The Voidomatis river: the Ice Age Trail, swimming spots and rafting

The Ice Age Trail: Kleidonia to Aristi

The most popular way to meet this stretch of the Voidomatis on foot is the trail nicknamed the "Hunters of the Ice Age" path — a moderate, mostly flat riverside walk of roughly 9 kilometres between Kleidonia Bridge and the village of Aristi, taking most walkers about 2 to 3 hours. Sturdy shoes, water and sun protection are enough; the path is well used and hugs the river through plane trees and gravel banks for most of its length.

You'll start (or finish) at Kleidonia Bridge, a single-arch stone bridge that's one of the most photographed spots on the river — we cover its full construction history and the bridge-building tradition of Zagori separately in our guide to the region's stone bridges.

Around the midpoint, the trail passes beneath the Boila rock shelter, a large overhang in the cliff face excavated in the 1990s. Archaeologists found stone tools, animal bone and hearth remains showing intermittent use from the Late Upper Palaeolithic into the early Mesolithic — broadly speaking, occupation dated to somewhere in the range of roughly 17,500 to 9,500 years ago, rather than a single fixed date. It's one of a small cluster of rock shelters along this stretch of the gorge occupied by hunter-gatherers not long after the last Ice Age, and standing under the overhang with the same river below is a genuinely quiet, striking moment.

The trail ends in Aristi, a stone-built Zagori village with tavernas and rooms to stay. Arrange a taxi back to Kleidonia, or park a second car at the far end if you're travelling as a group.

Swimming: cold, clear, and worth it in short bursts

Don't expect a warm river. The Voidomatis is spring-fed year-round, and several independent sources put its temperature only a few degrees above freezing near its source — it does pick up a little warmth lower down and in high summer, but it never gets what most people would call warm. Think brisk mountain-stream cold rather than lake-temperature swimming, even in August.

The best access on this lower stretch is around Kleidonia Bridge and at the wider, slower pools along the Ice Age Trail, where the current eases and the gravel bed makes for easy, clear-water entry. If you're after the springs themselves — the deep, glassy pools right where the river emerges near Vikos village — that's a separate hike covered in our Vikos Gorge guide, and it's colder again since it's closer to the source.

Water shoes are worth packing; the riverbed is smooth but uneven underfoot. Keep dips short, don't swim alone in the faster sections, and treat the cold seriously even on a hot day — it catches people out.

Rafting and kayaking: a gentle ride through the gorge

Several established operators run rafting and kayaking trips on this stretch, launching from around Kleidonia and Konitsa. Trekking Hellas — one of Greece's longest-running outdoor operators, active across Ioannina, Zagori and Konitsa — runs regular Voidomatis trips, as does No Limits, a Konitsa-based outfit that's been operating in the area since 1990. A handful of smaller local operators in Ioannina and the Zagori villages run seasonal trips too; ask locally or book through your accommodation if you'd rather not commit in advance.

Operators generally describe the river as an easy, family-friendly run — Trekking Hellas rates it as Class II, gentle enough for beginners but with enough current to feel like an adventure. Trips typically last 2 to 3 hours and run from around May through September, with fuller, faster water in late spring as the snowmelt comes down. Given the water temperature, wetsuits and other gear are provided as standard rather than optional extras.

Book a day or two ahead in July and August, when the popular slots fill up. Kayaking is offered both as guided tours and, for more experienced paddlers, as rentals — either way, seeing the gorge walls from water level is a different view entirely from the trail above.

Getting there from Preveza (PVK)

The drive from Preveza/Aktion Airport (PVK) to the Zagori villages takes roughly three hours, heading north toward Ioannina before climbing into the mountains. For the full picture on roads, overnight parking and combining Zagori with a coastal trip, see our general Zagori and Vikos Gorge guide — this page focuses on the river itself.

When to go

May and June bring the fullest, fastest water — best for rafting, with wildflowers along the trail and cooler air for hiking. July and August are warmest for a day out, though the water itself barely changes temperature; expect busier trailheads but nothing like coastal crowds. September and October bring autumn colour, calmer trails and lower but still swimmable water, with rafting trips tapering off toward the end of the season.

Before you go: what to know

Keep planning your trip

• Zagori & Vikos Gorge from PVK: a campervan day trip or weekend
• Vikos Gorge hiking guide: Beloi, the Voidomatis Springs and the full crossing
• The stone bridges of Zagori: a history of the region's arched crossings
• The Ovires natural pools near Papigo