Routes
Apart from nature, vegetation and small forests, Alonissos offers many points of interest that can be visited during hiking excursions. Picturesque villages, beaches, springs, streams, churches, the dam, or even, you can taste the local gastronomy in the traditional taverns and discover elements of the oldest culture and oldest settlements of the island.
Hiking tourism in Alonissos island combines the endless beauty of the seascape with the imposing views from the highest points and the rural landscapes, making the island an excellent destination for lovers of adventure and tranquility.
Chorio - Small Mourtias - Chorio
Route 3946 m.
1 hour 30 mins
Medium Difficulty
Starting point: Chorio (Kyparissia)
Points of Interest: Chorio, Mikros Mourtias beach, Kiosk
The route is passable and clean for the most part. The descent to Mikros Mourtias from the side of Kalovoulos needs a good widening of the width of at least 1.5 meters in its largest part as well as a good clearing of vegetation. It may pass through some private property.
The dominant species are sparto (Spartium junceum), arbutus (Arbutus andrachne), St. John’s wort (Hypericum sp. ), Colutea arborescens, Cistus incanus and Cistus salvifolius, and Lonicera implexa (Lonicera implexa) in the houses and cultivated areas.
Chorio - Kalovoulos
Route 1628 m.
0 hour 35 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting point: Chorio (Kyparissia)
Points of Interest: Village, Kalovoulos (Castle, Viewpoint)
It is dominated by long vegetation with ivy, schist, and olive trees. The bushes are low because of grazing. Small groups of the common pine – pine halepensis (Pinus halepensis) – are probably remnant species. At the top grow holly trees (Quercus coccifera).
Falcons use the area to be on the lookout for prey or for nesting in the trees, and along with kestrels they often fly for prey in the valley between Kalovulos and Old Chora. From the top of Kalovulos and towards Skopelos, Black-headed Hawks (Falco eleonorae), migratory falcons, appear in April, returning from their wintering grounds in East Africa and especially Madagascar.
Mikros Mourtias - Faros
Route 1059 m.
0 hour 25 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting point: Mikros Mourtias
Points of Interest: Mikros Mourtias (beach), Faros
Dominated by the common pine – pine halepensis (Pinus halepensis) while there are also holly trees.
(Quercus coccifera).
Architectural Route Chorio
Route 2147 m.
0 hour 50 minutes
Easy Route
Starting point: Chorio (Kyparissia)
Points of Interest: Village, church of Christ, Paraporti, Agios Ioannis, threshing floors
The surrounding and outside the Chorio area is dominated by heather (Erica arborea), asbestos (Sarcopoterium spinosum) and ivy species together with arbutus (Arbutus andrachne). The slope up to the beach of Vrysitsa hosts a wide variety of small birds and the typical inhabitant of the electricity wires is the bee-eater (Merops apiaster). Within Chorio the bellflower (Campanula reiseri) is found in many crevices especially in abandoned houses.
Patitiri - Chorio
Route 2429 m.
0 hour 55 minutes
Easy Route
Starting points: Patitiri (port) / Chorio (Kyparissia)
Points of interest: Port, Patitiri fountain, Chorio threshing floors, Chorio
The hike takes place on an old paved road with particular floral diversity, due to the coexistence of cultivated and abandoned land. Pear, apple, cherry, walnut and olive trees predominate as cultivated species, while weeds and other plants, such as Cercis siliquastrum, grow in the understorey, mainly in April and May. Anchusa azurea (Anchusa azurea), Bituminaria bituminosa or Psoralea bituminosa – the flowers and leaves when rubbed release an asphalt smell, which is decisive for the origin of its name – Convolvulus arvensis (Convolvulus arvensis), gladiolus (Gladiolus italicus) and mallows (Malva sylvestris) are common plants in uncultivated fields, at the edges of cultivated fields, in places where there is anthropogenic pressure and along roadsides.
Their frequent visitors are the bombus (Bombus sp.), with their impressive size and the characteristic buzzing sound that gave them their name. Shrubs such as Cistus incanus, Cistus salvifolius, Spartium junceum, Erica arborea form the long vegetation. The upper part is covered with Pallenis spinosa (Pallenis spinosa) and Acanthus spinosus (Acanthus spinosus). Many of the terraces along the path and elsewhere were planted with vines until they were destroyed by phylloxera in the early 1960s. The pressing of the grapes was done in the open-air wine presses, which gave the name to the current capital (Patitiri) built after the 1965 earthquake in this area.
Chorio - Megalos Mourtias - Patitiri
Route 5286 m.
2 hours 0 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Chorio (Kyparissia) / Patitiri (Port)
Points of Interest: Chorio, Megalos Mourtias (beach), Plakes (Mikros Mourtias), Alonissos Museum, port
It includes a section on steep rocky coasts, a type of habitat protected at national and European level and characterized for the species Limonium sp., Arenaria phytosiana, Campanula reiseri, Fritillaria sporadum and Crithmum maritimum.
Patitiri - Megali Ammos - Megalo Chorafi
Route 9142 m.
3 hours 30 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Patitiri (Port) / Megalo Chorafi
Points of Interest: port, Mega Nero, Tsoukalia (ancient beach), Agii Anargyri, Tourkoneri (beach), Megali Ammos (beach), Women’s Cooperative of Alonissos
The first part of the route leads through well-preserved terraces with olive groves, rocky slopes, uncultivated fields and borders of cultivated fields to Mega Nero. Notable in May are the Tragopogon sp., native to the Mediterranean region with characteristic flowers that open only in the morning hours and close after noon. Scattered all along the route, in spring, are poppies (Papaver rhoeas), chrysanthemums (Glebionis coronaria) and plum trees (Nigella damascena). In spring you will be accompanied by many butterfly species on the route.
From Tsoukalia and to Ag. Anargyrous forests of pine (Pinus halepensis) in dense populations with visible even today the metal containers on the trunks or lying on the ground, witnesses to the collection of resin that in previous decades played an important economic role in the island’s society. On the slopes grows the thistle (Ptilostemon chamaepeuce) with its characteristic purple flowers in spring, while after Ag. Anargyrous shrubs such as Cistus incanus and Cistus salvifolius, Salvia fruticosa, Sarcopoterium spinosum and Calicotome villosa grow up to Turkoneri on the rocks, rocky slopes and rocky shrublands..
Connection of Routes 5 & 6
Route 406 m.
0 hour 10 minutes
Easy Route
It is a short route that acts as a link between routes 5 and 6. No interventions are required as it passes through an asphalt road.
Raches - Agioi Anargyroi (from Ag. Andreas)
Route 1607 m.
0 hour 35 minutes
Easy Route
Starting points:Raches, Agioi Anargyroi
Points of Interest: pine forest, Agioi Anargyroi
The path passes through a forest of pine trees. In the lower parts there are olive groves and scrub trees. The forests of pine (Pinus halepensis) grow in dense populations with metal containers still visible on the trunks or lying on the ground, witnesses of the resin collection that in the past decades played an important economic role in the island’s society. On the slopes grows the thistle (Ptilostemon chamaepeuce) with its characteristic purple flowers in spring.
Raches - Agii Anargyroi (from five Vrisses)
Route 1631 m.
0 hour 35 minutes
Easy Route
Starting points: Raches, Agioi Anargyroi
Points of interest: pine forest, Agioi Anargyroi
The path passes through a forest of pine trees. In the lower parts, where the rainwater floods, there are olive groves and stumps.
Patitiri - Spartines - Megalo Chorafi
Route 9569 m.
3 hour 40 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Patitiri (Port) / Megalo Chorafi
Points of Interest: port, Rousoum (beach), Spartines (beach), Kastraki
It includes a section on steep rocky coasts, a type of habitat protected at national and European level and characterized for the species Limonium sp., Arenaria phytosiana, Campanula reiseri, Fritillaria sporadum and Crithmum maritimum in Votsi. It then passes through a pine forest alongside Spartines beach and continues on the northwestern side of the island towards Kastraki where the pine forest is combined in places with Mediterranean-type and fringing vegetation.
Megalo Chorafi - Megali Ammos
Route 2440 m.
1 hour 0 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Megalo Chorafi / Megali Ammos
Points of Interest: Kastraki, Megali Ammos (beach)
In the valley olive trees coexist with grasses and plants such as the spring recycle (Anacyclus sp.) and the blue anagallia (Anagallis arvensis). The olive grove is followed by the pine forest that covers large areas in the central part of the island and coexists with long vegetation of cistus and schist.
Megalo Chorafi - Agalou Lakka - Megali Ammos
Route 4284 m.
1 hour 40 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Megalo Chorafi, Megali Ammos
Points of Interest: Megali Ammos (beach)
In the valley olive trees coexist with grasses and plants such as the spring recycle (Anacyclus sp.) and the blue anagallia (Anagallis arvensis). The olive grove is followed by the pine forest that covers large areas in the central part of the island and coexists with long vegetation of cistus and schist.
Connection with Kastraki
Route 149 m.
0 hour 5 minutes
Easy Route
Starting points: Megalo Chorafi / Megali Ammos
Points of Interest: Kastraki, Megali Ammos (beach)
In the valley olive trees coexist with grasses and plants such as the spring recycle (Anacyclus sp.) and the blue anagallia (Anagallis arvensis). The olive grove is followed by the pine forest that covers large areas in the central part of the island and coexists with long vegetation of cistus and schist.
Leftos Gialos - Steni Vala
Route 3991 m.
1 hour 30 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Leftos Gialos / Steni Vala
Points of Interest: Leftos Gialos (beach), Isoma (rural settlement), cedar forest, Agios Petros (beach), Steni Vala (beach)
From Isomata to Ag. Petro the area has strong signs of grazing and is downhill, steep and rocky. High and dense stands of palm juniper (Juniperus phoenicea) grow near the livestock facility. It is secondary vegetation that has developed over the centuries from the influence of humans through the eradication of species, fires and grazing. At low altitudes along the route, teucrium (Teucrium capitatum) and thyme (Thymus capitatus) grow.
Leftos Gialos - Steni Vala (connection)
Route 340 m.
0 hour 8 minutes
Easy Route
It is a short route that acts as a link between Routes 8 and 8A and the adjacent asphalt road. Good clearing of vegetation is required to allow easy access for hikers.
Leftos Gialos - Isomata
Route 1764 m.
0 hour 40 minutes
Easy Route
Starting points: Leftos Gialos – Isomata
Points of Interest: Leftos Gialos (beach), Isomata (rural settlement)
The descent from Remata is along an olive grove followed by a pine forest. The vegetation of the understorey consists of St. John’s wort (Hypericum empetrifolium), marsh grass (Ballota acetabulosa) and sage (Salvia fruticosa). At the end of the pine forest, the large field or plain gave the name to the area. The small settlement of Isomata is surrounded by olive groves.
Melegakia - Agios Konstantinos - Psili Rachi - Agios Georgios - Melegakia
Route 7877 m.
3 hours 0 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Melegakia / Psili Rachi / Agios Georgios
Points of Interest: Agios Konstantinos, Agios Georgios, Agrias forest
The route initially consists of hardwood vegetation of birch trees and schistos from which century-old oaks stand out. The high maquis is replaced by low shrubs, the height of which is determined by grazing. The Mediterranean maquis found in the area is represented by evergreen shrubs such as holly (Quercus coccifera), Quercus ilex, Arbutus unedo and Pistacia lentiscus. Along the route open areas bear witness to past cultivation.
Psili Rachi - Megalo Chorafi
Route 2828 m.
1 hour 5 minutes
Easy Route
Starting points: Psili Rachi / Megalo Chorafi
Points of interest: abandoned rural landscape, threshing floors
Open rocky ground and then high macaws with evergreen oaks (Quercus ilex). Where animals do not graze, the vegetation is denser and taller
Agios Dimitrios - Kastanorema - Agios Dimitrios
Route 7027 m.
2 hours 40 minutes
Hard Route
Starting points: Agios Dimitrios / Kastanorema Dam
Points of Interest: wetland of Agios Dimitrios, Agios Dimitrios (beach), Koumarodos forest, dam, Kastanorema
On the beach of Agios Dimitrios a coastal marsh is formed seasonally, which is the only one in Alonissos. During the autumn and winter months the area is flooded with large amounts of water and important migratory bird species rest here. The wetland of Agios Dimitrios has an area of 3 to 5 hectares and is a Mediterranean seasonal marsh that fills with water and dries up in June. It is a coastal freshwater wetland with bushy and wetland vegetation and common plant species are the bushes (Juncus sp. & Carex sp.).
It is a protected area based on a Presidential Decree published in 2012 and concerns the approval of a list of small, island wetlands and the definition of conditions and restrictions for the protection and promotion of the small coastal wetlands included in it. In Kastanorema, there are bushes of the arbutus (Arbutus unedo) and heather (Erica arborea), while the route passes through the area with the place name of kumarochi, which shows the prevalence of the arbutus from the past, certainly in populations more important than today’s.
Gerakas - Papi - Gerakas
Route 5767 m.
2 hours 10 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Gerakas
Points of Interest: Gerakas (beach), Stone Villa, imposing view of the cliffs, Rural Landscape
The route passes through toadstools and small shrubs as well as annuals, with small leaves, thorny branches that are well adapted to the summer drought in summer and strong winds in winter. Their characteristic feature is that they have small leaves in summer and relatively large leaves in winter, so that they can regulate the rate of water loss through transpiration. They provide the soil with protection against erosion because of their extensive root system. The most representative species in this category are thyme (Coridothymus capitatus), various species of olive trees such as Cistus incanus – creticus and Cistus salviifolius, yellow asphodel (Asphodeline lutea), Sarcopoterium spinosum, etc. The route includes the view of the northern and western rocky – steep side of the island, an area that is an important habitat for the black-headed and the spotted eagle. In Gerakas, stands the Research Station, a project related to the research of the marine park, which did not work.
Gerakas - Tourkou Monument
Route 1250 m.
0 hours 30 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Starting points: Gerakas
Points of interest: Small Beach, Tourkou Monument (access to the sea)
The trail passes through low-lying vegetation with representative species of this category being thyme (Coridothymus capitatus), various species of olive trees such as the Cretan olive tree (Cistus incanus – creticus) and the white olive tree (Cistus salviifolius), the yellow asphodel (Asphodeline lutea), the asphodel (Sarcopoterium spinosum), etc. At the end of the route, in the area known as Tourkou Monument, on steep rocky shores, a type of habitat develops which is protected at national and European level and is characterised by the species Limonium sp., Arenaria phytosiana, Campanula reiseri, Fritillaria sporadum and Crithmum maritimum.
Gerakas - Tourkou Monument (connection to the beach)
Route 114 m.
0 hours 3 minutes
Medium Difficulty
Connection to the beach
