Slopes for every level, on the western side of Mount Vermio.
Just 17 kilometres from Driades Hotel, on the western side of Mount Vermio, lies the “3-5 Pigadia” ski resort — one of the most easily accessible ski areas in northern Greece from Naoussa, ideal for a winter day trip from your base at the hotel.
The resort spreads between 1,430 and 2,005 metres above sea level and takes its name from the area’s natural springs (“pigadia” means wells) — three in the lower zone and five higher up. It has slopes for beginners and more experienced skiers, as well as a mountain lodge for a warm break between runs.
Even if you don’t ski, the drive up through the forested slopes of Mount Vermio is worth it in itself — especially in the early morning, with the light filtering through the fir trees.
The resort has ten slopes with a total length of about 8.6 kilometres, with difficulty levels ranging from first steps to more demanding descents, as well as a ski school and equipment rental for those who come without their own. In recent years the resort has undergone extensive renovation, focusing on artificial snowmaking and upgraded visitor facilities.
Altitude is what sets 3-5 Pigadia apart: with its summit at 2,005 metres, the upper slopes keep their snow when the lower parts of Mount Vermio have already thawed, and the view down to the plain is one of the best in the area. In the summer months the same route becomes popular for hiking and mountain biking, with cool air and shade from the firs.
3-5 Pigadia and Seli effectively complement each other: they lie on different sides of Mount Vermio, so when conditions are not ideal at one, they are often better at the other. Both are less than half an hour from the hotel, giving you the flexibility to decide in the morning, depending on the weather and the snow report. If you stay several days in winter, it is worth trying both — they have a noticeably different character, both in their slopes and in the scenery around them.
Snow, fir trees and silence, at 2,005 metres.
