Cyclades : Naxos and Amorgos

CYCLP0009

Highlights by
Kélifos

  1. The discovery of 2 original Cycladic islands, from the mountainous Naxos to the unique Amorgos
  2. A nice balance between hiking, swimming, and convivial moments on a tavern terrace
  3. The charm of the Greek way of life

Useful
informations

Length

8 days

From

550,00 €

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Born in the mythical waters of the Aegean, these are two very different islands, in the matter of geology, landscape, and history. Naxos, the largest, is also the most wooded. Composed of granite, marble, and limestone, bordered by beautiful sandy beaches near its attractive capital, Chora (6500 inhabitants), it is home to Mount Zas (1001 m), the highest peak of Cyclades islands.

Amorgos is located further east. This long though narrow rocky island, lying in the sea is less populated. This fascinating island offers austere and grandiose scenery promise of sumptuous treks. This austerity is softened by the charm of the villages and the hilltop capital, Chora, with typical Cycladic architecture. Amorgos is also known for the extraordinary image of his monastery Chozoviotissa, stuck in the cliff. An image that many European people discovered in 1988 in the movie "The Big Blue". Many scenes of Luc Besson's film have been shot in Amorgos.

Dates and prices

We are updating the next travel dates. Please dial +30 266 304 1476 or send us an email to info@kelifos.travel for any request.

Specify

Departure dates at your convenience.

 

Dates Price per person
From To 2 persons 3 persons 4 persons
15/04/2021 31/05/2021 540 € 530 € 520 €
01/06/2021 30/06/2021 580 € 570 € 560 €
01/07/2021 31/08/2021 690 € 680 € 670 €
01/09/2021 30/09/2021 580 € 570 € 560 €
01/10/2021 31/10/2021 540 € 530 € 520 €

* Price for 3:
- 1 couple + 1 child under 15: price for 3 as indicated above, accommodation in a triple room
- 1 double + 1 single: price for 3 people as indicated above with the single room supplement

Prices include

  • accommodation for 7 nights in a twin/double room
  • the breakfasts
  • transfers from and to the port to accommodation on each island
  • the travel file
  • boat tickets

Prices do not include

  • flights
  • the drinks
  • lunches and dinners
  • not included transfers
  • the visits
  • personal expenses
  • tourist taxes including government tax to be paid on site
  • the insurance
  • registration fees
  • anything not indicated in "Prices include"

Options, extras and discounts

  • single room supplement low season: 165 €
  • single room supplement mid season: 180 €
  • single room supplement high season: 240 €
  • Athens airport transfer - Piraeus or to the airport: on request

Itinerary

Cyclades travel map: Naxos and Amorgos
D1

Piraeus

Arrival in Athens. You get to your hotel in Piraeus by metro (1 change), train (direct), or bus (direct). This transfer is at your expense (easy and cheap). You can collect your boat tickets on arrival (if your ferry leaves early the next day); otherwise, you will take them the next morning.

Accommodation

Hotel

D2

Naxos

You take the ferry to Naxos Island; the largest of the islands of the Cyclades archipelago and its port capital, Chora. Transfer to your accommodation. You can also walk to your accommodation in about fifteen minutes for a first discovery of the attractive city of Naxos (luggage is transported by vehicle). Depending on your time of arrival, you can enjoy the beach, stroll to the site of Portara (door of the temple of Apollo dating from the 6th century BC) or visit the city, its maze of alleys leading to the archaeological museum near the ancient Venetian Kastro.

Accommodation

Hotel

D3

Naxos: Chalki - Apano Kastro - Kouros of Flerio - Potamia

Scheduled bus (at your own expense) to the fertile inner valley of Tragea and its superb villages like Chalki, in the middle of olive groves and at the foot of the highest mountains of the Cyclades. Following ancient paths, sometimes paved, you climb up to the fortress of Apano Kastro, perched on a defensive site used from antiquity to the Venetian period. Further on, there are ancient marble quarries with their colossal statues of Kouros, unfinished before ending in the Potamia valley.

Accommodation

Hotel

Walking time

5h

Elevation +

400m

Elevation -

400m

D4

Naxos, then crossing to Amorgos

Today you reach Mount Zas (1004m), the highest point in the Cyclades: It is THE mountain of Zeus on Naxos! Take a bus or taxi to Filoti, a white village built like an amphitheater on the mountainside. Bring water, headwear, and sunscreen, as there is no shade on this course. The panorama is superb. If you want a more leisurely ride, or if the boat is too early in the afternoon, we suggest a ride on ancient paths to the pretty village of Apiranthos. Boat in the evening or at night for Amorgos, immortalized by the film the Big Blue. Transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation

Hotel

Walking time

5h

Elevation +

900m

Elevation -

900m

D5

Amorgos

You can adapt the program to your desire or your state of freshness.

A short hike from Aigiali to Lagada then Tholaria. Very beautiful villages and ancestral paths.
Longer hike: Aigiali - Lagada - Agios Ioannis Thologos Monastery in A / R then a magnificent extension to the chapel of Stavros in a sumptuous mountain environment.

Itinerary
Accommodation

Hotel

Walking time

2h 45

Elevation +

400m

Elevation -

400m

Walking time

4-5h

Elevation +

800m

Elevation -

800m

D6

Amorgos: Chora - Chozoviotissa monastery - Aigiali

One of the most beautiful hikes in Amorgos, in a quiet - not to say deserted - part of the island. Departing from Chora, the island's capital, you descend to the superb Chozoviotissa monastery, and its dazzling whiteness, admirably set in a cliff. Then you follow the backbone of the island, on an ancient path that brings you back to Aigiali.

Accommodation

Hotel

Walking time

5h

Elevation +

600m

Elevation -

800m

D7

Amorgos then crossing to Piraeus

Transfer to the port of Aigiali or Katapola. Ferry to Piraeus where arrival is expected around 3:00 p.m. (schedule subject to change). Transfer to the center of Athens (metro, taxi, or bus at your expense).

Accommodation

Hotel

D8

End of stay

End of stay after breakfast. Transfer to the airport (at your expense).

We may have to modify the indicated itinerary: either at the organizational level (a problem of overloaded accommodation, modification of the state of the ground, landslides, degraded trails, etc.). These changes are always made in your interest, for your safety, and for better comfort!
Boat times are subject to change. We adapt our program to these times, and cannot be held responsible for any changes caused. Likewise, early departures (boat or plane) may prevent you from having breakfast in your hotels. This will not result in a refund from us.

The hikes on each island can be done in any order you wish, taking into account, of course, the arrival and departure times of ferries and planes.

Technical description

Grade

Easy to medium, no portage. You have to love walking and be in good shape. 2 to 7 hours of walking per day. The days are often flexible. No technical difficulty, hiking experience is desirable, but not essential.

Luggage transport

You only carry a small backpack with your daily things, the picnic, and the groceries. You will have to transfer all of your luggage when traveling from/to the airport or the boat.

Transfers

Included in the price:
- boat tickets as described in the program
- transfer from the port of Naxos to the hotel in Naxos round trip
- transfer from the port of Amorgos to the hotel in Amorgos round trip
Other transfers are your responsibility.

Boats
You travel from island to island on the regular ferries that ply the Aegean Sea from Piraeus.
Warning! Scheduled times may change, and you should absolutely check them when you arrive on an island. You should also know that Greek ferries can sail up to force 9 (that's already a lot), but beyond that, they must stay in port. Anyway, our local partners are there and do their best (luckily, it's rare!) To rearrange your circuit.

Indicative times for boat crossings:
Piraeus - Naxos: departure 07:25 am / arrival 12:30 pm
Naxos - Amorgos: departure 11:00 p.m. / arrival 1:10 a.m. or 2:50 a.m. (depending on the boat), where possible we offer a boat at 11:30 a.m. that arrives at 1:15 p.m. or another leaving at 2:00 p.m. that arrives at 7:00 p.m.
Amorgos - Piraeus: departure 06:00 or 06:55 depending on the port and arrival in Piraeus around 3:00 p.m.

Please note, these times are indicative and must be checked. They can change depending on your departure period, we will systematically give you the timetables when confirming your stay.

Group

From 2 people

Duration

8 days / 7 nights

Travel documents

A complete travel file will be given to you, including, among other things, detailed maps, topo guide, list of accommodation and vouchers. Depending on the case, you will receive your file before departure, or you will find it at the first accommodation. There is no guide for this trip.

Accommodation / Catering

► Accommodation
In 2 * hotels or 2 * comfort pension, in a room for 2 with bathroom. We can, depending on availability, offer you higher category accommodation, consult us. Possibility to book a single room, on request and with supplement.

Tourist tax
This tax must be paid on-site, at the hotels. Its amount depends on the hotel category and may vary.
1 * and 2 * hotel: € 0.50 / room / night
3 * hotel: 1.50 € / room / night
4 * hotel: 3 € / room / night
5 * hotel: 4 € / room / night

► Catering
Breakfasts included. Lunches and dinners are not included. Please note: early departures (boat or plane) may prevent you from having breakfast in your hotels. This will not result in a refund from us. In the islands, some hotels will prepare a "breakfast box" for you in the event of an early departure. Please let us know when registering any food allergy or special diet; we will do our best to adapt your breakfasts.

Start / End

► Start
Day 1 at your hotel in Piraeus.

► End
Day 8 After breakfast at your hotel in Athens.

Access

How to reach Piraeus from Athens airport
By Metro
From the airport you must: take line M3 (blue) to Monastiraki then take line M1 (green) to Piraeus stop, the terminus. It takes about 1h30 of journey in all.
Price: between € 6 and € 10 / person for a one-way ticket. The hotel is 800m from the metro stop.

By bus
From the airport, there is a direct bus to Piraeus (line X96). The trip lasts about 1h50 and the ticket price is 6 €. The hotel is 800m from the bus stop.

By taxi
Around € 50/70 per trip.
We can book the private transfer for you, consult us.

How to reach Athens airport from the city center
By Metro
The hotel in Athens is a 350m walk from Omonia metro station M2 line (red). You can take this line towards Elliniko, change at Syntagma and then take the M3 (blue) line towards the airport. You can also go directly to the Syntagma stop for a direct trip to the airport (15 minutes' walk from the hotel). The trip lasts about 1 hour.

By bus
There is a direct bus between Syntagma Square (about 15 minutes' walk from then the hotel) and the airport. You have to take the X95 bus. It takes around 1 hour 20 minutes and the ticket costs 6 € / person for a one-way ticket.

By taxi
Around 40/60 €.
We can book the private transfer for you, consult us.

Swimming

A number of our trips are suitable for swimming, during a stage or at the end of the day. It would be a shame not to enjoy. We stress, however, that you are the sole judges of the advisability of a swim; these swims are therefore done under your responsibility and at your own risk.

Photos

You take great photos! Do not hesitate to send us a CD, a USB key, a Dropbox or WeTransfer link of your best photos taken during your trip. The fact that you provide us with photos implies that you accept that your photos will be used free of charge on our various media (catalog, website, technical sheet, etc.).

Travel Blog

Do you want to share your best moments of the trip and share your experience with the hiking community? Send us your story and some photos illustrating your comments that we will publish for you on our blog.

Equipment

To hike
- Mountain boots holding the ankle with a good notched sole, with a heel counter, and good waterproofness
- Comfortable “special hiking” socks
- A fleece jacket
- Comfortable pants for walking (technical material that dries quickly)
- Shorts, t-shirts, and technical underwear (quickly drying material)
- A long-sleeved shirt (technical material that dries quickly)
- Walking poles (telescopic), very important to facilitate walking

Note: synthetic technical clothing is very efficient. New merino wool clothes have also appeared; they are very efficient and comfortable to wear, and have the advantage of not developing perspiration odors! (Icebreaker brand, Ruka, etc…).
In general, beware of cotton, which cools when wet.

For the midday picnic
- Plastic bowl, box, or plate
- Cutlery (spoon, fork, knife)
- Water bottle with a minimum of 1.5 L. Otherwise, bottled water, inexpensive and very easy to find in Greece.

Against the sun and the rain
- Sunscreen (high protection) and sunglasses
- Hat, cap, or bob
- A rain cape (or a "Goretex") or an umbrella (possibly Goretex pants)

After the effort
- A pair of jogging-style sneakers for the evening
- Change of clothes and personal linen
- Kit and towel (mini)
- A swimsuit, a beach towel (it is often possible to swim)
- A mini-pharmacy: personal medicines, elastoplast, biogaze or "2nd skin", gauze, disinfectant, medicine for seasickness, arnica in granules and aspirin in case of small injuries ...

Luggage

- A small, comfortable 30 to 40 L backpack with a lap belt to carry your personal belongings and the picnic during the day
- A following baggage: a backpack, a travel bag in good condition, or a suitcase that is not too bulky. One piece of luggage per person; limited to 20kg

The country

Country: Greece
Capital: Athens
Archipelago: Cyclades
Population: 10,757,292 inhabitants

Formalities

► Papers
Travelers to Greece, including minors, must be in possession of a national identity card or passport (EU nationals).

► Health
Bring the European health insurance card, to ask your health insurance fund at least 15 days before departure. The sanitary conditions are similar to those in most European countries.

Weather

The climate of the islands is Mediterranean, that is to say, hot and dry in summer and mild and rainy in winter, but with significant differences depending on the regions and archipelagos. The Cyclades regularly suffer from lack of rain and during the beautiful season, which lasts here almost 6 months, precipitation is scarce or even completely absent from the end of May to the beginning of October. The Cyclades also benefit from relatively cool summers (for Greece) thanks to the famous "Meltem", a seasonal wind which during the summer season pleasantly refreshes the atmosphere, but which sometimes gets carried away to the point of immobilizing the boats in the port. for a few hours.

Language

Greek, English, and sometimes a little French or German

Currencies

Euro

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