Trekking to Naxos and Amorgos

Alpine Travel of Crete has a new outdoor, fourteen-day trekking adventure during the months of May to October on the islands of Naxos and Amorgos. This has been specially planned to enable you to visit sacred sites and monasteries difficult to find on your own. It is classified as a “moderate” trek for those with Level Two hiking experience who enjoy walks of four to five hours a day.

The adventure will be varied and include breaks for swimming in remote, crystal clear waters, but the purpose of the adventure it to take you to the peaks where you can visit ancient sites, chapels, and monasteries.

The itinerary for the fourteen-day adventure includes:

An overnight stay in an Athens hotel, and a visit to Plaka and the Archaeological Museum before boarding the ferry to Naxos for your first hike up to Apano Kastro, a 9th century Venetian Fort and also Halki. You will spend time exploring the village of Apeiranthos and Minoa, the ancient site overlooking Katapola, and also the monastery of Varsamitis.

On Amorgos you will walk through the picturesque streets of the town (Chora) and follow the trail leading to the chapel of Profitis Ilias where you will have a magnificent view overlooking the island of Amorgos. You will also visit the monastery of Chozoviotissa, one of the most famous sights on the island, and continue on the path to Aegiali for a swim.

Hikes through the two islands of Koufonisi the village of Tholaria, the church of Stavros, the ancient site of Arkesini, are included in the adventure, as is a hike up the highest peak of the Zas mountain on Naxos to visit the cave of Zeus. When you arrive at the top, you will have incredible views of the Archipelagos and the entire island.

For further information, please visit www.alpine.gr

Published in The National Herald, July 2014