About us

Athens Extreme Sports is a network of local certified instructors and partners who run outdoor activities in and around Athens. We take people sea kayaking along the Athens Riviera, canyoning in Evia and the Peloponnese, climbing and hiking on the mountains of Attica, paragliding over the hills west of the city and diving in the Saronic Gulf. Our sister brand, Corfu Extreme Sports, does the same on Corfu.

Our story

We started with one person who wanted to turn his time outdoors into his work. Thomas, our founder, is a skipper, cave explorer, rescue diver and Divemaster, and he has spent years on the water, under it and in the mountains. He saw that most visitors to Athens leave without seeing the coastline, the gorges and the mountains that sit less than two hours from the city centre. Many Athenians do not know them well either.

So we built a company around the people who know those places best: local instructors who guide there every week. Today we offer single activities, full adventure days that combine more than one sport, weekend plans and programmes for families, schools and companies. Thomas still runs the company day to day and also runs Corfu Extreme Sports.

How our partner network works

We do not try to own every boat, harness and kayak in Attica. Instead, we work with independent certified professionals who specialise in one sport and do it well. A climbing coach leads the climbing. A canyoning guide leads the canyons. A licensed pilot flies the tandem paraglider. A diving centre in the southern suburbs runs the dives.

Our part is everything around the activity:

• We help you choose the right activity for your group, your level and the season.
• We handle the booking, the deposit and the confirmation.
• We send you the meeting point, the guide’s contact details and what to bring.
• We check weather and sea conditions with the guide and move or reschedule the activity when needed.
• We stay your single point of contact before and after the day.

On the day, you are with a guide who knows the route, the rock or the water. If you want to combine activities, for example a morning hike and an afternoon on the sea, we put the plan together so you do not have to coordinate several companies yourself.

Meet the team

These are some of the people you may meet on an activity with us.

• Thomas, founder and owner. Skipper, cave explorer, climber, snowboarder, rescue diver and Divemaster. He runs Athens Extreme Sports and Corfu Extreme Sports.
• Periklis, climbing instructor and trail running coach. A graduate in Physical Education and Sports Science, he has trained climbers since 2009 and coached long distance running since 2014.
• George, canyoning and via ferrata guide. A certified Mountain Leader and canyon and via ferrata guide with a background in caving and mountaineering.
• Yvonne and Panagiotis, off road specialists. Experienced off road drivers who lead guided 4×4 trips in the mountains of Attica and nearby areas.
• Vaggelis, paragliding instructor. Flying since 1998, with competition experience in Greece and abroad, and a strong focus on safe instruction.
• Thanasis, paragliding and paramotor instructor. An APPI instructor for paragliding, paramotor and para trike, and a certified ultralight pilot.
• Panos, scuba diving instructor. He has taught diving in Greece for more than ten years and runs our partner diving centre in the southern suburbs of Athens, with boat dives in the Saronic Gulf.
• Electra, horse trainer and therapist. A psychologist and psychotherapist who runs her own stable and leads our non riding horse connection experience in Marathon.

Safety and certifications

Every activity we sell is led by a certified guide or instructor in that sport. Before we confirm a booking, we look at who is coming, their age and experience, and we tell you honestly if an activity is not a good fit.

• Certified guides. Our partners hold the qualifications their sport requires, from diving instructor certification to paragliding pilot licences and canyoning guide training.
• Insurance. Our activities are insured through Lloyd’s.
• Equipment. Petzl is our equipment partner for climbing and rope work. Technical gear such as helmets, harnesses, wetsuits and life jackets is provided on the activities that need it.
• Weather decisions. Guides check the forecast before every outing. If wind, storms or water levels make an activity unsafe, we change the location, move the date or cancel. If we cancel, you get a free new date or a full refund of the deposit.
• Briefings. Each activity starts with a safety briefing and a check of your equipment.

Athens Extreme Sports is registered in the Greek General Commercial Registry (G.E.M.I.) under number 148808903000. Our office is at 44 Andreadou str, Athens. If you have a question about a guide, a route or a requirement, contact us and we will answer it directly.

Frequently asked questions

Who runs the activities?

Each activity is led by a certified local guide or instructor who specialises in that sport. We handle the booking and planning, and our partner guides run the day.

Is Athens Extreme Sports a tour operator or an activity provider?

We are a network of certified instructors and partners. We match you with the right activity and guide, take the booking and stay your contact before and after the day.

Are your activities insured?

Yes. Our activities are insured through Lloyd's. We still recommend personal travel and medical insurance that covers adventure sports.

What equipment do you use?

Petzl is our equipment partner for climbing and rope work. Technical and safety gear is included on the activities that need it, and each listing says exactly what is provided.

Do you also operate in Corfu?

Yes. Our sister brand Corfu Extreme Sports runs activities on Corfu, and Thomas runs both companies.

Can you combine several activities into one day or trip?

Yes. We put together adventure days, weekend plans and longer programmes that combine activities. Tell us your dates, group size and interests through the contact page.

Is the company officially registered?

Yes. We are registered in the Greek General Commercial Registry (G.E.M.I.) under number 148808903000, with our office at 44 Andreadou str, Athens.