hidden trails and golden beaches of the cyclades
Hiking in the Greek Isles
Overview
The Greek Islands always cast a spell, with their honey-colored cliffs and whitewashed villages surrounded by azure seas. In the archipelago of the Cyclades, named for the circle it forms around the sacred island of Delos, we hike on Tinos, Naxos, and rugged Amorgos, each a distinctive realm of cobbled pathways above the Aegean. We’ll fill our days with adventures on each island—Tinos, with its marble-carved beauty, Naxos, brimming with ancient sites, and unspoiled Amorgos. As we hike past blue-domed churches and up to cliff-perched monasteries, the good life of Greece surrounds us. Our Greek Trip Leaders are famously passionate about food, and along the way, they introduce us to a mouth-watering array of the islands’ delicious local treats.
Arrive: Athens, Greece
Depart: Athens, Greece
Highlights
- Hike village to village along island pathways on three of Greece’s most beautiful islands: Tinos, Naxos, and Amorgos
- Savor the delightfully authentic and homemade dishes of each island
- Explore beautiful trails and villages, refresh with dips in the Aegean
- Enjoy an insider’s look into the culture and cuisine of Greece with our exuberant Trip Leaders
Itinerary
After an overnight in Athens and a tour of the Old Town, we ferry to Tinos Island, a famed Christian pilgrimage site. Our first hike is on a kalderini (cobbled mule path) through the narrow streets of a Cycladic village and down past a watermill to a green valley. Another hike leads us on an old Roman road to Exomvourgo, the great Venetian fortress of Santa Elena. More rambles bring us to lovely Pyrgos, known for its marble carvers, and from Falatados down to the beach at Livada for a swim. We’ll fuel our hikes by sampling catch-of-the-day fish, local cheeses, and island-grown vegetables.
Crossing the blue Aegean to Naxos, Lord Byron’s favorite Greek island, we explore the steep, twisting lanes of Naxos’ Old Town. The high-walled kastro (fortified section) still has one of its original Venetian towers and a magnificent medieval gate. We’ll hike on Mount Zas (3,284'), home to a sacred cave thought to be the birthplace of Zeus, and to Apano Kastro, a 13th century Venetian hilltop fortress. We’ll also admire a glorious sunset from the Portara, an uncompleted temple from 506 BC.
The easternmost of the Cyclades, Amorgos is a gorgeous island of hidden coves and dramatic mountains. Our overnights are in the ancient hill village of Tholaria, with its beautiful houses and tiled archways. We’ll hike along stone-paved paths between villages, past frescoed churches, and along the spectacular coast, with opportunities for swims in the blue Aegean. Our final walk is up to Hozoviotissa, an 11th century monastery set high above the Aegean. Depart on Day 13 via Athens.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. Hiking times vary from 3 to 6 hours on rocky and rugged trails. Some days are a full day of hiking; others involve a half day or more exploring one of the towns on foot, and many afternoons on the trip are free for further exploration of the town, shopping, relaxing, and swimming.
Average Hiking Day
- 4-5 miles
- 3-4 hours
- 1,000' ascent/descent
Although you carry only a daypack on the hikes, be prepared for steep ascents and descents and some sections that cross uneven terrain and rough or rocky trails. We highly recommend hiking poles on this trip and you should wear sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots for maximum comfort on the trail.
For your own enjoyment, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition for the trip. Daily walking and/or regular hiking (or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym) are excellent preparatory exercises.
Greece has a typical Mediterranean climate, with warm, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters. Daytime temperatures in the summer peak in the high 70s°F, while the winter temperature rarely drops below 50°F.
Accommodations are in small local hotels chosen for their atmosphere and location. Although the rooms in these pensions are not always of uniform or international size, our leaders always try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole.
We enjoy our lunches at small tavernas. Our dinners also feature local food and a chance to sample traditional specialties of the Cyclades. Some evenings we dine in our pensions and other nights at local restaurants. The delicious cuisine of these islands comes straight from the land or the sea. Please note that in Greece, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 8:00 pm.
All transfers are by private vehicle. Travel between islands is by ferry (or high-speed catamaran, if it is available); ferry rides are likely to be an average of two to five hours. On a couple of days, ferry rides may take longer due to weather or schedule changes. We do our best to use the fastest ferries, but this is not always possible. There are many opportunities for swimming on this trip.
Client Testimonials
"The trip was outstanding in so many respects: the organization and efficiency, the guides' leadership and knowledge, the choice of sites to visit and stay, and more."
Al D.
Twin Lakes, CO
"A flawless trip with outstanding leaders and an itinerary that went off like clockwork. It struck the perfect balance between hiking in breathtaking locations to immersions in the culture and history of Greece. All the hikes were beautiful, the cultural tours fascinating, the food and drink wonderful, and the lodging very clean and comfortable."
Alex F.
Brooklyn, NY
"Less than a year ago this trip was not even on our radar. Fast forward to today and it feels it is a journey we were always meant to take. When a typical island day starts with a good breakfast, is followed by a significant hike amongst sites of historic and natural importance, ends with a swim in the Aegean, and is followed by lunch at a local Taverna—you know you've made the right decision. Late afternoon personal exploration or a dip in the pool, and an always a delicious dinner rounded out our days. Having such a rich cultural and healthful experience with wonderful guides and no worries about the practicalities of travel enabled it to be not just a vacation but a life-enhancing experience."
Alicia K.
Grosse Pointe Park, MI
"Less than a year ago this trip was not even on our radar. Fast forward to today and it feels it is a journey we were always meant to take. When a typical island day starts with a good breakfast, is followed by a significant hike among sites of historic and natural importance, ends with a swim in the Aegean, and is followed by lunch at a local taverna, you know you've made the right decision. Late afternoon personal exploration or a dip in the pool, and an always a delicious dinner rounded out our days. Having such a rich cultural and healthful experience with wonderful guides and no worries about the practicalities of travel, enabled it to be not just a vacation but a life-enhancing experience."
Alicia K.
Grosse Pointe Park, MI
"We had a great time and highly recommend this trip for anyone who's never seen these stunningly beautiful isles. Great leadership, Wonderful food—a must-do!"
Bill G.
Corrales, NM
"We had a fantastic trip hiking the Greek isles. Kostas and Dimitra were excellent guides and the scenery, hikes, people, and food all made for a trip we'll long remember. We're so glad to have had the opportunity to go!"
Cara T.
Brooklyn, NY
"This was a trip for the ages—excellent guide, food, planning, knowledge...I will never forget it."
Catherine S.
Bethesda, MD
"I will never forget this experience. It was everything I had hoped for: the chance to be outdoors in nature, adventure, fun, and beyond that, an opportunity to lose myself completely in the beauty of the country and the warmth of its people. Your company is great to work with, as always. This was my third and favorite trip so far, and I’m not done yet!"
Cathy C.
Sonoma, CA
"We were very impressed with the overall experience. It was a nice blend of hiking and leisure. And the meals were epic! We had no idea we would be experiencing such a culinary adventure."
Cheryl L.
Parkdale, OR
"Wilderness always does an excellent job with their trips. This is my first hiking trip and I am 60+. The variety of food during our meals was excellent."
Christine B.
New York, NY
"The trip far exceeded our expectations, with excellent trip leaders who provided not only great leadership, but were so informative and fun to be with! And the food was all incredible."
Claire K.
Conroe, TX
"Great food, beautiful scenery, and I felt we were seeing the real Greece and not just the tourist areas. I had a great time!"
David S.
Carson City, NV
"A fun trip, every day was a gift."
Dawn M.
Hillsboro, OR
"This is the first ever group travel experience my husband and I have ever had, and it was wonderful! We enjoyed the people, the leaders, the scenery, the food, the hiking, and the sites we saw."
Dena S.
Memphis, TN
"I describe this to my friends as a trip in which I hiked and ate my way across the Greek Islands. The food was awesome, the hiking was beautiful, and the leaders were outstanding!"
Gwynne W.
Lebanon, NJ
"I had a wonderful time on this trip. Kostas was a great leader, the hikes were awesome, and I loved that it combined hiking and swimming. The food was amazing!"
Jennifer S.
Glendale, AZ
"This was absolutely one of the best trips I have ever taken in my life. I loved every second of it and did not want to come home!"
Jenny G.
San Diego, CA
"Greatest trip I have taken. Everything exceeded my expectations. This trip was on my ‘bucket list’ and I'm so glad to have taken it with WT."
Jim H.
Montgomery Village, MD
"We loved this trip. It was a wonderful combination of hiking, exploring archaeological and historical sites, swimming in the Aegean Sea, meeting wonderful people, from hotel hosts to friendly taverna cooks and local residents. We were constantly amazed at the quality (and quantity!) of food, wine, and other treats."
Kate A.
San Francisco, CA
"The trip was a wonderful adventure in a beautiful corner of the world. The quality of the preparation and the skill of the guide made it a very relaxing holiday. We put our minds to rest and let our feet do the work. We loved it!"
Kim O.
Bellevue, WA
"This was our first trip with Wilderness Travel and our first trip in a group. We had a wonderful, moving journey...trekking, eating, visiting museums, churches, and monasteries, swimming, ferrying, shopping, touring, and learning. We have never been to Greece and it was such a joy to be able to let the experts give us the full experience of their knowledge, culture, and history. Our guides were fantastic at every step and every destination."
Kim R.
Gloucester, MA
"This was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I have already begun recommending Wilderness Travel to friends and family and am very eager myself to go on another WT trip!"
Kyla M.
Greenville, TX
"Another exceptional trip with WT. Everything went smoothly down to the last detail, which made for easy travel and allowed us to focus on the culture, beauty, and charm if the Greek Isles. Can't wait to book my next WT adventure!"
Laurie D.
Basalt, CO
"The trip was fantastic! Kostas and Wilderness Travel allowed us to enjoy our private journey with our kids to give us memories to last a lifetime."
Linda B.
Madison, WI
"Lots of fun! Beautiful sites, excellent food, great company!"
Liz K.
San Francisco, CA
"We hiked along trails blanketed with wildflowers to spectacular cliffs; explored the narrow streets, small museums, and shops of whitewashed villages perched above the sea; visited simple chapels with ancient icons and frescos; lunched on secluded beaches; explored ruins at sites that have been inhabited for 4,000 years or more. To a person, the Greeks could not have been friendlier or more welcoming to us."
Niles B.
Madison, WI
"We saw wonderful parts of the Greek isles that we would never have seen on our own."
Ollie H.
Castle Rock, CO
"Hiking the Greek Isles and swimming and boating the Aegean Sea is a trip I dreamed about—a trip that came true with this spectacular Wilderness Travel trip."
Robert M.
Great Falls, VA
"The combination of the history of Athens (the Acropolis, Parthenon, etc.) with the beauty of the Greek Islands, along with the amazing food, wine, ouzo, and people, was wonderful. There was not one single glitch in the entire trip—and we got to try something like 187 different dishes, all of which were homemade and authentic."
Robert T.
Phoenix, AZ
"Great trip: Good, knowledgeable fun guides, nice combination of archaeology, history, culture, ferry travel, hiking, swimming, great food!"
Steven M.
"Getting to taste 168 different Greek recipes on the trip was an adventure in itself! The trip really ought to be called 'Eating in the Greek Isles, with some hiking.'"
Susan J.
Cochrane, Alberta
"I'm still basking in the glow of this glorious adventure. It was the perfect combination of natural beauty and cultural exploration. There were amazing hikes, quaint towns, and beautiful beaches. Every bite of food was delicious. The hotels were lovely. All of our Greek hosts were warm and gracious. It was my first time in Greece, and because of this trip, it won't be my last. As in all Wilderness trips I've taken, I felt like I had the insider track and got to see places I'd never been able to discover or have access to on my own."
Susanne R.
Brewster, NY
"A wonderful trip! Felt like I saw the real Greece and not something I could have found on my own. Wonderful cuisine and local culture."
Suzan M.
Superior, CO
"I'm so glad we opted to explore the Greek isles the Wilderness Travel way rather than by luxury cruise!"
Wallace I.
Honolulu, HI
"Fabulous trip in all respects! Loved the combination of busy and less busy islands, of hiking and archaeology, of very unique B&B's and more modern hotels, and of a vast menu of delicious Greek food and drink."
Weezie J.
Concord, MA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.