Hiking the Greek Islands
Highlights
- Hike and explore three of the many islands of the Cyclades
- Climb Mt. Zas, the highest peak in the islands
- Marvel at the Parthenon and Acropolis in ancient Athens
Includes
- All lodging, on-trip transportation, most meals, gratuities
- Entrance fees for historical sites
- Local, English-speaking guides
Details
| Dates | Sep 22–Oct 5, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Price | $3,225 |
| Deposit | $200 |
| Capacity | 14 |
| Staff | Deirdre Butler |
Trip Overview
Please note that the trip dates have changed from what was originally published. If you have questions, please contact us.
The Trip
Named, perhaps, for the circle they form around the sacred island of Delos, the Cyclades are islands of enchanting and magical beauty. Surrounded by the deep-blue waters of the Aegean Sea, they are the birthplace of the Cycladic civilization present in 3000-1000 B.C. They are best known for their white-washed villages, labyrinths of narrow cobbled streets, tiny countless churches, and deserted windmills. Ancient hiking paths are found connecting historic sites and remote villages. Compared to other Greek islands, they are less visited and retain their own character and traditional customs.
Tinos is the first island that we will visit -- locally called the island of Megalohari (the Virgin Mary). Pilgrims, begging for forgiveness of Megalohari, make a pilgrimage by climbing up the hill to the cathedral on their hands and knees. Unique, ancient dovecots are found all through the countryside as are marble bell towers, fountains, and statues. From there, we take the ferry to Naxos, the largest and most fertile island, full of Aegean temples, Venetian-fortified towers, vineyards, and olive groves. It has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years, invaded several times, and boasts the highest mountain in the Cyclades. Amorgos, with its golden beaches and crystal clear waters, is our final island destination. Its spectacular scenery, breathtaking cliffs, and cobbled mule paths make it a wonderful hiking destination.
We will travel inter-island by large ferry boats or smaller faster boats, depending on the island. Our hotels are locally owned and we will be made very welcome by these wonderful, friendly people. At the end of the trip, we will return to the bustle of Athens and spend our last full day together exploring the ancient areas of the city.
Itinerary
While the following is the intended itinerary, all hikes and programs are subject to change, depending on a variety of factors, including trail conditions, weather, sea conditions, and ferry schedules.
Day 1: Arrive at hotel in Athens. We will meet late afternoon at our hotel for an orientation meeting then take a short walk to a nearby tavern for our first meal together, our welcome dinner.
Day 2: After an early morning breakfast and transfer to the port of Piraeus, we catch our ferry, arriving at the island of Tinos by midday. After transferring to our hotel in the main town of Chora, we will eat a delicious lunch, then meet our guide and the bus for our first hike -- from Tarambados back to Chora. We will see many of the ancient dovecots, windmills, and panoramic views of the island on our two-hour hike (4 miles), which is mostly downhill to the town. There you will have free time to explore, grab a beverage or ice cream, and walk to the hotel – our base for three nights.
Day 3: We walk into town after breakfast to visit the cathedral, then the bus picks us up to drive us along the spine of the island to the beautiful village of Pyros. There we will visit the marble museum, explore the winding streets, and then hike past some windmills down to the beach at Panormos Bay. After an optional but refreshing swim, we will hike to the small village of Platia to visit an abandoned historic nunnery that was built in 1740, then return to our hotel in Chora. (6 miles)
Day 4: We have a busy day today! Starting at the village of Tripotamos, we walk to the castle of Aghia Eleni, surrounded by the ruins of an ancient town. Then we continue on to Koumaros Village and Volax, known for its basket weavers and granite rock formations, reminders of a volcanic eruption that took place some thousands of years ago. After lunch, we walk to Agapi, the oldest village on the island. It was built on a mountain slope and has special architectural features found only here. Our final destination is the beautiful village of Komi, built on the river Lazarou Perastras. (7 miles)
Day 5: After breakfast, we transfer to the harbor and take the ferry to Naxos, arriving by midday. We spend the next 3 ½ days enjoying this fertile island. After lunch, we will spend the afternoon exploring the main town. The high-walled Kastro (fort) has one of the original Venetian towers and Venetian mansions. The old district has steep twisting lanes that suddenly open to the sea and sky. The family-run hotel where we stay for 3 nights overlooks the sea and is a short 5-minute walk from the old district.
Day 6: Today, we climb Mt. Zas, which is 3,300 feet high. After breakfast, the bus will take us up into the mountains, reaching the trailhead at the pass (2,000 feet). The hike is only about 4 miles round-trip, but rises steeply for the last 1,000 feet. From the summit, we can see all over the island. If the weather is not suitable for the climb or the group decides not to attempt the climb, we will have an alternate plan.
Day 7: We take the bus to Mili to see the ancient statues that date from 500-600 BCE; then hike to Apano Kastro, an ancient fort on an imposing rock; and continue on to the 7th-century church, Panaghia Drossiani; ending our walk in the village of Moni. (6 miles) Our bus collects us and returns us to our hotel for our last night on Naxos.
Day 8: Today we have a free morning to relax or go exploring. Later, after lunch, we take the ferry to Amorgos, arriving in time for dinner. We stay on Amorgos for 4 nights.
Day 9: After breakfast, we transfer to Langada village, then hike on an old stone path to Panaghia Panohoriani and Agios Theologos monastery, built in the 8th century. From there you can see the coast and the massif of Kroikelos. We continue our hike along the cliffs to Langada and on to the beautiful beach at Aegiali for an optional swim. (7 miles)
Day 10: Today we take a short 10-minute drive to Langada, where we start our hike, walk past old windmills to a viewpoint on a mountain, then return to Langada for lunch. Afterward, we continue hiking to Tholaria and on to Levrosos beach for a swim. From there we can walk to our hotel. (7 miles)
Day 11: We start today with a 15-minute drive to Potamos, where we have a walk uphill to the famous Byzantine Chozoviotissas monastery (11th-century) that's built on a cliff overlooking the sea. This monastery is the "treasure" of the island. From there, we can walk to Chora, the medieval capital of Amorgos. After enjoying the town, we will transfer back to the hotel. (6 miles)
Day 12: We take the ferry very early in the morning, sail all day, and then arrive in Piraeus mid-afternoon. We transfer back to our hotel in Athens, leaving the rest of the day to sample the delights of the city.
Day 13: Today we will enjoy an all-day tour of the Acropolis (Highest City) by foot from the hotel. We enter the sanctuary and explore the structures inside, especially the Parthenon. From there, we can visit the new Acropolis museum. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner and say goodbye to our new friends and beautiful Greece.
Day 14: The trip ends after breakfast and we make our way to the airport.
Photos
Details
Getting There
You will plan to arrive at our hotel in Athens by late afternoon on September 22nd. The trip ends on October 5th after breakfast. There are no visa or immunization requirements for entering Greece. The country is part of the European Union and the currency is the Euro. More detailed information will be sent to registered participants. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.
Accommodations and Food
We will stay in several three-star quality hotels that are locally owned. Rooms are double-occupancy and equipped with a shower and bathroom. A roommate will be provided for solo travelers. Participants who prefer to have a single room and are willing to pay the difference should contact the leader well in advance to check for availability. There will be a maximum of two single rooms available to the group. Single room allocation, if necessary, will first be used for any forced single. A forced single means that in the event our group has an odd number of men or women registered for the trip, a single room is first allocated to that person.
All breakfasts and lunches, and most dinners, are included in the cost of the trip. The first meal included in the cost of the trip will be dinner on day 1 and the last meal included will be breakfast on day 14. We eat dinner in small, locally owned open-air restaurants, many with bright crimson and purple bougainvillea trellised overhead.
Greek food is simple and delicious. Dishes are often shared between several people. You will experience a true "Greek salad" that has a slab of fresh feta cheese, made from the milk of the goats that are running around all over the islands. It is possible to accommodate travelers who are vegetarian on this trip with prior notice and discussion with the leader, but not vegans.
Trip Difficulty
The trip is designed for people who are active hikers and also enjoy different cultures, history, and nature. Although all our hiking is at or very near sea-level, we’ll hike up to 7 miles on several days over uneven, rocky trails, with elevation gains and losses of 200 - 300 feet; the exception being the trek up Mt. Zas, a climb of 1,300 feet. We will be visiting many historical sites and seeing the true beauty of ancient Greek history. As with all international travel, participants need to be open-minded and flexible, plus have a spirit of exploration and adventure! We will have some very early mornings to get the ferries, and sometimes frustrating delays are inevitable as the ferry boat connection times and ship routings are determined by Greek Ministry of Navigation and not the trip leader. This is the end of the Greek summer, so we can expect temperatures to be in the 70s and surprisingly cooler at night.
Equipment and Clothing
An equipment list will be sent to the participants by the leader at a later date.
References
Books:
The Classics
- Heroditus, The Histories.
- Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey.
- Ovid, The Metamorphoses.
- Beard, Mary and John Henderson, The Classics.
Fiction
- De Bernieres, Louis, Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
- Fowles, John, The Magus.
- Sotiriou, Didi, Farewell Anatolia.
- Galanaki, Rhea, Eleni or Nobody.
Maps:
- A hiking map of each island will be provided to each participant.
Movies:
- Don't forget to watch the movie "Zorba the Greek"!
Conservation
Greece has been continuously inhabited for at least 8,000 years, which has resulted in intense cultivation in the limited arable land and depletion of finite resources. Continued expansion of villages, factories, and quarries affects wildlife habitat, flora, and fauna alike. In addition, Greeks are traditionally hunters, fishers, and woodcutters, and tradition is hard to change; a conservation ethic was not introduced until after the Second World War. Some areas are well protected and tourism has helped to enforce the need for this, but many areas are not and the effect on the landscape is very obvious.
Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers, aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward environmentally understanding parallel concerns at home and abroad.
Notes for Sierra Club Outings
Staff
