Cycladic Islands: Andros & Tinos

After your arrival at Athens airport our taxi driver will take you to the port of Rafina, from where you depart in the late afternoon to Andros. The ferry crossing is app. 2 hours. After your arrival in the port of Gavrio you travel by local bus in app. 1 hour to Chora, the capital of Andros. Your pension is in the area Nimborio. 

In case your flight arrives after 14.30 hrs, we advise you to book an additional night before the arrangement starts in Rafina or in Athens. In that case, you travel on the morning ferry to Andros.

In the morning there is plenty of time to visit Andros Chora with its impressive mansions and museums. Andros has always been an island with many shipowners who built beautiful houses and donated museums to the island.
In the afternoon you take a taxi to nearby Apikia, a village built along a wide, green valley. You descend via old, walled mule tracks leading you through the valley. You come along the dilapidated tower of Bitsis with its mystic atmosphere. Via olive groves you reach the beach of Gialia. After a swim, you ascend briefly to cross a cape and further descend to your pension on the beach of Nimborio. 

Challenge: 2.5 / 4 hours, 5 - 9 km / 3 - 5,5 mi, 90 / 410 m ascent, 340 / 380 m descent

From Andros Chora you ascend via a beautiful paved path (kalderimi) along high cypresses and through olive groves. The walls left and right of the path are constructed of slates in a traditional, almost artistic way. You come through the villages Lamira and Mesaria with their imposing churches and natural springs. Follows a pleasant descend to an ancient Venetian bridge crossing the river bed. Higher up the mountain the Monastery of Panachrantos comes in sight. A steady climb leads you up to the Monastery, that appears to be literally clinging to the side of the mountain Gerakonas. The views over the island and the warm welcome in the Monastery are well worth the climb.
After your visit to the Monastery you descend through the green valley of the Livadia river back to Andros Chora.

Challenge: 6.5 hours, 17.5 km / 11 mi, 600 m ascent and descent

Today you will enjoy great views over the sea, Ormos Korthiou and Andros Chora. The walk starts from Ormos Korthiou from where you ascend via an intact old kalderimi along orchards and past the quiet village Kochilos.  After Kochilos, the ruins of the old fortress Paleokastro come in sight. The last section to the top is an optional detour, but definitely worth the effort, because of the awarding 360 degrees view over Southern Andros.  Through the impressive Dipotama-gorge you make your way to the village Sineti, where you find a local café and a folklore museum. Leaving Sineti, you face your last climb, before making your final descent to the sandy beach of Paraporti, on the east side of Andros Chora. You cross Andros Chora to reach Nimborio beach. 

Challenge: 6 hours, 14 km / 8,5 mi, 530 m ascent and descent

In the morning you take the public bus to Gavrio and travel per ferry to Tinos. A taxi takes you to the village Falatados in the inner land. In the afternoon you can make a round walk from Falatados. Via a kalderimi you walk to the village Myrsini and descend to the (dry) river bed of the Livada river. You can opt to return from here via another kalderimi back to Falatados and enjoy some free time or you may continue to Livada beach and return partly via the same route.
It is definitely worthwhile to spend some time exploring the narrow alleys in Falatados and discover this very traditional village in your own way.

Challenge: 2 / 5 hours, 4.5 - 12.5 km / 3 - 12,5 mi, 200 / 440 m ascent and descent

Todays walk is a great walk leading you all around the remarkable Exobourgo mountain and along the finest villages of Tinos. On the top of this mountain you find the Venetian Fortress Exobourgo. You walk through valleys and terraced fields, through villages with narrow alleys and along numerous churches and a monastery. In the wide valley between Loutra and Kambos are the finest dovecotes that are so characteristic for Tinos Island. 

Challenge: 7 hours, 16 km / 10 mi, 220 m ascent and descent

This last walk on Tinos offers great views on Tinos town and the south coast. You walk through agricultural fields towards the Exobourgo and then head southwards, descending via old mule tracks. You pass a few remarkable ruins of windmills and then descend via a long kalderimi to Tinos town. The walk is only 3 hours and hence there is plenty of time to visit the lively town of Tinos, dominated by the big church of Panagia. Or you may prefer to go to one of the sandy beach that are near the town.

Challenge: 3 hours, 8 km / 5 mi, 100 m ascent, 470 m descent

For today there are two options that you need to indicate at the time of booking. 

1. You travel back to Athens via the port of Piraeus and will need to book additional night(s) in Athens.
2. You travel onwards to Naxos and continue with the arrangement Naxos-Santorini.

(Hotel in Athens NOT INCLUDED)