Mount Ainos National Park

Ainos was declared a national park in 1962, one of the first in Greece, to protect a forest of Abies cephalonica, the Kefalonian fir, which grows naturally only here and in a few mainland ranges; from the sea the dark canopy gave the mountain its old Venetian name, Monte Nero, the black mountain. The summit reaches 1,628 metres, the highest point in the Ionian islands, and a road climbs most of the way to a ridge where trails lead through the firs to the top, with views over Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaca and, on clear days, the mainland mountains. A small population of semi-wild horses grazes the upper slopes, descendants of animals left by farmers. Fires and grazing pressure have shaped the forest, and regeneration is monitored closely.

What you actually see

• The Kefalonian fir forest - dense dark stands unique to this region.
• The summit ridge - views across the Ionian islands and to the mainland.
• The wild horses - a small semi-feral herd on the upper slopes.
• The park trails - marked routes through the fir from the ridge road.

When to go

May and June for wildflowers and clear air, September and October for stable weather. Winter brings snow and the road can close. Summer haze often hides the distant views.

Honest expectations

The access road is long and narrow with rough sections near the top. There are no facilities on the mountain, no water and little shade above the forest. Horse sightings are a matter of luck.

Nearby

Argostoli lies west; Sami, Melissani and the caves are on the eastern side.