Mileapotamos and Venetikos river - kayaking guides through Balkan (EP 2)

Mileapotamos and Venetikos - 2nd episode of Balkan guides with ‪@michalkuthan1998‬ 🌊 Previous episode:    • Osum and Vjosa river - kayaking guide thro...   🗺️📍 Section of Mileapotamos we are talking about is approx. 8km with two major and many smaller but still nice rapids. As you make it through a nice small canyon with a couple fun rapids suddenly a first bigger rapid awaits. It’s about 1 meter tall drop but with some speed and strong paddle stroke you can easily make it through. Or easy portage is at the river right. After a couple more rapids a major tributary comes from the left side. 🌊🌊More water brings more fun. River can provide a lot of nice passages and little boofs. Second bigger rapid can be recognised by the ledge where you can’t really see what it looks like from river level. So it’s good to stop and scout. Standart line starts at the river right and you are just trying to keep yourself in the middle and don’t get pushed against the wall. Low water option is to go from the left side but it’s a bit more tricky. Good thing is that this rapid is not the last one and there is much more to enjoy.🤩 🚨Don’t miss the take-out. That’s super important as the whole river goes into the crack and the gorge is most probably unpaddleable❌. But a good thing is that it’s basically impossible to miss the take-out. Last bit of this section flows through a wide gravel area and you finish at an ancient bridge just before the river squeezes in between the walls of this stunning gorge⛰️⛰️. ❓If you are asking where to go next the answer might be a bit surprising. It’s not a river but a quite famous rock formation called Meteora with many monasteries on the very top of these rocks (40.052351, 21.238915). 🏯🏰 📍🌊On the other hand, what is worth mentioning is an easy but beautiful section of Venetikos river right on the way towards Meteora. Great thing about this river is the take-out which is one of the best free camp spots I know of in Greece (40.053942, 21.559140). It’s situated right at the confluence of Venetikos and Alikmon river. 🛶 📍🌊You can also paddle this second river which has also much to offer just below the confluence. Meteora is just an hour's drive from here and it’s definitely worth it to spend more days around these rocks. It’s not only about nice views but also a lot of hiking and climbing possibilities. 🏰🧗‍♂️Meteora can provide some non kayaking related fun and your body can take some rest before you go to your next destination further south. Now we are talking about really epic rivers called Kallaritikos and Arachthos. But more about them in the next guide⏭️. 🌊Mileapotamos river🌊 Difficluty: WW II-III (III-IV 2x) Length: 8km When to go: Spring snow melt or rainy season (autunm) Suitable for kayak 📍Recommended section: Put-in 39.949117, 21.247868 Take-out 39.996556, 21.285304 🌊Venetikos river🌊 Difficluty: WW I (II) Length: 9 km When to go: Spring snow melt or rainy season (autunm) or with a bit of hiking even summer might go Suitable for kayak/canoe/raft 📍Recommended section: Put-in 40.051522, 21.479304 Take-out 40.053942, 21.559140