In the shadow of the imposing Helmos, in the middle of a sycamore forest and through the roots of a rock, the springs that then form the small Aroani river emerge. The springs of Aroani are located in the southwest of Helmos, at an altitude of 700 meters, a few meters south of the village of Planitero. The very etymology of the village of Planitero (plane trees and water) prepares you for the landscape you will encounter. Near the point of the springs, the Chaliki stream and the Kefalovryssos stream join, which are the two main tributaries that descend from Helmos and form the Aroanio.
The main volume of water, however, comes from a spring located at the root of a large rock. The flow is impressive, while it is water that comes from both Helmos and the Feneos basin and reaches here through sinkholes. The river then crosses the Katsana valley in a southerly direction and empties into Ladonas, flowing for a total length of 10 kilometers. In the area there are old water mills and watermills, restaurants, stalls with traditional products and trout farms.
So one can enjoy the images of wild nature while enjoying their coffee or food. In fact, here, due to the constant human presence, many species of birdlife are rather courageous and allow you to admire them with ease. Although the intense tourist development has altered the naturalness of the landscape, the area still retains its wild beauty. Finally, it is worth making some stops to explore the open plateaus around Planeteros, as several rare species of the Peloponnesian flora grow here.
