Guided Walking Holiday in the island of Skyros, Greece

Discover the beautiful Greek island of Skyros in the Aegean Sea. Enjoy your walking holidays through introductory, moderate, strenuous or just pleasant summer walking.

Walk through mountainous routes, immerse in pick pine forests, visit sheepfolds, collect herbs, learn about the tradition and the history of the island and live truly authentic experiences. Special guides will be accompanying you at the hiking, people familiar with the area that will share their love and enthusiasm about Skyros and will provide information about the flora and the fauna of the island. Our picturesque walks end at secludes bays and quiet beaches where visitors can swim in the sea and relax.

Skyros is located in the heart of the Aegean Sea near the island of Evia. The population of the island is 3.000 habitants and their main economic activity is livestock-farming, fishing and tourism. Skyros is not harmed by the mass tourism and leans to the direction of viable and sustainable tourism development.

The island is an ideal destination for holidays that combine relaxation, entertainment and authentic experiences. The alternating landscapes in the island are magical. The north part of the island allows you to immerse into its pick pine forest while in the south, it dares you with the rocky landscape and the mountains. The south of the island, is characterised as a special protection zone of bird fauna and belongs to the ‘NATURA 2000’ areas, an ecological European network of protected areas of the highest environmental value for species of plants and animals which are rare, endangered and vulnerable. Around the island there are islets, gulfs, caves with eccentric petrification, beaches that extend to many kilometres, secluded bays, steep beaches. The waters are always crystal blue. The beautiful Chora, built amphitheatrically on the side of a hill, with the tiny cubic houses and the narrow streets, shows the island’s particular architecture. It is a place that maintains its unique cultural wealth, its traditions, popular art and music.

The best way to explore and discover the island is to walk around it.

+30 2222 093100

Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1
Arrival in Skyros in the afternoon, transfer and settle to the rooms. We go for a pleasant walk through the cobbled streets of the town of Skyros and free time for dinner.

Day 2
After breakfast a slides presentation of the upcoming activity will take place in the hotel where details will be given about the flora and the fauna of the hiking routes of the following days. Transfer to the starting point.
Hiking to Panaghia Limbiani, a church built on a rock in the north part of the Island, at the mount of Olympos.
The north side of Skyros, that the locals call "Meroi" (quiet place) is green, with thick pine forests and crops. It is covered by 60.000 hectares of pine forests full of endemic types of plants while herbs such as chamomile, sage, thyme, oregano, vegetables savages and caper plant abound. Our routes pass through olive groves where chamois, hares and wild rabbits live freely in nature. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views to the sea. During the walk you can collect herbs and you will learn how to preserve and use them in the local cuisine.
Transfer by coach to the hotel.
In the evening we visit folkloric Faltaits Museum, located at Chora, where a review of the history of the island is given. The Faltaits Museum has a collection of great cultural and folkloric interest.

Day 3
After breakfast we start for our second walking route, around Chora, the town of Skyros. During our walk you can learn about the island’s particular architecture. The settlement of Skyros that has been characterised as traditional and preserved monument by Greek government is built amphitheatrically on the sides of a rock around the Byzantine castle. Information is also given about the island’s roots in history and mythology.
In the evening time to relax, swim in the sea and enjoy a drink at the coffee shops. Optional visits to workshops of local craftsmen.

Day 4
On the fourth day we head to the summit of Kochilas, in the south part of the island. Mount Kochilas, is characterized as a special protection zone of bird fauna and belongs to the ‘NATURA 2000’ areas, an ecological European network of protected areas of the highest environmental value for species of plants and animals which are rare, endangered and vulnerable. The landscape in these areas is characterized by its unique natural beauty. It is there, where the unique Skyrian horse lives, in an almost semi-savage condition. It is a rare breed that can be found only in Skyros. In the same area there are isolated sheepfolds where locals make their products using traditional methods, such as the famous Skyrian cheese.

Day 5
Transfer by our coach to the starting point.
Hiking to Atsitsa, the nort part of the island. Our walk ends in the beautifull village of Atsitsa, near the sea. We will have plenty of time to relax and swim at the crystal water, and have lunch at a nearby traditional tavern. On our way back we visit a farm with skyrian horses, where a breeding project takes place.

Day 6
On our sixth day we visit a small church, Ag. Artemios. Our starting point is Achilli, a port named after Achilles, where according to mythology, Achilles and Ulysses left for the war in Troy. Evening free.

Day 8
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will be transferred to the port for departure.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Visitors stay in selected family owned hotel in a small distance from the sea and the Town of Skyros. This hotel is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Skyros next to some nice taverns and coffee shops. Another choice is a guesthouse in a family farm, on the side of a mountain. The guesthouse is built from natural materials such as wood and stones collected from the farm’s field. It is an ideal starting point for discovering the mountainous north side of the island.
We always make sure that our visitors have a pleasant and comfortable stay.

Accommodation provides breakfast, which is made always from fresh and local ingredients. For the rest of the meals we can suggest family owned taverns and restaurants of the island with excellent Greek cuisine with local dishes.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

8 Days (7 Nights)
The best time is Autumn, Spring and Summer until middle of July. The three first weeks of August are not recommended due to the heat. But some of our walking routes are designed especially for this period where we combine walking and boat trips.

Tailor made programmes are organised depending on our visitors preferences. We also organise sailing trips around the island and cooking classes. Also our walking routes can be adapted to the preferences of visitors.

Transport: We usually use mini buses or coaches from for the transportation of our visitors inside the island. Transportation can be arrange from Athens, or any other place in Greece, to Skyros and return.

+30 2222 093100