Hidden Trails and Golden Beaches of the Cyclades
Hiking in the Greek Isles
Overview
Greece casts a spell, with its honey-colored isles surrounded by azure seas. In the archipelago of the Cyclades, named for the circle it forms in the turquoise waters of the Aegean, we hike on Tinos, Naxos, and rugged Amorgos, each island its own distinctive realm of bougainvillea-draped villages and cobbled pathways above the sea. As we hike past blue-domed churches, up to cliff-perched monasteries, and to tiny whitewashed villages, the good life of Greece surrounds us. Our Greek Trip Leaders are famously passionate about food, and along the way, they'll introduce us to a mouth-watering array of seasonal and local treats.
Arrive: Athens, Greece
Depart: Athens, Greece
Highlights
- Hike village to village along island pathways of Tinos, Naxos, and Amorgos
- Savor the delightfully authentic and homemade dishes of each island
- Swim in the beautiful coves of the blue Aegean
- Enjoy a wonderful immersion into the culture and history of Greece with our exuberant Trip Leaders
Itinerary
From Athens, we ferry to Tinos to hike along paths past small villages and up an old Roman road to the great Venetian fortress of Exomvourgo. One hike brings us to lovely Pyrgos, and another takes from the mountain village of Falatados down to the beach at Livada for a swim.
Crossing the blue Aegean to Naxos, Lord Byron's favorite Greek island, we explore the twisting lanes of Chora, the main town, and hike on Mount Zas (3,284'), the highest point in the Cyclades and home to a sacred cave thought to be the birthplace of Zeus.
We also visit the Kato Kastro, a medieval-era castle, and see the famous Portara ("Great Door"—an uncompleted temple from 506 BC), from where we can admire a glorious sunset.
Easternmost of the Cyclades, Amorgos is a gorgeous island of hidden coves and dramatic mountains. Traditional stone-paved paths lead us between villages, past frescoed churches, and along the spectacular coast. One ramble 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 Level 3+, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. Hiking times vary from 3 to 6 hours on moderate trails that can be rocky and rugged. 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. Some days are a full day of hiking; others involve a half day or more exploring one of the towns on foot.
Review Trip Level Details
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. You should wear sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots for maximum comfort on the trail.
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.
On some days, we taxi or take a local bus to a starting point for our hike and also use a taxi or local transport to return to our night's lodging. 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
"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
"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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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
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—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.