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Join Hooked on Walking’s self-guided hike on Samos Island, Greece, which is a true walkers paradise. Samos island is big and mountainous, with the highest peak at over 1400m. During this self-guided walking holiday, you will walk beside secluded beaches, cross woodlands and baron hillsides. The island has interesting archaeological findings also near Pythagorion, your final destination. The Efpalinos tunnel is the absolute masterpiece from Ancient Greece. Based from three different hotels you make the best walks possible on the island.
Your trip starts in the northwest, in the coastal town Karlovasi from where you walk to picture-perfect Potami Beach and the nearby dramatic waterfalls found in a narrow canyon. Walking along the coast, you reach the deserted beaches of Mikro and Megalo Seitani, considered one of the island’s most idyllic beaches.
The from the lively seaside resort Kokkari, you make two great walks through the famous nightingale valley, one of the greenest parts of Samos. In the old picturesque mountain villages of Manolates and Vourliotes, you find a couple of cosy tavernas for a rest.
You conclude your trip in Pythagorion, located in the south, which is named after the island’s most famous son, Pythagoras. On foot, you discover the olive groves and orange plantations around Myli. Around Pythagorion you walk along and over the ancient city walks and may visit the impressive Efpalinos Tunnel, dating back to the 6th century BC. The lively café’s in Pythagorion are the perfect spot to conclude this great holiday with a glass of famous local wine.
Karlovasi, Island of Samos
The walks are mostly on rocky footpaths, dirt roads and occasionally cobbled footpaths (kalderimia).
Though the island attracts tourists in the summer season, the paths are usually very quiet and you will not meet many hikers during the walks, except at the popular waterfalls in Potami. Some mountain villages are lively with local café’s and a taverna, other villages don’t offer many facilities. Most of the days you will be able to have lunch in such a village or you can take a picnic with you.
The 3 overnight locations are all on the coast, offering plenty of opportunities for a swim in the Aegean Sea. You take your luggage with you when you move between hotels on days 4 and 6.
Karlovasi – Samaina Hotel
Kokkari – Arion Hotel
Pythagorion – Lithos Hotel
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Hooked on Walking that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the chosen activity and for emergency evacuation and hospital care.
On arrival at Samos airport, an included taxi transfer will take you in around 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 1900s. But behind this façade, there is a lively town with a unique character. The Aegean University contributes to the lively young spirit. Near your hotel is the neighbourhood of Meseo Karlovasi with a lovely village square to sit for food and drinks either during the afternoon or evening.
Leaving the port of Karlovasi behind you, you ascend via a beautiful track (so-called Kalderimi) to Old Karlovasi, built and well-hidden for pirates behind a hilltop. Why not stop for a Greek coffee at a local café, before continuing your walk. Now walking amongst dense forest you reach the cave of Agios Antonios where you will find a little chapel deep inside the cave. Your next stop will be at Potami beach from where you head inland, which awards the oldest Byzantine church of Samos. Eventually, you reach some lovely waterfalls. You can reach the actual waterfalls by wading through the cold waters, otherwise, your walk continues uphill through vegetation and vineyards to the tiny settlement of 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.
Today’s walk starts at Potami beach which you can 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 is declared a Natura 2000 protected area. Why not stop for a refreshing swim before you continue inland through numerous olive groves. From a viewpoint, 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.
In the morning you travel by included taxi to Kokkari. Your walk 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, it passes through the picturesque village of Vouliotes. Optionally you make a small detour to the historic monastery of Vronta, built in 1566, burned in 1999 and nowadays almost completely restored again.
The walk today starts in the nearby village of Agios Konstantinos that you reach by local bus or taxi.
From the small port, you ascend through the traditional village of Ano (Upper) Agios Konstantinos, where you head further south via a beautifully cobbled path. Then through 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 Vouliotes. Now through dense vegetation and welcome shade, you walk to 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 a forest of pine trees to Agios Konstantinos.
In the morning you travel by included taxi to the capital town to Pythagorion. 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 or make a round walk over Mt. Kastro and the ancient city walls.
You take a taxi to the nearby village of Myli from where you start today’s hike, exploring the rural landscape around Myli. There is a remarkable ancient olive tree of about 2500 years old that has a trunk with a diameter of 3.5 metres! Luckily it was saved from the devastating forest fires of 2000 by the locals. It is impressive to see how this area turned into a lush green hillside in the past 20 years since the fire. It is worth visiting 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 you take a taxi back to Pythagorion.
After breakfast you will be transferred to the nearby airport of Samos by taxi.
Fly to Samos Island either direct or via Athens.
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Tour Code | Prices From (per person) | Book Now |
Samos (7 Nights) | from £956 | Book Now |