Visiting
Climbing the Holy Mountain
Before you make your plans…
If you are considering a visit, take careful note of the following facts. Only men are permitted to visit Mount Athos and there are no exceptions to this rule. The number of visitors permitted on the Holy Mountain at any one time is restricted and all visitors are, by definition, pilgrims. Whatever your reason for visiting them, the monks will always welcome you as a pilgrim.
History
Mount Athos has been inhabited since ancient times. For nearly 1800 years there has been a continuous Christian presence on the holy mountain and its monastic tradition dates back to at least 800 A.D. and the Byzantine era.
Climbing the Holy Mountain
Climbing the peak of Mount Athos can be a physically exhilarating and spiritually uplifting experience but it is not a walk in the park, so it is worth making careful preparations. And obviously, the mountain is holy and deserves your respect. So please do not climb it as a purely ‘mountaineering’ project and we advise against attempting the ascent alone. If you decide to make the ascent, please can we ask you to never leave anything on the mountain during your pilgrimage- in recent years, the garbage on Mount Athos (and particular around the paths leading to the summit) has became shamefully visible.
Athos is 2,033 metres (6,670 feet) high, so whatever the temperature at sea level, it will be degrees colder at the summit. Winter* snow lasts from November into May, wind and rain can be a hazard at any season, and there is often low cloud on the upper slopes.
* The authorities of the Holy Mountain forbid any ascent between the beginning of November and the end of April (remember there are no rescue facilities at any time of year).
