Hiking in Santorini

12 August, 2010 By

Who could expect that Santorini had more to offer than luxury hotels, hospitality, services, restaurants and nightlife? It is no coincidence that Santorini is the leading destination that combines comfort with adventure, relaxation exercise and, above all, the mountains overlooking the sea. These contrasts can be experienced through this hiking guide that reveals the beauty of Santorini that hides in the mountains, beaches and trails inaccessible volcanoes.

Routes that can be done on the island:

  1. Church of Agios Georgios (Imerovigli) – Skaros Rock: 1.5 km with a maximum duration of one hour and a half.
  2. Ancient Thera – Perissa: 2.5 km with a duration between 40 minutes and hours.
  3. Fira – Oia: about 5.5km and lasting one to two hours.
  4. Kamari – Church of Pigi Zoodochos – Ancient Thera: 3 km with a duration between one and two hours.
  5. Megalochori – Agios Nikolaos: 0.5km lasting between 30 minutes and 45 minutes.
Filed Under: Activities, Hiking

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  • Agios Georgios – Skaros
  • Must-sees

    • Agios Georgios – Skaros

    12 August, 2010 By

    Overview: the route consists of about 1.5 km, and takes to complete a maximum of an hour and a half, depending on the stops that are made to rest and take photos. It is important to wear sunglasses, hat, sneakers, sunscreen and water.

    Here you have a link where you can see the route on a map with detailed photos: See route

    Skaros Rock, Imerovigli, Santorini

    Skaros Rock, Imerovigli, Santorini

    The church of Agios Georgios is the perfect place to prepare and relax before the trip since the road leading to Skaros is a few meters from the church. After a few minutes, you will meet the small chapel of Agios Ioannis, which is a perfect place to take pictures. Below, the view improves. You will pass near some ruins, old houses that are credited to Skaros was inhabited.

    Once you reach this part of the route, decide the way ahead. The one in front of us leads directly to the tip of the rock. The other one on the left, surrounds the rock at 20 meters below the summit. You should do both of them.

    Theoskepasti, Skaros, Santorini

    Theoskepasti, Skaros, Santorini

    On the way up the rock shall be witnesses of the ruins of buildings and houses cave (hyposkafa) surrounding it in the past, buildings that recall its former glory. Following the path, you will reach a point where you will find yourself alone with the rock. If you return to find the second path, beware, because it is very narrow, but do not miss the opportunity to continue, since it will take you to an incredible landscape. A few minutes later and after a decrease of 200 steps, you will find the chapel of Theoskepasti.

    Filed Under: Activities, Agios Georgios – Skaros, Hiking

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    • Ancient Thera – Perissa

    12 August, 2010 By

    Overview: the route is about 2.5 km, and takes to complete from 40 minutes to an hour and a half depending on the stops that are made to rest and take photos. It is important to wear sunglasses, hat, sneakers, sunscreen and water.

    Here you have a link where you can see the route on a map with detailed photos: See route

    The path to Perissa is an old road, which takes the traveler on the slopes of Profitis Elias and Vouno Mesa. After starting, after a few minutes walking in the sun, you will find the area where the cremation burials were found in the Archaic period.

    Panagia Ketefiani, Santorini

    Panagia Ketefiani, Santorini

    10 minutes later you’re going to start feeling the benefits of the huge mass of rock on the left, the shadow of Vouno Mesa. On your right, you can see Profitis Elias Monastery which stands proudly at the top of the mountain. After 20 minutes, you will find a small road on the left that leads to a rock with a cross on top and an arrow pointing to a new address unknown.

    Do not hesitate to go this route if you have the strength. After the hard climb, a reward emerges from the rocks, the chapel of Panagia Ketefiani. Returning to the main road, you will realize that you are very near the end of the road. In 6-7 minutes, it appears the asphalt road where you turn left towards the sea and, after a 8-10 minutes walking, the square of Perissa appears where it is located one of the largest churches in the island called Timios Stavros.

    Filed Under: Activities, Ancient Thera - Perissa, Hiking

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  • Kamari – Zoodochos Pigi Church- Ancient Thera

    • Fira – Oia

    12 August, 2010 By

    Overview: the path is about 5.5 km, and takes to complete from one to two hours depending on stops that are made to rest and take photos. It is important to wear sunglasses, hat, sneakers, sunscreen and water.

    Here you have a link where you can see the route on a map with detailed photos: See route

    The route starts at the beautiful church of Elias Profitis in Fira. Thanks to an impressive 360 degree view, this is an amazing place for photos and a good opportunity to rest in the shade of pine trees, after the street that comes from Fira.

    There, you’ll find a big rock that is the way towards Oia. The rest of the way will be pretty rocky, but also cooler as you walk in the shadow of the mountain. On the left, you will find a million opportunities to take photos of the blue waters of the Aegean Sea.

    Further afield, the road becomes smoother. Later, the path is interrupted by some buildings, do not worry, the trip is not over. All you have to do is walk on the road for about 400 meters to find a coffee shop that sells soft drinks, food and water. Behind the coffee shop, the road begins again. Do not make the mistake of following the road, because you’ll lose the wonderful route through the spine of the mountain.

    You’ll get to a small white church called Stavros, this is a good time to rest and take pictures. Before leaving the church, you can follow a small path leading to a red hill with a bunch of rocks on top of it. The view from there is magnificent.

    The final route is dressed in white. The volcanic ash that covers the path and the white rocks on the right create a lunar landscape. After the white road, the journey is over, but then begins another chapter about landscape photography: Oia.

    Filed Under: Activities, Fira - Oia, Hiking

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    • Kamari – Church of Zoodochos Pigi – Ancient Thera

    12 August, 2010 By

    Overview: the route consists of about 2.5 km, and takes to complete from 40 minutes to an hour and a half depending on the stops that are made to rest and take photos. It is important to wear sunglasses, hat, sneakers, sunscreen and water.

    Here you have a link where you can see the route on a map with detailed photos: See route

    The route begins in Kamari, close to Hotel Matina. It starts from a paved road uphill with lots of curves. The road is an old street, surrounded by a section of the cemetery of the ancient city. Zafeiropoulos excavations N. (1961 – 1982) revealed the street and its numerous tombs. It covers a large part of the long history of the city that was inhabited since the eighth century BC to the early Christian centuries.

    This is a little difficult route as it is uphill and the sun tends to warm strongly. Fortunately, you can find several points to take a rest in the shade of the pines. At one point, you can see the Santorini airport. At halfway, we will find a small path that leads right to the church of Zoodochos Pigi.

    Church of Zoodochos Pigi, Santorini

    Church of Zoodochos Pigi, Santorini

    The church, built in the depths of a huge rock, is under the shadow of two carob. A perfect place to relax in the cool shade and take pictures of Kamari which is 200 feet below. The church is actually a white expanse of rock and offers an incredible natural source of drinking water. The water is clear and fresh and fully justifies the name of the church (Zoodochos Pigi = source that gives life).

    From here you can go to the top of the hill to the ancient Thira. If you choose to continue the journey, follow the same path from the church towards the paved road up. After 15 minute walking uphill, you’ll reach the top of the hill, a circular plateau that lies between Profitis Elias and ancient Thera. The view is incredible, Perissa & Kamari are ahead. There you will find a cement table that illustrates the map of ancient Thera.

    Ancient Thera, Santorini

    Ancient Thera, Santorini

    Once there, you’ll find three options:

    1. Go up the hill to the Monastery Profitis Ilias.
    2. Go left (looking left towards Perissa) to the archaeological site of Ancient Thera.
    3. Continue straight on the road towards Perissa.
    Filed Under: Activities, Hiking, Kamari – Zoodochos Pigi Church- Ancient Thera

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  • Megalochori – Agios Nikolaos

    • Megalochori – Agios Nikolaos

    12 August, 2010 By

    Overview: the route consists of about 0.5 km, and takes to complete between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on the stops that are made to rest and take photos. It is important to wear sunglasses, hat, sneakers, sunscreen and water.

    Here you have a link where you can see the route on a map with detailed photos: See route

    Not far from out of town on the main road to Megalochori (Thera – Megalochori), you can find a great hiking trail. Right on the main road, you have to go left for 100 meters to find a small group of hotel rooms and then go right into the small street leaving the hotel to the left. At the end of the road (after 70 meters), you’ll go right to find a column of white cement that is used for measurements of war and geography. It is not easy to find, as advised.

    Church of Agios Nikolaos, Santorin

    Church of Agios Nikolaos, Santorin

    Following the road, a few minutes later, you will meet a road paved with stones that would lead to scenarios that seem to come out of a sci-fi. The road runs parallel to the volcanic wall and quickly, you’ll reach the top of a staircase with wide steps and cobbled stones of volcanic lava black. There is a staircase that leads to the low cliff of the caldera.

    Church of Agios Nikolaos, Santorin

    Church of Agios Nikolaos, Santorin

    Then you’ll see the steeple of the chapel of Agios Nikolaos that appears slowly, a whitewashed chapel that seems to be born from the bowels of the rocks. The road continues until the edge of the cliff where the view is breathtaking. There you will find the experience of a wonderful sunset.

    Filed Under: Activities, Hiking, Megalochori - Agios Nikolaos

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