Prionia → Refuge A → Zonaria → Apostolidis

Stage lengths are measured along the mapped track. The split times share the published 5–6.5 h out between the stages by distance and climb — scree, scrambling and route-finding take longer than that arithmetic suggests, so read the splits as a rhythm rather than a schedule, and add your own stops.

1. Climbs 330 m over 1.4 km to Pigadouli fountain (1,430 m) — 1.4 km from the trailhead, about 1 h of walking.

   Approximate position, about a third of the way up. Often dry — do not plan around it.

2. Climbs 320 m over 1.1 km to Magalias stream (1,750 m) — 2.5 km from the trailhead, about 55 min of walking.

   Approximate position, about two thirds of the way to Refuge A.

3. Climbs 350 m over 2.9 km to Spilios Agapitos refuge (Refuge A) (2,100 m) — 5.5 km from the trailhead, about 1 h 25 min of walking.

   110 beds, mid-May to end of October, meals and water. Quoted at 2,100 m by the refuge and OSM, 2,060 m by Greek guidebook tradition. Last water on every line that passes it.

4. Climbs 50 m over 0.2 km to Kofto junction (lower) (2,150 m) — 5.7 km from the trailhead, about 10 min of walking.

   Kofto ("the Elevator") branches directly to Kakalos — a steeper T3+ variant of roughly 3 km and 2 h, about 80% gradient in its upper section, and it holds a snowfield late into the season.

5. Climbs 330 m over 1.2 km to Zonaria fork (2,480 m) — 6.9 km from the trailhead, about 55 min of walking.

   Where the E4 to Skala parts company with the Zonaria traverse to the plateau. A west-side source places this junction at 40.08139, 22.36142; the OSM way junction used here is the eastern reading.

6. Climbs 220 m over 1.4 km to Louki couloir base (2,700 m) — 8.4 km from the trailhead, about 45 min of walking.

   The Zonaria path passes directly under the Mytikas couloir here. Stone-fall from parties above is the mountain's main hazard; a helmet is worth wearing even if you are only walking through.

7. Drops 50 m over 0.7 km to Portes (2,650 m) — 9.1 km from the trailhead, about 15 min of walking.

   The gap between Touba and Stefani where the plateau opens. Elevation from the DEM, about 2,650 m; OpenStreetMap records it as a named locality rather than a summit.

8. Drops 50 m to Plateau SW entrance / Kofto junction (2,600 m) — about 650 m off the mapped line, 9.3 km from the trailhead, about 5 min of walking.

   Where the steep Kofto ("Elevator") shortcut down to the E4 above Refuge A tops out on the lip of the Plateau of the Muses. In OpenStreetMap this junction sits about 400 m east of the Zonaria traverse itself, which runs from the Zonaria fork straight to Apostolidis, so the mapped track passes nearby rather than through it.

9. Climbs 100 m to Giosos Apostolidis refuge (2,697 m) — about 700 m off the mapped line, 9.5 km from the trailhead, about 15 min of walking.

   The goal — highest staffed refuge in the Balkans, run by SEO Thessaloniki, open June–October with 66–80 beds and a glass emergency room that is always unlocked. Tap water is melted snow and not potable; bottled water is sold. OSM tags 2,690 m against the refuge's own 2,697 m.