Mount Ainos National Park
Mount Ainos National Park features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Kefalonia. Give it roughly ~120 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type nature
- Suggested visit ~120 min
- Kefalonia Kefalonia guide
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About Mount Ainos National Park
The highest mountain of the Ionian Islands, at about 1,628 metres, covered with dark forests of Greek fir and protected as a national park since 1962, with views far over the sea.
Mount Ainos rises to about 1,628 metres at its summit, Megas Soros, the highest point of the Ionian Islands. Its dark forests of Abies cephalonica, the Greek fir, gave it the Italian name Monte Nero, the Black Mountain. The fir grows only in Greece, and in the Ionian Islands only here; the national park, founded in 1962, protects it.
The park covers a few thousand hectares and is part of the Natura 2000 network, with about 400 plant species and more than 100 kinds of birds. A small group of semi-wild horses lives on its south-eastern slopes. An asphalt road climbs to the transmitters near the top, and marked trails cross the forest. In 2023 Ainos became the first International Dark Sky Park in Greece.
Did you know? The Greek fir, Abies cephalonica, was described for science in 1838 from trees on Mount Ainos. It grows across mainland Greece, but in the Ionian Islands only on Ainos.
How long is a visit to Mount Ainos National Park?
Set aside roughly ~120 min for Mount Ainos National Park. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Mount Ainos National Park worth your time?
Mount Ainos National Park is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Kefalonia, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Kefalonia
Day 2 of the Kefalonia in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Mount Ainos National Park
Preview the Kefalonia tour free in the Gingerguide app.