Overview
Amorgos is a lesser-known walking destination in the Cycladic Islands in Greece compared to Naxos and Santorini, but nonetheless impressive. On this week-long tour, you will experience authentic Greek hospitality while walking almost the entire length of the narrow island with its monasteries, sea cliffs and deserted hill villages. Be prepared for a few challenging ascents, but you are never too far from the beach if you need to cool off. Feast on local delicacies, like eggplant dishes and fava bean dips, and wash it down with a glass of raki or ouzo.
If you are looking for an authentic island feeling, then this self guided walking tour of Amorgos will definitely exceed your expectations!
You can combine this trip with our Jewels of the Cyclades: Walking on Naxos and Santorini itinerary.
- Monastery of Chozoviotissa
- Impressive 600 m high cliffs
- Remote rural villages
- Wonderful beaches and swimming opportunities
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Amorgos and travel to Katapola
You can arrive by ferry from Piraeus, Naxos or Santorini. Usually, ferries arrive late and sometimes even well after midnight depending on your departure port. You can add an extra night before the tour to rest after the long travel. Katapola is a picturesque Cycladic fishing village, with many restaurants and shops on the seaside.
- Accommodation (Days 1-3): Agios Georgios Valsamitis in Katapola
Day 2: Round walk to Chora | 9km
After breakfast, choose today’s route to the capital town, Chora. You will walk along a well-trodden mule path, along the coast, and through a gorge. Chora is a typical Cycladic village, with whitewashed houses decorated with bougainvillaea and a labyrinth of narrow alleys. You can also have your lunch in one of the town’s many local taverns and enjoy great typical Greek food for a reasonable price. From Chora, you can take a taxi back for a shorter walking trip, or complete the whole trip on foot.
- Walking for the day: approx 3h, 9km, ↑300m ↓300m
Day 3: Walk from Katapola to Arkesini | 16.5km
Today’s walk leads from Katapola via an old route, trodden by farmers and pilgrims, to the countryside of ancient Arkesini. Admire the terraced farmland fields of Kato Meria, the rural hamlets, with just a handful of inhabitants, the tiny chapels and the remains of an old Acropolis. The walk ends in the village Arkesini, where you can have some refreshment at the old traditional café of the village while waiting for your taxi to take you back to Katapola.
- Walking for the day: approx 5-6 hrs, 16.5 km, ↑600m ↓400m
Day 4: Walk from Chora to Langada | 17.5km
After breakfast, take a taxi to Chora, the islands’ capital, from where the walk starts. Clinging high above the turquoise sea on the island of Amorgos, and nestled like an aerie on a sheer bluff is one of Greece’s most extraordinary old Byzantine monasteries and religious gems. The Monastery of Panaghia Hozoviotissa, an architectural masterpiece, was built to house a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary that mysteriously arrived on the shore from Palestine. The monastery, built on a sheer cliff, is the pride of Amorgos.
- Walking for the day: approx 6h, 17.5km, ↑600m ↓700m
- Accommodation (Days 4-6): Pagali in Langada
Day 5: Free day in Langada | 4km
Langada is a clutch of cuboid houses tightly woven together with steep alleyways, each step painted white, every window and door blue. Use the day to relax and unwind on the lovely beach of Egiali or join some of the water sport activities offered. Alternatively, take a short, but demanding circular walk to the 8 ruins of the mills on the Machós-hill, which is a foothill of the high Kroúkellos-massif. From there you have an exceptional view over the entire island and, in clear skies, also the neighbouring Cycladic islands.
- Walking for the day: approx 2.5h, 4km, ↑350m ↓350m
Day 6: Round walk to Monastery of Agios | 18.5km
Today’s walk brings you to cultural sites with tranquil respites. After breakfast, you’ll start among terraced farmlands, ascending well-used paths to the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Theologos. Take a breather here and appreciate how peaceful it is. Keep pushing on to a stunning church on a cliff, then visit Tholaria village for a snack. Head back down to Egiali to continue walking to Langada or take a taxi if you’re done for the day.
- Walking for the day: approx 6.5h, 18.5km, ↑700m ↓700m
Day 7: Departure
After breakfast, your arrangement comes to an end. Travel back to Piraeus on the day ferry or you continue your journey to Naxos and Santorini.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in cosy small hotels in double or twin private en-suite rooms. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
- Agios Georgios Valsamitis in Katapola
- Pagali in Langada
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfasts are included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at your hotel or nearby restaurants and taverns.
Difficulty and terrain
Moderate walks on hilly to mountainous areas, mostly via rocky and cobbled footpaths (kalderimia), with no sections on tarmac. Few sections are not suitable if you are afraid of heights – one after Chozoviotissa Monastery (avoidable by starting with taxi transfer), and another from Theologos to Stavros church – an optional loop on the round walk from Langada (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This tour is available from end-March to end-October.
The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By train or bus
- Travel by public transport from Athens Airport to Piraeus with the X96 Express Bus. For more information, visit this link or use the Omio planner above.
- You prebook your private transfer to Piraeus with us. Ferry tickets and private transfer as a combined service is an option as well.
- For up-to-date ferry time tables from Piraeus to Amorgos, please visit Openseas. The standard port of arrival is Katapola. If you arrive in Egiali, your itinerary will start in Langada. Standard port of departure is Egiali, but if your ferry leaves from Katapola, we will transfer you there without any supplements.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights on a bed & breakfast basis
- Transfers port-hotel-port (either Katapola or Egiali)
- Luggage transfers
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure and no printed documents are mailed or provided on-site.
- GPS tracks
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and ferry tickets
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- Single room supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights in Katapola or Langada
- Private transfers and ferry tickets
