Tinos – Greece

11 oCtobER: FLIGHT TO  atHenS – FERRY TO tinos

Meeting at the airport, check-in formalities and take-off for Athens.Transfer by bus to the port of Rafina, from where we set sail in the late afternoon and arrive around 9:00 pm in Tinos.
From the port a private bus takes us to Panormos, a pretty village on the north-east coast nestled on the sea, where we spend our first days on the island. Free dinner on the ferry, overnight stay in a studio in the village.

12 oCtobeR:  profitis ilias – marlas –  mali AND koumelas BEACHES

Breakfast. Our first excursion takes us to discover a remote and wild area. We climb towards the church of Kira Xeni, then continue on a hill where a chapel dedicated to the Prophet Elias is built. From here you can enjoy a unique panorama that spans a good part of Tinos and nearby Andros. We continue passing by tiny hamlets (Marlas and Mamados), then turn north towards two splendid solitary beaches: Mali and Koumelas. A well-deserved swim awaits us! Return to Panormos, dinner in a tavern and overnight stay.
18,5 km, 6,5h walking time, height difference up/down +750m/-750m

13 october: pyrgos – platià – ysternia

Breakfast. We walk along the sea to Rochari beach, from where the climb begins towards the village of Platià through a rather wild gorge. From Platià we climb further until we reach the abandoned windmills of Ysternia. We enter the village, one of the most beautiful on the island, with its white marble houses, churches and shaded squares with an incredible view of Syros and the Aegean Sea. We go down a splendid marble-paved path towards the bay of Ysternia, reaching the beach. After our packed lunch, we go back up towards Ysternia village. From here we can choose, depending on our remaining energy, to walk down to Pyrgos or take the afternoon bus that takes us both to Pyrgos and Panormos, where we spend the night. A visit to Pyrgos is a must, it is considered one of the most splendid mountain villages in the Cyclades! Dinner in a tavern, overnight stay.
12 km, 6h walking time, height difference up/down +760m/-460m

14 october: chora – agios fokas – agios sostis – diaouti – dio choria

Breakfast. Early in the morning we transfer by bus to the Chora of Tinos, where we will stay for the rest of our stay. After having settled into the hotel, we  set off on foot along a series of beautiful beaches on the south coast: Agios Fokas, Agios Sostis, Laouti until we reach Agios Ioannis Porto. After eating our packed lunch, we climb the panoramic hills that with increasingly wider and more wonderful views take us to the splendid village of Dio Choria. Return by bus to Chora. Dinner in a tavern and overnight stay.
12,5 km, 4,5h walking time, height difference up/down +528m/-72m

15 october: steni – S- Margarita – Lichnaftià – steni

Breakfast. We take the bus to the interior of the island and get off at Steni, one of the many beautiful traditional villages of Tinos. From here, a circular itinerary begins that takes us to the east coast, through a cultivated valley where cows and goats graze. We arrive at the beach of Santa Margarita, as beautiful as it is solitary. We continue along the coast towards the other beautiful beach of Lichnaftia. Relax time for lunch. We then climb up the other side of the valley, returning to our starting point in Steni. Return by bus. Dinner and overnight stay.
11,7 km, 4,5h walking time, height difference up/down +530m/-530m

16 october: myrsini – falatados – volax – rocca di exomburgo – mesi

Breakfast. We continue by bus towards the interior of the island for a route that will allow us to admire some of the most beautiful villages of Tinos! Starting from Myrsini, we continue towards Falatados and, once out of this village, we enter a plateau with a particular unique geological scene: it is in fact dotted with many granite boulders, as if a storm of rocks had hit the area. We enter Volax, a tiny but beautiful village of artists. We continue towards the Rock of Exomburgo, where an ancient castle stands with a breathtaking view of the entire island, Mykonos, Syros and the Aegean. We get off and reach Mesi, where we enjoy a beer or a coffee, waiting for our bus that will take us back to Chora. Dinner and overnight stay.
9 km, 4h walking time, height difference up/down +354/-333m

17 october: Kionia – kambos – tarabados – ktikados – chora – Rafina

Breakfast. Following the coastal road we walk towards Kionia, always with the sea a few steps away from us. From Kionia we climb towards the central plateau, we arrive at Kambos and then Tarambados. In these places there are many beautifully preserved dovecotes, for which the island is famous. We return towards the coast passing by Ktikados, and then follow a wonderful and panoramic well-maintained path that takes us back to Chora. We catch an evening ferry back to the mainland and arrive in Rafina, where we settle into our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
16 km, 5,5h walking time, height difference up/down +459/-459m

18 october: flight back home

Breakfast. We take a shuttle to the airport and prepare for our return flight. End of tour.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:

Intermediate. Good physical condition required, but still suitable for many. Some steep uphill/downhill sections but never strenuous. Some training before departure is required. You walk 4 to 5 hours a day, covering 9 to 15km.

Group size:

Maximum 14 participants

Path Description:

You walk on marked paths, on partly rocky and low wooded terrain, and some stretches of sand. No particular technical difficulty. You walk sometimes on asphalt, with moderate traffic.

required hiking gear:

Trekking boots with profiled soles, preferably ankle-high. Backpack 15-25 lt (you will receive a detailed list of what to bring before departure), suitable clothing with hiking pants (NO JEANS!) and technical shirts, they must be able to dry quickly.

Climate:

Still warm days but not excessively muggy, highs between +22C°-25C°. Cool mornings and evenings. It’s often windy on the island. Bring some warm clothing (fleece or long-sleeved sweater, windbreaker). Possible showers or seasonal thunderstorms, although unlikely in October.