Greek Islands Walking Tour

Arrive Rafina and check into hotel. Rafina is a small port compared to Piraeus, located to the east of the capital, and has good ferry links to the Cyclades.

Overnight Standard Hotel

We make an early start this morning and board our ferryboat to the island of Tinos. The voyage normally takes about 4 hours. The island of Tinos has attracted thousands of pilgrims from all over Greece since the early 19th century due to the discovery of a miraculous icon. The Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to the nun Pelagia, and revealed the location of an icon bearing the Virgin’s portrait as the Panagia Evangelistria. When workmen finally found the icon the discovery evoked great excitement and several miraculous cures were attributed to it. This afternoon we head straight out to explore the island, taking a bus or taxi to Falatados we then start our circular walk to Myrsini village. This path takes us on an old mule trail, here the whitewashed houses spill over the hillside. We stop at a local Taverna for refreshment before returning back to our accommodation in the island’s capital, Tinos Town. (Approx. 3 hours walking).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast we set out to walk to Kolymbithra, one of the most idyllic bays on the island. Our route takes us north through several traditional Tiniote villages, passing through flower-filled squares and past ancient terraced fields, fed by mountain springs. In spring the hillsides are covered with wild flowers such as bright red poppies, oleander or daffodils, often with the scent of wild herbs in the air. We first contour high above the north-eastern coastline and follow steps up to the rocky summit of Exobourgo peak (570m), where excavations have revealed there was a settlement from the 8th to the 5th century BC. We’ll pass lemon and mulberry trees as we descend into the village of Volax, perhaps calling at the local taverna for lunch before following an old path down into a valley to the natural water spring in Agapi village – the name means “love” in Greek. Finally we reach the Aegean at Kolymbithra, where we can take a well earned dip in its refreshing waves and possibly dinner before taxis collect us for our journey back to our accommodation in Tinos town. (Approx 5 hours walking).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today is left free for personal exploration. The capital of Tinos has a bustling atmosphere with pilgrims arriving on ferries from all over Greece, many of them to crawl on hands and knees up to the shrine to the Virgin and make offerings hoping to cure all kinds of ills and injuries. Shops selling candles, incense and souvenir icons line the main street. There is a thriving market every morning selling locally produced fruit and vegetables, including the speciality, capers picked from the hillsides in early spring. You can happily spend the day here, but if you fancy something a bit different, take the bus to Pyrgos, on the northeast side of the island, and the centre of marble production on the island even to this day. The road crosses the ridge of the island, and is dotted with ruined windmills. You can take the hour’s trail down from Pyrgos to the coast at Panormos and enjoy a swim followed by a lazy late lunch in traditional Greek style at one of the fine tavernas around the little harbour. Alternatively, you can take the public ferry to Mykonos or on to Delos, one of ancient Greece’s most sacred sites (optional).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning, your tour leader will lead a stunning walk into the interior of the Island through the sleepy village of Ktikados. The path then descends through cultivated terraces back to the sea at Kioni. We have a quick dip before making our way back to town for a quick lunch before we collect our things and bid a sad farewell to this lovely island (about 3 hours walking). Leaving Tinos in the afternoon, then, we make the short ferry crossing to Andros (approx 2 hours), the most fertile island in the Cyclades. The climate and fertile soil support an abundance of oranges, lemons, figs, grapes and olives. Much of this grows in terracing and so the hillsides often appear like a fine mosaic with little farms, orchards and vineyards. The people of Andros worshipped Dionysus, the god of wine and merriment, and so planted many vineyards which produced exceptional wine. We pull into the port of Gavrio, set in a deep inlet (an important harbour in antiquity) and then transfer to our base for the rest of the week, near the main town of the island, Andros town. An air of quiet sophistication reigns here and is reflected in the marble slabs which line the main street, and the elegant Venetian architecture of the houses.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

An excellent day’s walk to the village of Korthi near the southeastern corner of the island. The trails take us past quaint villages hidden among cypress, olive and lemon trees, disused watermills and the ruined Venetian hilltop fortress of Paliokastro (550m), this makes an ideal picnic stop with a great view. We walk on, climbing briefly to drop again into the lush and secluded Korthi valley. The village rambles down the hill to a harbour and beach on a deep indentation of the sea. From Korthi we take taxis back to our base in Andros town. Tonight we can eat in one of the local tavernas. (Approx 5-6 hours walking).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning, we transfer to the white-walled Panachrantos Monastery perched high in the hills ahead of us and begin our ascent. Disguised by its seemingly impenetrable walls, legends indicate that it was founded in around 961 by a Byzantine general who stopped off briefly at Andros on his way back to Constantinople after a victorious battle in Crete. By the 19th century there were over 300 monks here, who carried out extensive cultivation. Now, only 2 monks remain. Their prized relic is the skull of a local doctor, turned saint, said to have healing properties. After time to look around we’ll descend along the ancient pilgrim’s path which winds down the hillside towards the town passing by several remarkable stone walls. Composed of orthostats; flat slabs that face outwards; the design of these walls is unique in the Cyclades. We descend to a beach to relax a while and then climb the steps into Andros town for lunch before transferring to Gavrio port to catch our ferry to Rafina. (Approx 4 hours walking).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our tour ends today in Rafina.

Included meals: Breakfast