Samos island walking

After your arrival at Samos airport a taxi will take you in about 1 hour to Karlovasi. This town on the north coast is often called the ‘ugly duckling’ of Samos referring to the abandoned warehouses and tanneries: remains of a rich trading history during the early 1900’s.  But behind this façade there is a lively town with a unique character. The Aegean University contributes to the lively spirit. Near your hotel is the neighbourhood of Meseo Karlovasi with a lovely village square to sit for food and drinks. 

Leaving the port of Karlovasi behind you, you ascend via a beautiful paved track (so-called Kalderimi) to Old Karlovasi, built well-hidden for pirates behind a hill top. You may have a Greek coffee at a local café, before continuing your walk. Through dense forest you reach the cave of Agios Antonios where you find a chapel deep inside the cave. 

Next stop is at Potami beach from where you head inland, along the oldest Byzantine church of Samos, to the waterfalls. You may want to reach the actual waterfalls by walking inside the cold waters (!); otherwise walk continues uphill through dense vegetation and vineyards to the tiny settlement Ag. Panteleimonas with its refreshing spring. The view from the shaded town square in Leka over Karlovasi is overwhelming. You cross Old Karlovasi once more on your way back down to the coast.  

Challenge: 4 hours, 11,5 - 7 km / 7 - 4,5 mi - , 400 m ascent, 400 m descent

Todays walk starts in Potami beach that you reach by taxi or on foot. The coastal walk is via narrow trails, sometimes high above the sea. First you reach the pebbled beach of Mikro Seitani and then the sandy beach of Megalo Seitani, declared a Natura 2000 protected area. After a refreshing swim the walk continues inland along numerous olive groves.

From a view point you can admire the gorge that widens to the beach of Mikro Seitani. Back in Potami, you can relax on the beach and transfer back to Karlovasi, or even walk back all the way. 

Challenge:

3.5 hours, 9 km / 6 mi, 380 m ascent, 380 m descent

4.5 hours, 13.5 km / 8 mi, 540 m ascent, 570 m descent

6 hours, 17.5 km / 11 mi, 740 m ascent, 740 m descent

In the morning you travel by taxi or local bus to Kokkari. For more comfort you can prebook a taxi transfer with your agent.

The walk of today is the most famous and likely the most-walked hiking route of Samos. It is a great loop walk from Kokkari that crosses beautiful forest landscape with stunning views over Kokkari, Vathy and the Turkish coastline and passes through the picturesque village Vourliotes. Optionally you make a small detour to the historic monastery of Vronta, built in 1566, burned in 1999 and nowadays almost completely restored again. 

Challenge: 4.5 hours, 13 km / 8 mi, 460 m ascent, 460 m descent

The route of today starts in nearby village Agios Konstantinos that you reach by local bus or taxi or with your rental car. From the small port you ascend through the traditional village of Ano (Upper) Agios Konstantinos, where you head further south via a beautiful intact cobbled path. Via terraced fields, vineyards and olive groves you reach the village of Stavrinides.

Further eastwards you come to one of the most picturesque villages of Samos: Manolates. After a refreshing drink in a local café, the route continues towards Vourliotes. Through dense vegetation and welcomed shade, you reach the chapel of Agios Spyridonas from where you have a spectacular view of Manolates. The walk concludes with a pleasant descent through olive groves and forest of pine trees to Agios Konstantinos. 

Challenge: 4.5 hours, 13.5 km / 8 mi, 500 m ascent, 500 m descent

In the morning you travel by taxi or local bus with a stop over in the capital town Vathy to Pythagorion. For more comfort you can prebook ataxi transfer with your agent.

There are several options to spend your afternoon. You may enjoy time on the lovely sandy beaches nearby, visit the archaeological museum in Pythagorion, go and explore the 1 km long Efpalinos aquaduct built in the 6th century BC or make a round walk over Mt. Kastro and the ancient city walls.

Challenge: 2.5 hours, 7.5 km / 4 mi, 250 m ascent, 250 m descent

You take a taxi to the nearby village of Myli from where you start todays’ long hike, exploring the rural landscape around Myli. There is a remarkableancient olive tree of about 2500 years old that has a trunk with a diameter of 3,5 meter! Luckily it wassaved from the devastating forest fires of 2000 by the locals. It is impressive to see how this area turned to a lush green hillside in the past 2 decades! Definitely worth visiting is the Byzantine Monastery of Megali Panagia near the village Koumaradei from where you have great views over the plain of Chora to the south. After your return in Myli, you take a taxi back to Pythagorion.

Challenge: 4,5 hours, 13 km / 8 mi, 340 m ascent, 340 m descent

After breakfast you will be transferred to the nearby airport of Samos by taxi and your arrangement comes to an end.