Aegina Walking: short break on a Saronic Island

Transfer from Athens center or Athens Airport to Piraeus and ferry to Egina. On Egina your luggage will be picked up from the port and you walk to your accommodation in the town.

Todays walk starts from the picturesque fishing village of Perdika. You travel by public bus or by taxi. From Perdika you ascend inland, via old trails along numerous chapels, ruins of old windmills and old threshing floors. You walk through the village Sfendouri and ascend further through a ‘moon’-landscape of limestone. The views on the surrounding islands Agistri, Moni and Methana and the mountains of the Peloponnese are superb! You can make an optional loop to the summit of Mt. Ellanio, with 532m the highest summit of Egina. On top is a nice church, the perfect picnic spot of todays walk. After the descend you continue through bare landscape to the ‘Eleonas’, a plain with huge olive trees, some of which are over 500 years old. The walk ends on the beach of Marathonas. There might be a local bus back to town, otherwise you take a taxi.

Challenge: 3.5 hours, 10 km / 6 mi, 600m ascent, 600m descent

The walk from Agios Nektarios to Agia Marina is one of the high lights of the Saronic Islands. You start at the kitschy, massif Monastery of Agios Nektarios, located in the center of the island. You can travel to there by public bus or private taxi. The Monastery is built for the Holy Nektarios who died in 1920. Thousands of religious people come here every year, seeking help from this miracle-working saint. After your visit, you walk a short distance to the old town of Paleochora, located on the top of a hill. In the Middle Ages this was a lively town. Now you can admire 38 Byzantine churches, some in good state, but many are ruined. From Paleochora the walk continues via a ridge along ruins of windmills to a nice view point. You descend along abandoned olive groves to Mesargos and from this village walk on rural roads and dirt tracks to the nunnery Agia Marina. Shortly after the unique Temple of Aphaia comes in sight. After your visit to this Ancient Greek Temple, you descend via a wide track to the seaside resort Agia Marina. From here you return to Egina town by public bus or per taxi.

Challenge: 4 hours, 11 km / 7 mi, 400m ascent, 550m descent

After breakfast end of arrangement. Travel to Athens or to another island. From Egina there are direct connections to Agistri, Poros and Methana (not daily).