Hiking in the Cyclades - Andros & Tinos

Arrival on your own to Athens airport. Transfer to Rafina port (included) and ferry to Andros (included). To catch the transfer and ferry you need to have a flight that arrives in Athens no later than 14:30. The ferry takes about 2 hours between Rafina and Andros. From the port on Andros you take the local bus to Chora.

Accommodation in Andros

In the morning you have plenty of time to explore Andros Chora with its impressive buildings and museums. The island has always had many shipbuilders who built beautiful houses and donated museums to the island. In the afternoon you take a taxi (not included) to nearby Apikia, a village located along a wide, green valley. You begin the hike along an old donkey path that takes you through the valley. Continue on through olive groves to Gialia beach. After a swimming stop you continue on foot back to your guesthouse at Nimborio beach.

Accommodation in Andros

From Andros Chora the hike goes on a beautifully stone-paved path (kalderimi) along tall cypresses and through olive groves. You pass through the villages of Lamira and Mesaria with their impressive churches and natural springs. You cross an old Venetian bridge over a riverbed before you catch sight of the Panachrantos monastery that appears to hang on the side of Mount Gerakonas. Once up there you realize that the fantastic view over the island is well worth the effort to get there. After the visit the hike takes you back to Andros Chora.

Accommodation in Andros

Today you walk along the sandy beach Paraporti before reaching the impressive Dipotama gorge. Via alternating uphill and downhill slopes you come to the village of Sineti from where you continue on an intact kalderimi to the ruins of the fort Paleokastro, strategically located high up on a cliff. From this point you have magnificent views over the southern part of the island, the sea and Ormos Korthiou, the final destination for today's hike. Via the village of Kochilos you go down to Ormos Korthiou where you have time for a swim in the sea before you return to Andros Chora by taxi.

Accommodation in Andros

In the morning you take the bus to Gavrio and the ferry to Tinos. A taxi (included) takes you to your accommodation in Falatados. In the afternoon you can do a shorter or longer circular hike from Falatados. The longer one takes you along a kalderimi to Livada beach where you can swim before returning. Spend the evening exploring the narrow alleys of Falatados and discover this traditional village on your own.

Accommodation in Tinos

Today's wonderful hike takes you all the way around Mount Exombourgo and along the most charming villages on Tinos. On the mountain's peak you'll find the Venetian fort Exoburgo. You walk through valleys and terraced fields, through villages with narrow alleys and past several churches and monasteries. In the wide valley between Loutra and Kambos you'll find several of the finest dovecotes that are characteristic of the island of Tinos.

Accommodation in Tinos

The last hike on Tinos offers wonderful views over Tinos town and the southern coast. You walk through agricultural fields towards Exobourgo and then turn south, downhill along old donkey paths. You pass a number of windmills before reaching a long kalderimi that takes you all the way to Tinos town. If you feel like swimming you can go to one of the sandy beaches near the town.

Accommodation in Tinos

Transfer to Tinos port (included) and ferry to Pireus port (included). From there you can get to Athens airport by taxi. If you want another hiking week in the Cyclades it's excellent to combine this trip with the hiking on Naxos and Santorini.