A Thessaloniki jeep safari is an off-road trip by 4×4, SUV or buggy from the city into the hills around it. Routes climb Mount Chortiatis, pass lakes and villages and reach the coast. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.
The sections below cover the tours, Chortiatis, the lakes, villages and beaches, the Olympus buggy route and the vehicles. They also cover who it suits, what to bring, the season, timing and booking, with links into the Thessaloniki pages. The safaris shown are checked on GetYourGuide.
What is a Thessaloniki jeep safari?
A Thessaloniki jeep safari is a guided off-road trip that starts in the city. A 4×4 jeep, SUV or buggy leaves the tarmac for forest dirt roads. Routes climb Mount Chortiatis, pass mountain villages and end at lakes, waterfalls or the sea.
Off-road means driving on dirt tracks instead of paved roads. On a Thessaloniki jeep safari, the main stage is Mount Chortiatis. People in ancient times called this mountain Kissos.
In a jeep or SUV, a local guide does the driving and explains the area. On a buggy trip, you drive yourself and a guide leads the way. A buggy is a small, open off-road car.
The SUV, Chortiatis jeep and Mountain Buggy tours run as private trips for your own group. A Thessaloniki jeep safari adds a green escape to your things to do in Thessaloniki. The 7-hour SUV trip fills a whole day, like other day trips from Thessaloniki.
Which Thessaloniki jeep safari tours can you book?
You can book two Thessaloniki jeep safari listings on GetYourGuide: the Private Mountain and Beaches SUV Safari and the Buggy Safari “Discover Olympus”. Local firms add Chortiatis jeep tours and buggy routes. Each tour uses its own base and vehicle.
- Private Mountain and Beaches SUV Safari: 7 hours, run by See do more travel, in an air-conditioned 4×4 with hotel pick-up.
- Buggy Safari “Discover Olympus”: 7.5 hours, driving to the foothills of Mount Olympus.
- Jeep Safari on Mount Chortiatis: 4 hours for a private group, with a meal included.
- Unlimited Adrenaline jeep safari: a 4-hour 4×4 tour based in Chortiatis village.
- Mountain Buggy Thessaloniki: self-drive buggies on Chortiatis, with 300cc or 800cc engines (cc measures engine size).
The SUV driver also acts as your guide in English, German or Greek. Each Thessaloniki jeep safari here starts in the city or in Chortiatis village. The village lies about 40 minutes’ drive from Thessaloniki.
Mountain Buggy’s Refuge route lasts 2 hours, with 1 hour 30 minutes of pure driving. Its Peristera route covers 35 kilometres there and back. It takes up to 10 people aged 13 and over.
What does Mount Chortiatis add to a Thessaloniki jeep safari?
Mount Chortiatis gives a Thessaloniki jeep safari its height and its forest. The mountain rises southeast of the city to 1,201 metres. Its dirt roads climb through woods to viewpoints over Thessaloniki and the Thermaic Gulf.
The SUV safari makes its first stop in Chortiatis village. The village sits at about 600 metres and shares the mountain’s name. Part of the mountain forest forms Seich Sou Forest National Park, just above the city.
From the village, a Thessaloniki jeep safari heads off-road through the Mount Chortiatis National Park. The listing promises a view of the city from 800 metres up.
A mountain hut of the Thessaloniki mountaineering club stands at about 1,000 metres. Mountain Buggy’s Refuge route runs from this hut across the mountain. Cyclists who prefer pedals can join a Thessaloniki e-bike tour instead.
Which lakes does a Thessaloniki jeep safari reach?
A Thessaloniki jeep safari looks down on Lake Koroneia and Lake Volvi from the heights of Chortiatis. Both lakes lie east of the city in the Mygdonia basin. Together they form a protected wetland for water birds.
From the top of the hill, the SUV safari looks over both lakes and the city. A million years ago, the two lakes and the whole basin formed one big lake.
- Lake Koroneia: about 14 kilometres east of the city centre, also called Lake Langadas.
- Lake Volvi: further east, 68 square kilometres in area and about 20 metres deep.
- Water birds: herons, pelicans and flamingos feed at Koroneia.
- Birds of prey: golden eagles, imperial eagles and white-tailed eagles are recorded around the lakes.
- Plane trees: old planes between the two lakes hold nesting herons.
Koroneia is shallow, and its water level has dropped. Volvi is deeper and drains east through the Rentina gorge, known as the Macedonian Tempe.
Both lakes form a Ramsar site, a wetland protected by a world treaty. The site holds 20,000 or more water birds on a regular basis.
Which villages and local products does a Thessaloniki jeep safari include?
A Thessaloniki jeep safari visits Chortiatis village and the stone village of Peristera. Stops include coffee with locals, a chapel visit and a lunch of Greek food and wine. Buggy routes also stop at a Peristera taverna for meat dishes.
In Peristera, the SUV group joins locals for a coffee break. Then comes a short walk to the chapel of Saint Andrew and the old buildings.
Next, the Thessaloniki jeep safari drives beside a small gorge to a waterfall. Lunch follows at a traditional taverna with a view, with Greek food and wine. Food and drinks cost extra.
On the Mountain Buggy Peristera route, drivers can stop at the taverna O Platanos. Unlimited Adrenaline’s buggy route links Chortiatis, Peristera and the Ganari waterfall over 45 to 55 kilometres. Its guides suggest stops for food, coffee or rest at the waterfall.
Which beaches end a Thessaloniki jeep safari?
The private SUV Thessaloniki jeep safari ends at a sandy beach with dunes and clear water. A swim in the sea is the last stop of the day. After that, the driver takes you back to your hotel in the city.
The listing for the private SUV Thessaloniki jeep safari does not name the beach. The swim follows lunch in a traditional tavern with Greek food and wine. The tour starts at 10 am, so the beach stop falls in the afternoon.
A long sandy coast lies at Epanomi, about 31 km south of the city. Its Potamos beach has warm, shallow water and an old shipwreck you can see from the shore. Saltwater ponds on its northern side draw migrating birds.
Other swimming spots near the city appear on the Thessaloniki beaches page. The Olympus buggy day also reaches the sea, at a stone beach in Pieria.
What is the Discover Olympus buggy safari from Thessaloniki?
Discover Olympus is a 7.5-hour buggy day by Classic Buggy in South Pieria. It works like a Thessaloniki jeep safari, except you steer. The route climbs the lower slopes of Mount Olympus to a waterfall for a swim.
Unlike a Thessaloniki jeep safari on Chortiatis, this route heads south-west to Pieria. The day starts at the Mitsiani Car Museum, home to a collection of vintage cars. From there, the drive to Mount Olympus takes about 1 hour.
The first stop is a monastery, where Greek coffee is included. The buggies then climb to 350 metres, to the waterfall of Saint Kori. There you can swim in the cold water of a small lake.
Next comes a drive through the villages of South Pieria. You then pick a taverna lunch, which costs extra, or time on a stone beach. Another listing by the same operator names the beach as Plaka Litochorou, on the coast below Litochoro.
Which vehicles does a Thessaloniki jeep safari use?
A Thessaloniki jeep safari uses a 4×4 SUV, a jeep or a buggy. A 4×4 sends power to all four wheels, which helps on dirt roads. A guide drives the SUV. On a buggy tour, you drive yourself.
The private SUV tour uses an air-conditioned four-wheel-drive car. On the jeep tours from Chortiatis village, the guide drives the 4×4 and guests ride as passengers.
A buggy is the open, self-drive form of a Thessaloniki jeep safari, with two seats. Mountain Buggy Thessaloniki offers a 300cc automatic or an 800cc model with a manual gearbox. The cc number is engine size, and manual means you change gears by hand.
- A car driving licence
- Age 18 or over at the wheel
- A passport or ID card
- A booking of at least two buggies
- Manual gearbox skills for the Olympus buggy
Unlimited Adrenaline gives each buggy driver gloves and a balaclava, which is a full face mask. Fuel, a certified guide and liability insurance are included.
How hard is a Thessaloniki jeep safari, and who suits it?
On a Thessaloniki jeep safari by SUV, you sit as a passenger, so the effort is low. Buggy tours ask more, since you steer over rough dirt tracks. Pregnant women and people with heart problems cannot join the SUV or the Chortiatis buggy tours.
The SUV Thessaloniki jeep safari is private, for one group of up to four guests. Children must be at least 120 cm tall. The tour does not suit wheelchair users or people with limited mobility.
- Mountain Buggy: guests aged 12 and over
- Mountain Buggy: under-18s ride only with a parent
- Mountain Buggy: a weight limit of 115 kg
- Mountain Buggy and Classic Buggy: no back problems
- Classic Buggy: no children under 3
Unlimited Adrenaline rates its Peristera and Ganari waterfall buggy route as easy, with about 3 hours of driving.
Unlimited Adrenaline also runs a 2-hour family buggy and jeep off-road outing near Chortiatis. More family days out appear on the Thessaloniki with kids page.
What do you see along the forest roads of a Thessaloniki jeep safari?
A Thessaloniki jeep safari on Mount Chortiatis passes oak, beech and pine forest. Chestnut and walnut trees line the tracks too. Stops include village chapels, a mountain refuge and small waterfalls, with views over the city and the gulf.
In autumn, a Thessaloniki jeep safari rolls past mushrooms of every colour under fallen leaves. Walkers have spotted an owl resting on a branch. The forest also shelters birds and small mammals.
The refuge of the Thessaloniki mountaineering club sits at about 1,000 metres among tall beech trees. It opens on national holidays and every Saturday and Sunday. A forest road leads up to it from the chapel of Agia Paraskevi in Chortiatis village.
- The chapel of Saint Andrew in Peristera
- A waterfall in a small gorge, reached by a short walk
- The Ganari waterfall on the buggy route
- The mountain refuge, reached by buggy in 1.5 to 2 hours
- The observatory on the summit
Mount Chortiatis supplied Thessaloniki with water from ancient times up to the modern day. Its forest still holds the springs and reservoirs that fed the city, beside historic chapels on the trails.
What do you wear and bring on a Thessaloniki jeep safari?
On a Thessaloniki jeep safari, wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and a camera. Buggy drivers also carry a passport or ID card and a car driving licence.
Mountain Buggy Thessaloniki lists warm clothing and a change of clothes for its Chortiatis routes. The forest tracks turn muddy or dusty. Thin layers suit the climb, since the summit reaches 1,201 metres.
The Unlimited Adrenaline buggy kit list protects your face, hands and body from dust and rain:
- a protective ski mask over the eyes
- a pair of gloves for the hands
- a balaclava, a thin cover for the whole face
- a disposable waterproof, a one-use rain layer
Pack a swimsuit and towel if your Thessaloniki jeep safari is the Discover Olympus buggy. It stops for a dip at the Saint Kori waterfall and again at a stone beach.
When does a Thessaloniki jeep safari run?
A Thessaloniki jeep safari runs all year. Unlimited Adrenaline lists its Chortiatis buggy route from January to December. Summer suits the swim stops on the coast, while winter brings snow to the top of Mount Chortiatis.
Chortiatis village sits at 600 metres on the slopes, and the summit rises to 1,201 metres. Snow covers the higher ground in winter. Ski tourers, who climb up on skis, cross the wooded slopes in mid-winter.
Summer days in the city are hot. On Chortiatis the air stays cooler, and the forest gives shade. On a summer Thessaloniki jeep safari, the SUV and Olympus buggy routes add a swim.
Autumn brings chestnuts to the Chortiatis woods, and locals gather them. Spring and summer are the season for picnics and barbecues on the mountain. The page on when to visit Thessaloniki covers the city’s seasons in more detail.
How long does a Thessaloniki jeep safari last, and where is the pick-up?
A Thessaloniki jeep safari lasts from 90 minutes to seven and a half hours. The SUV safari takes seven hours with hotel pick-up and drop-off. The Discover Olympus buggy safari takes seven and a half hours.
The SUV version of the Thessaloniki jeep safari is private, for a group of up to four. Its driver collects you from your city hotel, with a 10:00 start. A central hotel keeps the transfer short; see where to stay in Thessaloniki.
- Jeep Safari on Mount Chortiatis: 4 hours, private group
- Mountain Buggy Adventure, Peristera route: 4.5 hours, private group
- Unlimited Adrenaline buggy, Chortiatis to Ganari: 3 hours, 45 to 55 km
- Family Buggy and Jeep Off-Road Experience: 2 hours, near Chortiatis
The Olympus buggy meets at the White Tower of Thessaloniki. Its base lies at Paralia Korinou. From there, the drive to the Olympus slopes takes 1 to 1.5 hours.
Chortiatis village, where the mountain buggy tours start, lies about 40 minutes by car from the city. A hire car gets you there; see Thessaloniki car rental. Halkidiki runs its own jeep safaris, covered on the Halkidiki day trip page.
How do you book and cancel a Thessaloniki jeep safari?
You book a Thessaloniki jeep safari online, on GetYourGuide or on the operator’s own site. The GetYourGuide listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.
Buggy tours are booked by the vehicle. Unlimited Adrenaline prices each buggy for two riders and needs at least two buggies. Mountain Buggy Thessaloniki also asks for two or more buggies per booking.
Mountain Buggy’s Refuge route on Mount Hortiatis runs as a private tour for at least four people. Unlimited Adrenaline refunds the full amount when it cancels a tour itself. Bad weather and not enough bookings are two reasons it names.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is food included on a Thessaloniki jeep safari?
It depends on the tour. The SUV safari leaves food and drinks out of the package, so you pay for meals in the villages. One GetYourGuide listing for the Chortiatis jeep safari includes a meal. On the Olympus buggy, a taverna lunch is optional, or you spend that time on the beach.
Are fuel and insurance included on a buggy safari?
Yes. Mountain Buggy Thessaloniki covers fuel, personal insurance and trained driver-guides who ride with you. Unlimited Adrenaline covers fuel, liability insurance, a certified guide and all taxes. Liability insurance pays for harm you cause to other people or their property. Each buggy comes fully equipped, so you bring no vehicle gear of your own.
What happens on a Thessaloniki jeep safari if it rains?
Heavy rain turns the dirt tracks into mud. One traveller found off-road driving impossible after rain. The guide picked a different route, with mountain villages and photo stops. The day also included a souvlaki lunch in a village and a monastery visit on the way back.
Are smoking and alcohol allowed on a Thessaloniki jeep safari?
No, not on the buggy tours. Mountain Buggy Thessaloniki bans smoking, alcohol and drugs, and alcoholic drinks stay out of the vehicles. Drivers handle steep, rocky forest tracks, so they need a clear head. Guides watch each driver and give tips along the trail.
Is there a night Thessaloniki jeep safari?
Yes, by buggy. Unlimited Adrenaline runs an extreme night mountain buggy tour on Hortiatis, another spelling of Chortiatis. It lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. The same booking platform also lists a buggy drive up to the Chortiatis refuge, a mountain hut, which takes the same 90 minutes.