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Starting beside the Aegean Sea, this spectacular 27km endurance challenge climbs 3,500m to the summit of Greece’s highest mountain, the mythical “Home of the Gods” in one day. Journey through rugged gorges, mountain trails and ancient landscapes including the ruins of the Monastery of Dionysius before reaching the dramatic summit high above the Greek coastline on an unforgettable mountain adventure.
10 - 13 September 2027
4 Days / 3 Nights
17 Miles (27km)
Bucket List Adventures
summit the highest mountain in greece
Sitting at a mighty 2909m, Mount Olympus is regarded as the 'home of the gods'.
An atmospheric starlit startline by the coast
You'll kick off this journey under the stars to enable you to reach the summit in just one day.
Stay in an authentic Mountain Refuge
After you've made your summit bid you'll descend to our cosy refugio for food, rest and big beers!
Pass through classic rural Greek landscapes
From the coastline you'll weave your way through a dry river bed and then on beautiful trails up a stunning gorge to reach the slopes of Olympus herself, passing the evocative and serene ruins of the Monastery of Dionysus en route.
Arrive at Thessaloniki International Airport by 13:00, where our team transport will transfer you to the beautiful mountain town of Litochoro, the gateway to Mount Olympus. Settle into our hillside hotel before enjoying a traditional Greek meal, event registration, and a full event briefing ahead of the adventure. We’ll be aiming for an early night, because tomorrow the real Sea to Summit Greece challenge begins bright and early!
You will set alarms for a time when most folk on a Friday night are coming home from town. We will have breakfast available and then we will saddle up the transport and head for the short journey to the coast, where we will commence from Plaka Litochoro in the dark under the light of your headtorches at or around 0200. You will then ascend via a dry river bed and quiet roads back towards Litochoro. From there, we are on the mountain proper and will continue towards the refuge by the gorge of Dionysus and onwards to Prionia. After that, the ascent steepens until we reach the refuge. At the refuge you can take on supplies and more water before the summiut bit to top out on Stefani at 2909m. After high-fives on the summit, you will descend back to the refuge for food, rest and beers.
We will descend on foot back to Prionia, where our transport will whisk you out to our coastal hotel. Cue sun, sand and ultimate relaxation on the shores of the Aegean Sea.
On departure day, our transfer will arrive at Thessaloniki International airport at 1200, for those who wish. Or if you wish to remain in the Olympus area you can arrange extra nights’ accommodation at the beach hotel, or back in Litochoro.
Seb brings extensive experience delivering complex events and remote adventure experiences in challenging environments around the world. A climber, splitboarder, mountaineer and trail runner, he’s happiest exploring wild places. Inspired by big mountains, remote landscapes and true adventure, Seb combines real expedition experience with calm, expert project delivery to create adventures that feel both challenging and brilliantly executed.
Raise £2500 and get up to £900 refunded
Is the route likely to change?
The very nature of adventure means that the unexpected can sometimes become part of the journey and that is all part of the experience. While we will always strive to deliver “Plan A”, there may be occasions where operational, safety, weather or environmental factors require us to adapt plans and implement contingency routes or alternative arrangements.
As with all Rat Race adventures, participant safety and overall event delivery remain our highest priorities. We therefore reserve the right to amend routes, itineraries or logistics where necessary, using the experience and judgement of our expedition team to make the best decisions on your behalf in changing conditions. Wherever possible, we will communicate any changes in advance. More often than not, these unexpected moments become part of the adventure itself adding to the stories, memories and unique character of the experience.
How do I enter?
Click 'Enter' and sign into your Rat Race account and follow the sign up procedure. If you need any assistance please drop the customer service team an email on events@ratrace.com
How old do I need to be?
Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure.
Can I transfer my entry?
If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice. Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit vouchers are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE
Can I fundraise for charity?
You are very welcome to fundraise for any charity close to your heart while taking part in the event. Please note, however, that our Charity Refund Offer applies exclusively to participants fundraising for Children with Cancer UK.
Can I volunteer?
You can view our current volunteer positions here.
Can I go at my own pace?
We have designed this challenge so that you may travel at your own pace. See below for our notes on route-finding and guidance. There will also be some cut-offs, but in the true Rat Race tradition these will be generous and we will always look to help you to achieve your goals in finishing this challenge, vs having to pull out. Of course, we are giving you a VERY early start to allow the very best possible window for route completion. But, if you need us and if you need to abandon the route for whatever reason, we are there for you. The absolute key is that you enjoy this amazing journey from sea level to the very roof of Greece at your own pace and within your own limits.
What is Refund Protect?
Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.
To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry.
Do I need insurance?
Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory for this event and must cover both general travel and participation in the outdoor endurance activities included within the itinerary. You will also require Evacuation Insurance, which covers emergency extraction and onward medical transport by helicopter or similar should urgent assistance be required in this remote environment.
We strongly recommend arranging your insurance as soon as you enter the event and booking flexible flight options where possible to allow for any unexpected changes. Please ensure your chosen policy specifically covers the activities you will be undertaking during the expedition. There are a number of specialist adventure travel insurers available, including Mann Broadbent.
What is the terrain like?
It starts in a dry riverbed which is dusty, rough in places and fairly hard packed in others. You will then transition to local tracks and minor roads before hitting ‘the trail’ which takes you up the spectacular Gorge of Dionysus. On the upper reaches of the mountain, the going is good on firm and well-defined trails. It is rocky in places of course – it is a mountain after all!
What kit do I need?
KIT LIST
This kit list is from our 2023 event - you will be notified of any changes to this list ahead of the event you have signed up for.
General advice on heat
The heat of the day at lower altitudes can be fierce, so a wide-brimmed sunhat, sun-cream and lightweight and breathable fabrics (ideally with SPF protection) are to be used. Of course it will be dark for a good portion of the lower sections, but it likely still to be warm. As the sun comes up, sunglasses with at least Cat 3 protection are required. As we ascend, the cover will become less so we will be exposed to the relentless sun, especially as we rise above the treeline high up on the mountain. Temperatures can drop as we climb higher and we will find ourselves in a high mountain environment where layers, full leg cover and hats and gloves could be required. It is a fairly unique beast in that respect! Hot, cold, wind, dust, lots of varying conditions. All in one day.
The beauty of the support afforded by the vehicles in the lower stage of the trip means you can take what you need and then change into other gear/ footwear/ socks as we make our way onto the mountain proper beyond Prionia. We will offer the opportunity for a kit change at this location from lighter-weight gear inti ‘high-mountain’ attire. You can also change out of sweaty clothes into fresh ones, so don’t be afraid of bringing some extra stuff if you do tend to be the sort of person who gets drenched in sweat just by stepping outside in such conditions!
Do not underestimate how much the heat will take out of you. Even if you think you ae going well lower down, as soon as that sun comes up, it’ll start sapping energy. You really do want to ensure you have mas sun protection and keep taking on fluids and salts.
You WILL need trekking poles. You WILL need a fairly large daypack (up to 30l advised – NB this is for the mountain. You can get away with a much smaller ultra vest or similar for the run stage earlier on – so bring both). You WILL NOT need a sleeping bag as we will overnight at the refuge where bedding is provided, but you WILL need something like a sleeping liner, (or a very lightweight sleeping bag will suffice) for hygiene in the refuge. With early starts both days you will need some extra insulation layers as well.
For your feet, we would advise trail running footwear for the first portion and then for the high mountain, a boot would do for this, but breathability and mobility are also bonuses. Our advice (in an ideal world) would be high-topped trail running footwear/ lightweight boots with ankle support, for the mountain. Wear these OR a separate pair of trail trainers earlier in the day. You will get a chance to switch footwear, clothing and of course backpacks before we set out on the high-mountain trekking stage.
THE KIT LIST
RUNNING OR LIGHTWEIGHT TREKKING BELOW PRIONIA
TREKKING/ MOUNTAIN STAGE ABOVE PRIONIA
REFUGE SLEEPING KIT
GENERAL
We’ve created a flexible, interest-free* instalment plan so you can choose how many months to spread the cost of your adventure. Choose to pay in full or in equal monthly instalments up to 3 months before your event date.
* Once you sign up, Rat Race will set up a recurring monthly payment via Stripe. If a payment fails, you’ll receive reminders from Stripe and our team. After three failed contact attempts and no payment, your entry will be cancelled with no refund or transfer eligibility.
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2027
£1725
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