One-day excursion to Zarouchla and Tsivlou lake
A small piece of heaven is hidden in Achaia, at an altitude of 1,100 meters on the slopes of Mount Krathi in a verdant landscape with firs, pines and plane trees that offers peace and mountain natural beauty.
Zarouchla is an ideal destination for autumn and winter with the best season being winter to go with snowy mountains. The small doll village is one with nature, it is sparse stone houses around a small cobbled road, this is all. It is worth visiting the post-Byzantine church of Agia Triada with the two century-old plane trees. In the village there are two cafes for a short break.
If you want to do activities you must visit the Nymphes Estate to do archery, horse riding and ride in the forest with a bike and a ATV. There are also animals, ponies, horses, deer, a pond with ducks, so if you have children they will be very happy. In the reception area you can sit by the fireplace, drink coffee and play board games.
Where to eat in Zarouchla:
- Machairas traditional menu with meat in a warm atmosphere with fireplace. Definitely try the Machairas salad
- Charilaos for lamb on a spit, kokoretsi and stews
- 1022m Mountain Kitchen a restaurant very different from the rest, it offers Italian gourmet dishes with greek influences, the chef is italian. The raw materials are local
- Achyronas tis Zarouchlas delicious meat recipes in a warm environment with a fireplace
Local products in Ariadni for local pasta, lasagna, trachanas, spoon sweets, walnut, rose sugar, bergamot, fig, jams, cheese products.
Taverns in the surrounding villages:
- Paradeisos in Lake Tsivlou for grilled meats
- To Petrino in Lake Tsivlou for homemade traditional food
- Ntinos in Mesorougi for excellent meat and stews
- Nereides in Solo village for meat, vegetables from the orchard and mushrooms from the forest
A little further down you will find Lake Tsivlou which is a wonderful sight with its blue-green waters and surrounded by forest. It was created in 1913 after a landslide blocked the river and submerged the village Tsivlos. The skeletal tree trunks emerging from the water are proof that the lake was not once there. The best view of the lake is at the information sign. The distance from the lake to Zarouchla is 25 minutes.
It is also worth visiting the waterfall near the village of Solo, but the route is only recommended for experienced hikers and not for beginners. The hike goes through a small canyon and ends at the waterfall. Special care is needed because you have to hike through running water which can be rapid in some places.
The hotels I recommend in mountainous Achaia are:
- (€€) Styga Mountain Resort (⭐ 9.3) an excellent stone-built hotel in Zarouchla
- (€€) Revi Mountain Resort (⭐ 9.8) if you are looking for a luxurious hotel, in Kalavryta
Search for hotel offers in mountainous Achaia
How to get there
From Athens the distance is 185 km and takes about 2½ hours. Follow the motorway to Corinth and then head towards Patra. Turn at the signs for Zarouchla - Akrata - Aegeira and continue according to the signs you will encounter. The ascent takes about 1 hour, passing first by Tsivlou lake.
At a distance of an hour from Zarouchla are Kalavryta so you can combine them.
Here is a map with the locations listed in the guide.
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