Hiking alone in Greece: why a group outing is the safer start

The Pezoparea team · Updated 4 November 2026 · 6 min read

An organized group hike is a safer way to head into the Greek mountains on your own than going solo: there's a leader who knows the route, a sweeper at the back and transport. Pick an established organizer, tell someone your plans and keep your phone charged. Plenty of people on the coach came alone too.

Is it safe to go hiking alone in Greece?

It depends whether you mean alone on the trail or alone in a group. The usual problems in the mountains are losing the way, running out of daylight or being caught by a change in weather. On an organized hike, the leader manages most of those risks for you.

What should I check before signing up?

• Who's organizing: an established mountaineering club or a company with certified mountain guides. Look for reviews and a track record of past outings.
• What's included: transport, guide, insurance.
• Difficulty: for your first time, choose “Easy”. You don't want to be last in line all day.
• Cancellation policy: what happens if the weather turns.
• Meeting point: pick a central spot with public transport, especially if you're back late.

“Who's going” shows who else has tapped “I'm going”. If you prefer, you can hide your name in your profile settings: you'll still count in the total without appearing in the list.

What basic safety advice applies?

These are the usual guidelines for mountain hiking, and they apply on a group outing too:

1. Tell someone your route, who you're with, when you leave and roughly when you'll be back. Send them the link to the outing.
2. Carry a charged phone and, ideally, a power bank.
3. Know the emergency numbers: 112 (EU-wide), 199 (fire service), 166 (ambulance), 100 (police).
4. Don't wander off from the group without telling the leader, not even for a photo.

When you call 112 from a mobile in Greece, your location can be shared automatically, which matters a lot on a mountain (112.gr). Calls are free.

How do I feel comfortable with a group of strangers?

Most people dread the moment they step onto the coach and don't know where to sit. In practice, every outing usually has several people who came alone, and regulars tend to be friendly to newcomers. If you don't speak Greek, ask the organizer before you book whether the leader can brief you in English.

• Introduce yourself to the leader at the meeting point and say it's your first time. They'll keep an eye out for you.
• Sit near the front of the coach, where the leader and the regulars usually are.
• On the trail, stay in the middle of the group: not racing at the front, not stressing at the back.
• If anyone makes you uncomfortable, tell the leader. That's part of their job.
• You don't have to talk all day. Plenty of people go to the mountains for the quiet.

What should I bring when I go solo?

• Phone, power bank and cable
• The organizer's phone number saved in your contacts
• ID or passport, EHIC or travel insurance details and some cash
• 1.5 litres of water, food, a rain jacket and a warm layer
• A small first-aid kit with your own medication
• A whistle, which carries further than your voice