Authentic Greek Islands Hiking on Andros & Tinos

Make your way to Andros (it’s a 1 hour ferry transfer from Rafina port near Athens) and get a transfer from the port and check-in at the hotel. You will meet the other guests for the first time to get to know each other and have a small talk about the trekking program. You will enjoy Greek hospitality, with welcome drinks and small bites of Greek delicacies (mezes in Greek).

Today is the longest walk of the tour, following the “Ample Way” (Fardia Strata), an old path which connects Andros to the central villages and Chora.

The first part of the hike provides panoramic views of the west coast and the ancient port of Palaiopolis. You’ll be walking on a beautiful cobbled path with holy oak, wild olives and seasonal crops. Later on, you will pass by two small waterfalls and the watermills of Melida and the Olive Oil Museum. You’ll end up in the charming village of Pitrofos for an authentic gastronomic experience: lunch with special local dishes.

Today you will start from Chora on a beautiful circular route. As you hike past Gialia Beach you can admire the unique natural environment formed by the river. From there, you will be on a good footpath that runs parallel to Pythara ravine as it goes up towards Apikia Village, passing through major settlements of seamanship and rural Andros. After a rest and a light lunch, descend back to Chora via a different path, enjoying a magnificent view of the capital city and the sea. During this hike, you will visit ‘the Fabrica’, an old pasta factory watermill, a medieval stone bridge, the Bistis-Mouvelas Tower dating from the 17th century and Pythara waterfalls. There will be a light lunch during our hike to a local “mezedopoleo” and then return to Chora. You’ll have free time to enjoy a swim, enjoy a rest or walk to the center of the town.

Todays route is a great hike all about variety, as you connect central and south Andros. You will follow the old road leading to Korthi, connecting the two old medieval castles of Andros, using the main agricultural and commercial road for south-eastern Andros until 1950. You will cross the pretty Dipotamata ravine, a valley with impressive water mills, an arched bridge, and Kochylou medieval castle.

After 3 days of walking, today will be a bit of a day off, as you transfer to the port and take a boat to the island of Tinos (2hours). Having settled at your hotel, we have the rest of the day free to explore the town of Tinos.

A highlight of the town is the church of Virgin Mary in Chora. Tradition says that a nun, Pelagia, from the nearby convent of Kechrovouni had visions of Virgin Mary revealed to her the burial place of an icon. After intensive searching, an icon was indeed found, at the spot where the Church stands today. Today the icon is widely believed to be the source of numerous miracles and Tinos has become the center of a yearly pilgrimage that takes place on the 15th of August. Many pilgrims make their way the 800 meters from the ferry wharf to the church on their hands and knees as a sign of devotion.

Today you explore the picturesque villages and dovecotes of Tinos. You will be trekking on an impressive medieval paved path (kalderimi), and visit the old villages of Ktikados, Xatzirados and Tarabados. These are the heart of traditional dovecote architecture in Tinos. You will end up in Kiona Bay. Along the way you will have a light lunch at a traditional “kafeneion” at Ktikados.

You will return to Chora either by hiking or by taxi. Enjoy a rest or go for a swim in the evening.

Today you will hike on an old, paved path up to Xobourgo, the ancient Byzantine fort on Tinos. Enjoy remarkable views of the Aegean Sea. Continue walking down to Volax, an isolated and beautiful white village in the middle of a plateau surrounded by hills of round granite blocks. Then continue on to the village of Falatados, the second biggest settlement on Tinos, with an imposing Cathedral and the famous House of Scetch.

Unfortunately, this wonderful Greek trekking tour of Andros and Tinos is complete today. Enjoy a transfer to the port, where you can take a ferry back to Athens. There are also ferries to other nearby Greek Islands if you want to explore more of beautiful Greece.