Higher into the mountains.
Closer to the wild.
A village shaped by altitude.
A life shaped by the mountain.
Set high on the slopes of Koziakas, Pertouli is one of the most distinctive mountain villages of the Thessalian Pindus. Houses follow the contours of the mountainside while dense fir forest rises almost immediately beyond them, giving the village a feeling of being enclosed by nature rather than simply overlooking it. Pertouli is also described as one of the historic gateways towards the Vlach villages and landscapes of Aspropotamos.
Its relationship with the mountains runs much deeper than tourism. For generations, forestry, livestock farming and seasonal movement through the high country formed an important part of local life. The nearby Pertouli Meadows served as both grazing land and a stopping point for transhumant pastoral communities travelling across the Pindus.
The forest has played an equally important role in the modern identity of the village. Since 1934, the University Forest of Pertouli has been used by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for forestry education, research and sustainable forest management. Covering almost 3,300 hectares, it extends across the surrounding mountain landscape and remains one of Pertouli’s most unusual connections between nature, science and everyday life.
Despite becoming one of Thessaly’s best-known mountain destinations, Pertouli has retained a distinctly small-scale character. There is no large resort centre and little separation between village and landscape. Guesthouses and tavernas sit within a settlement where a short walk can quickly take you from houses and roads to the edge of the forest.
That proximity is what gives Pertouli its particular atmosphere. Winter mornings arrive beneath snow-covered slopes; summer brings cool evenings and long days outdoors; in autumn, mist and changing foliage transform the surrounding forest. The village may remain in the same place, but the experience rarely feels the same twice.
At a glance
Leave the village behind.
The adventure starts almost immediately.
Pertouli places some of the region’s defining outdoor landscapes within minutes of the village. The Pertouli Meadows and Ski Center lie just beyond it, surrounded by the University Forest and the higher slopes of the Pindus.
Winter brings skiing, snow activities and forest landscapes transformed by the season. When the snow retreats, the same terrain opens for ATV adventures, horse riding, hiking, cycling and journeys along the network of mountain and forest roads.
You do not need to travel far to feel that the landscape has changed. One moment you are in the village; shortly afterwards you can be crossing an open meadow, riding beneath the firs or following a road deeper into the mountains.
Whatever the season, Pertouli is less about observing the landscape from a distance and more about finding your own way into it.
Questions before you go.
Answers for the road ahead.
Pertouli is best known for its mountain setting, extensive fir forests, the Pertouli Meadows and the nearby Ski Center. It is also closely associated with the University Forest of Pertouli, which has been used for forestry education and research by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki since 1934.
The village sits at approximately 1,150 metres above sea level, giving it a distinctly alpine character and cooler temperatures than the Thessalian plain throughout much of the year.
No. Winter is one of its most popular seasons because of the Ski Center and snow-covered landscape, but Pertouli is very much a year-round destination. Hiking, horse riding, ATV experiences, cycling and forest exploration make spring, summer and autumn equally rewarding times to visit.
Visitors can explore the Pertouli Meadows, walk or ride through the surrounding forest, enjoy skiing and snow activities in winter, or take part in outdoor experiences such as ATV tours and horse riding. The village is also a good base for road trips towards Neraidochori and deeper into the Pindus.
It is a publicly owned forest estate managed for education, research and forestry by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It covers around 3,297 hectares, much of it dominated by fir forest, and has been used for the practical training of forestry students and scientific research for decades.
Yes. Its compact size, nearby meadows and range of outdoor experiences make it suitable for family mountain trips. In winter, the nearby ski area includes beginner-friendly terrain, while the warmer months offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy the landscape at a slower pace.
The two villages offer different atmospheres. Elati is larger and livelier, with a greater concentration of cafés, tavernas and accommodation. Pertouli is smaller, higher and feels more closely immersed in the surrounding forest and mountain landscape. Because they are only a short drive apart, staying in either makes it easy to experience both.
The road keeps going.
The mountains grow quieter.
Pertouli does not mark the end of the mountain road. Continue west and the landscape begins another transformation as the route leaves the familiar villages around Koziakas and moves deeper into the Pindus.
The next major stop is Neraidochori, reached after a short journey through high mountain country. Beyond it lie Pyrrha, Desi and eventually the more remote settlements associated with Aspropotamos — a region historically connected to Pertouli through pastoral traditions, forestry and the movement of people across the mountains.
It is a different journey from the road between Pyli and Pertouli. Traffic thins, distances between settlements grow and the terrain begins to feel increasingly remote. Valleys open beneath the road while mountain ridges rise ahead, inviting you to continue simply to see what comes next.
Pertouli is therefore both a destination and a threshold. Stay here, explore the surrounding forest and meadows — then, when you are ready, follow the road further into Pindus.
Go beyond the guidebook and
discover Pertouli.
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