10-day Naxos Strada Walking Holiday

After your arrival at Naxos our taxi driver will take you to your first accommodation in Chora. You can walk to the Chrisostomos monastery starting from the port. Followed by a visit to Agios Ioannis Theologos (Theologaki) chapel and then the Chrisostomou monastery, a still inhabited nunnery with a beautiful church. Via grassland you return back to chora tou walk through the streets of the city centre and back to the port or your hotel.

Challenge: 4,9 km / 3 mi, ascend 190m, descend 190m.

Today you explore the south of the island. You will be taken by taxi to the bus stop at Damalas, south of Chalki. From the bus stop you descend mainly on trails via the village of Sagri to the Demeter temple for a visit. From the temple you ascend towards Chalki. The detour to the abandoned cave monastery Kaloritsa is highly recommended and well worth the climb! Via the Bazeos tower you walk back to the bus stop at Damalas. Here you will be picked up and brought back to Chora.

Challengue: 12,5 km / 7,8 mi, ascend 405m, descend 405m

Today you will do the first stretch of the Naxos Strada Trail. Following a taxi transfer il to Plaka you s walk along a beach road then through reed land towards the inner land, with a view on the rock formations of Paleopyrgos. From the river bed you ascend on an ancient path to the rock church of Agios Nikolaos. You will reach a plateau. Via dirt roads you pass various churches and arrive to the village of Vivlos, dominated by a number of old windmills. You ascend from Vivlos via dirt roads and paths to a tarmac road at the bungalow park Mandilaras Village. From here you descend and pass the church of Agios Mamas from the 11th century into a river valley before an ascent to the villages of Kato and Mesi Potamia. You then continue to the Apano Kastro (Upper Castle), the highest point of today. The final descent is ia the hamlet of Tsikalario to the lively village of Chalki. In Chalki you can visit the Kitron distillery, a local liqueur. Except in the reed beds, the walk is largely through open terrain with only occasional shade. In Chalki you will be picked up and transferred back to Chora.

Challenge: 14,8km / 9,2 mi, ascend 550m, descend 280m.

You will be transferred to Chalki and start your walk through the streets of the village. Cross the tarmac road at the church and the bus stop and walk out of the village. You will pass the next village Metochi and will reach the village Filoti. There are various taverns and cafés on and next to the cozy village square. Through a street and then paths you ascend and leave the village until you reach the tarmac road with the Agia Marina chapel. You then descend through a shaded river valley to Danakos, a somewhat sleepy village. From there you ascend to the Fotodotis monastery, which from a distance looks like a fortress. You climb a bit further up with a beautiful view over the fields and looking back at the monastery. The last stretch to Apiranthos is on a zigzagging path with shade from time to time. In the village of Apiranthos you will be picked up and transferred back to Filoti where you will stay the next 2 nights.

Challenge: 13km / 8,1 mi, ascend 785m, descend 460m

Today starts with a walk to Agia Marina chapel before an ascent to the summit of Mount Zas. The walk is not too difficult, though it can be hot as there is not much shade. You will be rewarded with impressive panoramic views of Naxos and the surrounding islands. You descend on the west slope and pass the Zas cave and the Aria well. Then you back to Filoti and relax on the square.

Challenge: 9,4km / 5,8 mi, ascend 645m, descend 645m

You will be transferred to Apiranthos. You walk out of the village and soon ascend with beautiful views of Apiranthos, the windmills and the sea. You reach the 'Fanari' plateau and then look inland, towards Moni and Sifones. A descent brings you to the village of Moni. Then you ascend again to a church before descending passing the farming hamlet of Kadi. Along the way you have beautiful views over the mountainous inner land of Naxos. Enjoy the silence and tranquillity! This is the longest walk of this wonderful holiday.

Challenge: 13,9km / 8,6 mi, ascend 795m, descend 870m

Today you enjoy a gentle walk that is mainly descending. From Koronos you walk through a beautiful and shady lush gorge to the coastal village of Lionas. You walk along a marble path built by the locals. Lionas Beach is ideal for those who hate crowds and love good food at the few taverns. Great to relax for an afternoon! You will be picked up and taken back to your accommodation in Koronos.

Challenge: 7,1km / 4,4 mi, ascend 125m, descend 645m

From Koronos you first descend and then ascend through the valley to Skado. Along the way there are some signs with information about the landscape. From Skado you walk first on a tarmac section whilst enjoying a beautiful view over the sea. After a while the path narrows and you ascend. This altitude attracts more annual rainfall than at sea level so it’s a very lush area. You then descend to the watermill valley, a shaded route with many streams. You can visit the ruins of some mills. The route continues towards the village of Komiaki with its mysterious ravines. Continue through the village until you reach the Mycenaean tomb. You descend again and then traverse to Apollonas, first flat, then steeply descending. The landscape here is rugged and barren, with almost always a view of the sea. In Apollonas you make a small detour and then walk into the picturesque village. You reach the boulevard and walk to your accommodation at the harbour.

Challengue: 12,9km / 8,2 mi, ascend 415m, descend 930m

This is a short walk and well worth it. You walk up through the village of Apollonas. After you have crossed the asphalt road you walk on a level path along an irrigation channel with many flowers. A short ascent along with way to the Kalderimi (mule path) to the Kouros of Apollonas. The Kouros is a 10.7 metre tall unfinished statue of light grey Naxian marble with a weight of around 80 tons. You can also walk up to a place where classical writing tablets have been found. Then you descend again back to the seaside village Apollonas.

challengue: 1,6km / 1mi, ascend 80, descend 80m

After breakfast your arrangement comes to an end. You will be transferred to the port or airport. If you have booked an extension, e.g. for one or more of the extra walks, you will be transferred to your extension hotel.