Join a guided hiking trip to Karpathos in the South of the Dodecanese and experience Greece beyond the tourist trails. Experience the beautiful panoramic views and the magnificent nature. The turquoise colored ocean is always visible from any side of the Karpathian mountains and hills. We hike in the gorgeous yet rough nature area of North Karpathos, hike on the mountain ridge in the middle of the island and visit many charming villages. Karpathos has a fantastic nature and is a paradise for hikers. The beauty of the island, the friendliness of the inhabitants and the pleasant climate make Karpathos a perfect choice for those who want to go on a hiking trip.
*mentioned price is per person in a double room of a traditional Greek hotel. There is a Sub-charge for a single room. There is also an option for a more luxurious studio in Pigadia, but please do ask us for info.
Airport pick-up and drop off at the accommodation. Welcome drinks with meze and information about the schedule of the week.
Breakfast is served followed by a transfer to Menetes. We hike from the southern pirate village of Menetes through the farm land into ancient Arkesia, nowadays known as Arkassa (distance: 7km, height difference: min. 0m / max 420m). There we will enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee at one of the local kafeneons followed by a lunch in Arkassa or the sleepy fishing village of Finiki.
Meals: Breakfast + lunch included (drinks excluded)
Breakfast is served followed by a 1.5 hour scenic drive to the North to go for our Diafani-Olympos Hike (distance: 7km, height difference: min. 0m / max 327m). Lunch is served in Olympos and we spend the night in Diafani.
Meals: Breakfast + lunch included (drinks excluded)
Breakfast is served in Diafani. We make a short drive to Avlona, a little more north from Diafani and Olympos, to start the ancient Vrougounda hike (distance: 9.5km, height difference: min. 0m / max 311m). This hike goes down to the beach and back up to the village of Avlona where we will have lunch. We drive back to Pigadia afterwards and the evening is free to spend as you like.
Meals: Breakfast + lunch included (drinks excluded)
Breakfast is served. We drive to the west-coast up to Mesochori/Lefkos for a beautiful walk by the rough coast (distance: 7km, height difference: min. 0m / max 210m). The guide will bring a picknick.
Meals: Breakfast + picknick with tea included (drinks excluded)
Breakfast is served. We drive to the most narrow bit of Karpathos near Spoa and walk towards Lastos where the highest peak of the island is also located (distance: 8.5km, height difference: min. 0m / max 667m). We get to enjoy a lunch in one of the most remote tavernas on the Dodecanese islands. From there we drive back to Pigadia to relax in the afternoon. Farewell dinner in the evening to say goodbye to our new friends.
Meals: Breakfast + lunch & dinner included (drinks excluded)
Breakfast is served. The day can be spend as you like depending on your travel arrangements. Departure for the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Anyone who has a reasonable walking fitness level can join the hikes on this trip. Because Karpathos is an island with rugged rock formations, some hikes are less suitable for people with a fear of heights. In consultation with the guide you can decide if you want to join us.
It is important that you have sturdy, preferably high-closing and broken-in (mountain) hiking shoes with you. The shoes should also be waterproof. We sometimes might walk through shallow streams, dry yet muddy riverbeds and in the winter period there can be a heavy rain shower every now and then. Despite the fact that the walks often only half part of the day, we are still on the road almost all day. On Karpathos, covering height differences is unavoidable. The paths are generally passable, but with regular steep parts and some low vegetation.
We walk at a leisurely pace with plenty of time along the way to take pictures, enjoy the many views and nature around us. The average walking time is between three and five hours. The length of the hikes are seven to ten kilometers.
We believe that you can enjoy nature to the fullest when you travel in a small group. The groups are therefore never larger than 12 participants. The minimum number of participants for the trip to take place is 4.
For your personal expenses on Karpathos (dinners, drinks and snacks) you should count on about € 150,-.
Our tour & hiking guides are Dutch and Swedish and English-speaking hiking experts.
In addition to our guides’ knowledge of and love for nature, history and culture, we also like to share our enthusiasm for hiking.
The tour and hiking guides are there to do everything they can to make the trip as great as possible. All guides are trained in First Aid and work with respect for nature, culture and the environment.
It is important that you make sure you have good equipment. For the excursions and hikes you should have a daypack with enough space for snacks, a large water bottle, a jacket or vest and possibly a camera and/or binoculars.
Have you visited the island during the summer months and you’re now curious to see it during its wintersleep period? Or you’ve heard about Karpathos and look for the calmest time to visit? Even though the islanders are relaxing a lot more in the winter after the hard work from the summer, you will find plenty of places to go to for food and drinks. The local inhabitants are out and about on the street themselves a lot more since there is less tourism in the winter and therefor less work to do. You’ll get a sense of how it would be to live on Karpathos as a foreigner when visiting the island in the off-season.
You won’t find sun-beds on the beaches nor are the touristic shopping streets functioning this time a year, but there are plenty of restaurants open like To Ellinikon, Ciao, Apse Vise, Del Mar, and many more. The villages all have their local tavernas open with the biggest difference from summer to winter being the now Greek menu for the locals. The islanders are still very welcoming to tourists in the winter months. They are just expecting it less, so you’ll get into interesting conversations more easily with the locals.
This trip is not suitable for participants with reduced mobility.