If you are lovers of city life, be careful because you may change your mind as you go up on the road to Pteri, without any remorse. Whether you come from Athens or Patras and drive on the Old or the New National Road, once you reach Egio you will see signs pointing to Pteri and Kalavryta. As you detour the Old or the New National Road, reset your distance meter...
At 1km you go under the bridge of the New National Road and enter village Selinoundas through a narrow, winding road. Look down to get a panoramic view of the olive trees of Egio and the ravine run through by the river. The road keeps on being winding and at 6 km be particularly careful at wintertime as the road gets icy. At 6.5km the road gets wider and the maple trees become your faithful companions during your trip. At 7.3km, to your right, there’s a road to villages Achladia and Kato Mavriki. River Selinoundas runs between them and you "glide" straight ahead through wonderful conifers.
At 14.7km, in the forest, you can find a rest stop with a playground, wooden benches and a spring. You can have a picnic, hike or do mountain biking. At 15km you will see the Christian camp and the camp of the Scouts of Aigio. At 16km, there are many villas overlooking the wonderful blue of the Corinthian bay. One kilometre later, starts the forest of Klokos, with beautiful coniferous trees. You will need sunglasses for the early afternoon hours. Pteri appears at the 20th km at an altitude of 1,150 metres, amphitheatrically built, overlooking at mountain Roussios to the right.
There are two big and very old maple trees, one at the village’s entrance and the other at the square. There are also many stores, hotels made of stone and the Church of Mother Mary that celebrates on 15 August. As you enter Pteri, a road to your right takes you to the village of Ai Giorgis where, according to tradition, the first Meeting of the Greek Nation took place. Before World War II, there were two hotels there. As you enjoy your greek coffee, you may hear the residents’ stories about the honey moon trip of Angelos Sikelianos to Pteri. The area is full of deserted little churches, like Ai Vlassis, Prophet Helias, Ai Giorgis and Agioi Apostoloi. In winter, it is an ideal place for games on the snow. In Pteri (or Fteri), you will stay for…quite a long time. But, when you decide to move on, you will see that what you see next is equally interesting. At 21.5km, the forest of conifers stops and the vegetation you see is bushes and hollies.
At 22km, you enter Agios Pandeleimonas, a village on the mountain with stone houses, while at 23 km the road to your right takes you to village Ano Mavriki. You drive straight ahead. At 27km there is a fork. The road to the right goes to Kalavryta. The one on the left to Valta and Panagia Plataniotissa. Don’t think twice; turn left at once. 1.5km after you turn, you will see a spring and half a kilometre later you enter village Valta which is so green that it will amaze you. At 3km, to your left, you see the chapel of Agios Georgios. The road gets more narrow and the place quieter. At 4km you find village Plataniotissa (earlier called "Klapatsouna") upon river Kerinitis. You are at an altitude of 700 metres and you turn left to get to the church. If you want to go on foot, walk over the beautiful stone bridge. Panagia Plataniotissa is "hosted" in the hole of a very old maple tree with a glass cover and a specially designed place that serves as a yard. Go back to the forkatthe 27th km and turn right to Kalavryta.
At 22km, you enter Agios Pandeleimonas, a village on the mountain with stone houses, while at 23 km the road to your right takes you to village Ano Mavriki. You drive straight ahead. At 27km there is a fork. The road to the right goes to Kalavryta. The one on the left to Valta and Panagia Plataniotissa. Don’t think twice; turn left at once. 1.5km after you turn, you will see a spring and half a kilometre later you enter village Valta which is so green that it will amaze you. At 3km, to your left, you see the chapel of Agios Georgios. The road gets more narrow and the place quieter. At 4km you find village Plataniotissa (earlier called "Klapatsouna") upon river Kerinitis. You are at an altitude of 700 metres and you turn left to get to the church. If you want to go on foot, walk over the beautiful stone bridge. Panagia Plataniotissa is "hosted" in the hole of a very old maple tree with a glass cover and a specially designed place that serves as a yard. Go back to the forkatthe 27th km and turn right to Kalavryta.
Ahead of you, is snow-capped Helmos. The road is well-constructed but narrow. At 30km you enter Petsakoi, while in the distance you can see rock formations that remind you of Meteora. At 31km, a trail to your left leads you to the chapel of Metamorphosi Sotiros. Go straight. In winter, the roads gets tricky because of landslides and the ice. Village Korfes is at 32.5km and village Drossato, with its characteristic architecture, at 35km.
Both are typical villages of the Prefecture of Achaia. After Korfes the road gets narrow. Be a little careful. At 36km you find the beautiful village of Goumenissa at an altitude of 800 metres. There, you see yet another Church of Agia Marina, made of stone. At 38km, there’s a sign at the bridge: you can turn left to Kalavryta or right to Patra. Turn left and at 51km you reach Kalavryta.