Before I get into the magic bit, it’s important to note that despite it only being just over 4 km to the top, owing to the steepness and technical nature of the trail, 5040 is a really challenging hike, especially if 1. you have 52 year-old, not cared for enough knees, and 2. if you are carrying way more than you need for an overnight stay.

With the warnings out of the way, let’s focus on the magic part.

After around 2 hours of slow, cautious climbing we reached Colbalt lake, where we took the opportunity to remove our overloaded packs, grab a bite to eat and take in our first clear view of 5040 and the surrounding peaks.

From the lake it was about another 25 minute hike to the main camping area on 5040.

Relieved of our heavy parks, we made our way up from the campsite towards the summit. About a third of the way up, there is a trail going left to the summit, with another trail to the right that allows you to reach some of the smaller peaks. Do both! See below to find out why.

When I visited Santorini way back in 2011, the crowd that had gathered to view the famous sunset at Oia clapped as the sun dipped below the horizon. Near sunset on 5040, pretty much all the people staying the night had gathered to watch. No applause this time, but still a spectacular show.

One of my favourite morning rituals is to sit on my balcony and slowly sip on a nice cup of coffee. While the quality of the coffee may have been a little below my (too high) standards, with the early morning view that was on offer, I really didn’t care.

The moment I had been dreading had arrived – navigating the steep, and at times slippery decent with the aforementioned heavy pack and not cared for enough knees. Never in my life have I been as grateful for my hiking poles, which allowed me to take some of the load off and help me to remain mostly upright all the way down.

While a relatively short hike, with the abundance of stunning views on offer, the hike up 5040 provides plenty reward for the effort required to make it to the top.

Additional notes

• This post provides some more in-depth information on the 5040 hike, including directions to the trailhead and considerations for camping. We also found this video especially useful in preparation for the hike

• Especially if carrying camping gear up, I would highly recommend taking poles. They definitely made my life a whole lot easier on the way down.