Acheron Springs

At Glyki the Acheron emerges from the base of a limestone wall in a set of springs so cold that most people can stand in them only briefly, and the river runs immediately clear and fast between plane trees. The traditional activity is simply to wade upstream into the gorge, the water thigh to waist deep, on a stony bed with the walls closing in; ropes are strung in the tighter sections. Beyond it the Acheron gorge continues into serious canyoning terrain, and operators at Glyki run rafting, kayaking and horse riding along the valley. In myth this was one of the rivers of the underworld, where Charon ferried souls across, and the Necromanteion, the oracle of the dead, stands downstream near the river mouth.

What you actually see

• The springs - clear water emerging directly from the rock face.
• The wading route - a walk upstream into the shaded gorge.
• The plane-tree banks - picnic ground and tavernas beside the water.
• The activity base - rafting, kayaking and horse riding operators at Glyki.

When to go

June to September, when the air is hot enough to make freezing water pleasant; spring flows are high and the gorge can be closed. Weekends in August are extremely busy.

Honest expectations

The water is genuinely painfully cold, around ten degrees, and the riverbed is slippery stone, so water shoes are essential. The main area is commercialised with car parks, tavernas and activity stands. Anything beyond the wading section requires a guide.

Nearby

The Necromanteion lies downstream near Mesopotamos; Parga and the coast are half an hour west.