ITINERARY

Day 1: Welcome!

Transfer from the airport to Piraeus. Ferry to the island of Aegina (about 1h15min). 4 nights on Aegina

Day 2: Τhe Monastery of Chrysoleontissa (‘’the Golden Lioness’’) and an ancient olive grove

Transfer to Chrysoleontissa Monastery, a nunnery dedicated to the Holly Virgin, which stands on a plateau almost in the center of the island. After visiting the monastery visit you go hiking through a pine grove, then across a small plateau where the lonely chapel of the local Saint Leontios stands. You continue along a panoramic slope to the sparsely inhabited village of Pachia Rachi, a dry area, on the western slopes of the mount Oros. Your trail leads you to the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, surrounded by very ancient olive trees that may have been harvested even by Achilles’ grandfather Aeakos. You eventually reach the Marathon Beach. Short transfer to your hotel.
Walking: Chrysoleontissa – Pachia Rachi – Marathonas: about 6.6km, +50m / -360m, moderate

Day 3: The island saint Nektarios, the medieval citadel of Palaeochora and Aphaia’s sanctuary

Transfer to Agios Nektarios monumental church, one of the latest saints of the Orthodox Church; he still lived in the 20th century. This is one of the largest and most magnificent churches in the Balkans. Very near, built on the slopes of a hill, Paleochora, was the island capital in the late Middle Ages until its destruction by Hayredin Barbarossa in the 16th century. Several churches, some of which are decorated with frescoes, are still preserved, but not much of the houses are left. Aphaia’s sanctuary is one of the most beautiful and best preserved from Greek antiquity; a mysterious goddess, probably of Minoan origin, was worshiped here. The hike of the day starts from the ruins of Palaeochora, leads to the Monastery and via Mesagros, through pine forest, leads to the temple of Aphaia. The hike can continue to the beach of Agia Marina. Transfer back to your hotel.
Walking: 1. Agios Dionysios – Paleochora – Aphaia: about 8km, +260m / -260m, moderate
                2. Aphaia – Agia Marina: about 2.5km, +20m / -190m, simple

Day 4: The mountain of Hellanios Zeus. The peak of Saint Antonio

On the highest peak of Aegina and on a panoramic mountain with the remains of a Bronze Age castle. Transfer to Anitsaio. You go hiking on mount Oros, the highest mountain of Aegina. Under the peak, the Byzantine church of Taxiarches was built on the ruins of Zeus’s sanctuary. A panoramic trail leads to the peak (531m) where a whitewashed chapel stands. You walk down, back to Taxiarches and you continue towards Vlachides to climb the peak of Megali Koryfi (307m); halfway up the chapel of Saint Antonio stands, whilst on the peak, a WWII watchtower and ruins of a Mycenean wall are found. Transfer back to your hotel.
Walking: Agios Antonios –Oros: about 10km, +555m / -535m, moderate

Day 5: From Aegina to Methana. Traces of antiquity

Depending on the ferry timetable (varies throughout the year): In the morning you can either visit the archaeological site of Kolona and the Archaeological Museum of Aegina or you can relax and take your time for swimming, sunbathing, or just go for a walk. Ferry to Methana (approx. 45 minutes), a volcanic peninsula on the north-eastern coast of the Peloponnese, once a famous resort due to its thermal baths. After you settle in your accommodation, you take a walk to the thermal bathhouse and the islet of Agioi Anargyri, with the remains of an ancient fortification of the 6th century BC. 3 nights in Methana

Day 6: Secluded chapels, a traditional village and an ancient city

Transfer to the mountain chapel of Agios Panteleimon. Panoramic hike through an abandoned village to a Byzantine chapel, to the village of Megalochori, down to the sea and to the ancient acropolis of Paleokastro. Transfer back to your hotel.
Walking: Agios Panteleimon – Megalochori – Paleokastro: about 5.5km, +130m / -535m, moderate

Day 7: A pine forest, traditional villages and a volcano

A magnificent volcanic landscape: dark and colorful rocks, erosion gorges, steep slopes and plateaus, pine forests and an active volcano that no longer smokes. Transfer to Kameni Chora; the volcano was still active here until late antiquity. You go hiking to the volcanic cone and then, through a shady forest and lonely villages you reach the north coast and Agios Nikolaos. Swimming in the sea and also in the nearby old thermal baths, which was mentioned in antiquity by the chronicler Pausanias. Transfer back to your hotel.
Walking: Kameni Chora – Agios Nikolaos: about 6.6km, +285m / -595m, moderate

Day 8: From Methana to Poros. The traditional settlement of Poros

In the morning there is time for a swim in the sea; The beach of Limniona with its fine, colorful pebbles is within walking distance; there are even thermal springs near the old thermal baths and near the Chapel of Saint Nicholas. Around midday you leave for Poros, the ancient Kalauria, an island in the immediate vicinity of the northeastern Peloponnese coast. Today you explore the traditional settlement, built on an ancient volcanic cone, separated from the main island by a bridged canal. Scenic hike through the town, to the Chapel of the Agioi Anargyroi. 3 nights on Poros
Walking: Poros town – Agii Anargyri: about 4.7km, +150m / -150m, simple

Day 9: Dana lighthouse

Scenic hike along to Dana lighthouse on the western tip of Poros. You can have a transfer to town or walk back along the low traffic coastal road. In the afternoon there is time to swim; or stroll through the picturesque town.
Walking: 1. Askeli – Lighthouse: about 7.2km, +290m / -250m, moderate
  2. Lighthouse – Askeli: about 5.4km, +90m / -130m, simple

Day 10: On the path of the resin collectors. Poseidon’s Sanctuary and St. Mary’s Monastery

During ancient times, Poros, then Kalauria, was a pilgrimage place for the sea god Poseidon; there is not much left of his once famous sanctuary. Until recently, the collection of pine resin was a main source of income for the locals. Circular hike through the pine forest, around the highest peak of Poros, following trail of the resin collectors, to the (few) remains of the Poseidon’s temple and to Zoodochos Pigi monastery.
Walking: Askeli – Palatia – Monastery: about 9.8km, circular, +360m / -360m, moderate

Day 11: From Poros via Hydra to Spetses. Hiking to the highest peak of Hydra

By speedboat you travel to Hydra: There are no cars there and its traditional settlement is as it jumped straight out of a fairytales book! You go hiking to the Monastery of Profitis Ilias on Mount Eros. There is the possibility to reach the peak, but even if you just walk up to the monastery, you enjoy breathtaking view. In the late afternoon you travel to Spetses by speedboat. 4 nights on Spetses.
Walking: 1. Hydra – Mt. Eros Peak: about 9.7, circular, +670m / -670m, moderate
  2. Hydra – Profitis Ilias: about 6.7km, circular, +475m / -475m, moderate

Day 12: Spetses. The traditional settlement and the old port. The chapel on the peak and pine forest

Scenic circular hike to the peak of the island with a Prophet Elias Chapel. You walk first through the traditional settlement and then, through the shady pine forest, you reach the peak of the island: Enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of the Peloponnese coast and the entire archipelago! In the afternoon, you walk to the picturesque Old Port, a long, sheltered narrow bay that offered sailing ships of the 18th and 19th centuries protection from almost any wind. You pass the old shipyard, where traditional wooden fishing boats are still built and repaired, and reach the lighthouse of Cape Fanari.
Walking: 1. Dapia – Profitis Ilias: about 8.6, circular, +365m / -365m, moderate
  2. Dapia – Old Port: about 4.7km, partly circular / partly roundtrip, +55m / -55m, simple

Day 13: Promising hike in the southwest of the island

Circular hike through the traditional settlement, on panoramic paths and through pine forest to lonely chapels and a nunnery. The afternoon is at leisure.
Walking: Dapia – Kamini – Zoodochos Pigi: about 10km, circular, +300m / -300m, moderate

Day 14: The north coast

Transfer to the north of the island and walk through the pine forest and the north coast, from Zogeria and Vaiza (also called “Bay of Lovers”), a great place for swimming, to Vrellos. Transfer back to your hotel.
Walking: Zogeria – Profitis Ilias – Vrellos: about 9km, +330m / -300, moderate

Day 15: Farewell!

Today this exploration of the Argosaronic Islands ends. Farewell!