Hiking in Greece----Any Suggestions?
Jun 7th, 2010, 09:27 AM
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Hiking in Greece----Any Suggestions?
We're looking to go to Greece in September, maybe October. I see there's various self-guided hiking in Crete, Samos, Naxos. Wonder what people's experience has been and any recommendations? We're looking to enjoy more "traditional" life if that's possible and avoid the tourist rah-rah.
Jun 19th, 2010, 09:53 AM
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I only have experience walking in west crete but I recommend it. Do a search on hiking west crete and you will find lots of information. Late September early October should have good walking weather although you could get a bit of rain.
My favorite walks include Mt Gigilos from Omalos, the Irini Gorge and Lissos from Sougia, and Aradena Gorge from either Loutro or Anapolis. You probably also will want to walk the Samaria Gorge. It's a great walk, but it is a bit longer than the other walks.
If you're looking for traditional life, Omalos and Anapolis would be your best bases. Sougia is a nice quiet sea shore town and not at all touristy.
My favorite walks include Mt Gigilos from Omalos, the Irini Gorge and Lissos from Sougia, and Aradena Gorge from either Loutro or Anapolis. You probably also will want to walk the Samaria Gorge. It's a great walk, but it is a bit longer than the other walks.
If you're looking for traditional life, Omalos and Anapolis would be your best bases. Sougia is a nice quiet sea shore town and not at all touristy.
Jun 20th, 2010, 05:39 AM
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All three places can be winners for hiking, I've "hiked" (which I label anything 5 miles or more) and also "walked" in all three ... and I would have done, had I had a car on more occasions. This website -- http://www.cycladen.be/IntroductionEng.htm -- has photo-illustrated walks for ALL the cycladic islands, compiled by an obsessive Belgian. good to Check out.
CRETE -- The most extensive walks I've done were the Imbros Gorge (shorter than Samaria but great fun, just as scenic), The cliffisde walk from Loutro to Hora Sfakion (not for the acrophobe) and various rambles around Falassarna. If u don't want to go south there's a good Gorge walk west of Rethymnon, Mili See this link: http://www.winterincrete.com/en/discover/walks.htm -- but you can do it on your own.
NAXOS -- A quickie is the hike up from the harbor to the monastery high above ... but there are tons of walks between the mountain villages. A good idea is to take a bus up there ... do your walk, and either flag down a Naxos-town bus or taxi back to the coast. Or vice-versa.
SAMONS -- I've only rambled for a couple of hours above Vathy (go up to Ano Vathy and just head down a lane) .. but Western Samos is apparently walker-heaven. I once was in Vathy's Garden Taverna, and it was invaded by 16 British Walkers who began devouring huge plates of meat. It transpired they'd walked 15+miles thru villages & woodlands ... and their ages ranged from 70 to 93, and they all looked madly fit.
CRETE -- The most extensive walks I've done were the Imbros Gorge (shorter than Samaria but great fun, just as scenic), The cliffisde walk from Loutro to Hora Sfakion (not for the acrophobe) and various rambles around Falassarna. If u don't want to go south there's a good Gorge walk west of Rethymnon, Mili See this link: http://www.winterincrete.com/en/discover/walks.htm -- but you can do it on your own.
NAXOS -- A quickie is the hike up from the harbor to the monastery high above ... but there are tons of walks between the mountain villages. A good idea is to take a bus up there ... do your walk, and either flag down a Naxos-town bus or taxi back to the coast. Or vice-versa.
SAMONS -- I've only rambled for a couple of hours above Vathy (go up to Ano Vathy and just head down a lane) .. but Western Samos is apparently walker-heaven. I once was in Vathy's Garden Taverna, and it was invaded by 16 British Walkers who began devouring huge plates of meat. It transpired they'd walked 15+miles thru villages & woodlands ... and their ages ranged from 70 to 93, and they all looked madly fit.
