geomorphology is very interesting with lots of rock formations and cliffs of rare beauty. This gorge is situated north of Zaros and is also known as the Saint Nicholas or Rouvas Canyon. It runs from north to south and is 4km long, 2.7 of which are easy to cover. Within the gorge, there are some historical churches and the ruins of an ancient Roman Aqueduct. The walk up this spectacular gorge to the beautiful forest and magical chapel site amongst the highest mountains, is really wonderful.
The hike starts either at Lake Vatamos or at Agios Nikolaos Monastery. It is a little shorter if you start at the monastery. The trail is very well marked with red painted dots and arrows, keeping you on the path. There are a few narrow paths with steep drops however, nothing that is overly dangerous as long as you take it slow and steady. For the first 2 km or so, there is a gurgling brook which you will easily cross several times. Then it disappears into the ground re-emerging at the bottom into Varos Lake. During the summer months, the stream and waterfall will be completely dried up, however, the scenery is still beautiful.
Several places have wooden bannisters and wooden bridges and you can even find attractive benches under trees along the way. You can manage the walk through the forest to the chapel in 1 hours and 30 minutes - including numerous pictures taking, water breaks and rests. This is a very popular gorge for hiking, so you are likely to encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open all year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime, but you had better not attempt this gorge walk on a hot day, even though there is some shade. You really do need good boots and be sure to allow yourself enough time so you do not have to rush.