Overview
The Cyclades are probably the most well-known island group of Greece, and we are excited to invite you on a trip to the less travelled paths of Andros & Tinos. On Andros, you will find an impressive network of scenic and beautifully stone-paved hiking paths as well as pristine sandy beaches and fertile green valleys. On Tinos, you will explore the impressive high fortress of Exoburgo and many dovecotes scattered all around the island. This trip can be easily combined with a few nights in Athens or a trip to Naxos and/or Santorini for your ultimate Greek experience.
- A network of historical cobbled paths
- Andros town with its mansions
- Characteristic dovecotes on Tinos
- Idyllic beaches and the rural inner parts of the two islands
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Athens and travel to Andros
Upon your arrival at Athens airport, our taxi driver will take you to the port of Rafina, from where you depart in the late afternoon to Andros. The ferry ride is approx. 2h. After you arrive at the port of Gavrio, you travel by local bus for about 1 hour to Andros Chora, the capital of Andros. Your accommodation is in Nimborio.
In case your flight arrives after 14.30, we advise you to book an additional night in Athens or Rafino so you can get on the morning ferry to Andros.
- Accommodation: Pension Stella
Day 2: Walk from Apoikia to Chora | 5 – 8.7km
In the morning you have plenty of time to explore Andros Chora with its impressive mansions and museums. In the afternoon you take a taxi to the nearby Apikia, a village built along a wide, green valley. You descend via old, walled mule tracks leading you through the valley. You come along the dilapidated tower of Bitsis with its mystic atmosphere. Via olive groves, you reach the beach of Gialia. After a swim, you ascend briefly to cross a cape and further descend to your pension on the beach of Nimborio.
- Walking for the day (option 1): approx 2.5h, 5km, ↑90m ↓340m
- Walking for the day (option 2): approx 4h, 8.7km, ↑410m ↓380m
- Accommodation: Pension Stella
Day 3: Circular Walk from Chora | 6.5km
From Andros Chora, you ascend via a beautiful paved path (kalderimi) along high cypresses and through olive groves. The walls on the left and right of the path are constructed of slates in a traditional, almost artistic way. You come through the villages Lamira and Mesaria with their imposing churches and natural springs, following a pleasant descend to an ancient Venetian bridge crossing the river bed. As you continue higher up the mountain the Monastery of Panachrantos will come in sight. A steady climb leads you up to the Monastery, that appears to be literally clinging to the side of the mountain Gerakonas. The views over the island and the warm welcome in the Monastery are well worth the climb. After your visit to the Monastery, you descend through the green valley of the Livadia river back to Andros Chora.
- Walking for the day: approx 6.5h, 17.5km, ↑ 600m ↓600m
- Accommodation: Pension Stella
Day 4: Walk Chora to Ormos Korthiou | 14km
Via the sandy beach of Paraporti, you enter the impressive Dipotama-gorge. An undulating path takes you to the village of Sineti from where you continue via an intact kalderimi to the ruins of the Paleokastro fortress, strategically built high up the hill. From this viewpoint, you enjoy breathtaking views over the southern part of the island, the sea and Ormos Korthiou, the final destination of today’s walk. Via the village Kochilos, you descend to Ormos Korthiou where you may have time for a refreshing swim in the sea before a taxi takes you back to Andros Chora.
- Walking for the day: approx 6h, 14km, ↑ 530m ↓530m
- Accommodation: Pension Stella
Day 5: Boat Andros to Tinos; Walk around Falatados | 4.5 – 12.5km
In the morning you take the public bus to Gavrio and take the ferry to Tinos where a taxi takes you to the village Falatados in the inner land. In the afternoon you can make a round walk from Falatados. Following the local kalderimi, you walk to the village Myrsini and descend to the (dry) river bed of the Livada river. You can opt to return from here via another kalderimi back to Falatados and enjoy some free time, or you may continue to Livada beach and return partly via the same route. It is definitely worthwhile to spend some time exploring the narrow alleys in Falatados and discover this very traditional village in your own way.
- Walking for the day (Option 1): approx 2h, 4.5km, ↑200m ↓440m
- Walking for the day (Option 2): approx 5h, 12.5km, ↑200m ↓440m
- Accommodation: Pension Levkes
Day 6: Exobourgo Mountain | 16km
Today’s walk leads you all around the remarkable Exobourgo mountain and along the finest villages of Tinos. On top of the mountain, you find the Venetian Fortress Exobourgo. You walk through valleys and terraced fields, through villages with narrow alleys and along numerous churches and a monastery. In the wide valley between Loutra and Kambos are the finest dovecotes that are so characteristic for Tinos Island.
- Walking for the day: approx 7h, 16km, ↑220m ↓220m
- Accommodation: Pension Levkes
Day 7: Falatados to Tinos Chora | 8km
This last walk on Tinos offers great views on Tinos town and the south coast. You walk through agricultural fields towards the Exobourgo and then head southwards, descending via old mule tracks. You pass a few remarkable ruins of windmills and then descend via a long kalderimi to Tinos town. The walk is only 3 hours, and hence there is plenty of time to visit the lively town of Tinos, dominated by the big church of Panagia. Or you may prefer to go to one of the sandy beaches near the town.
- Walking for the day: approx 3h, 8km, ↑100m ↓470m
- Accommodation: Hotel Vincenzo
Day 8: Departure
You have two options for departure:
- You travel back to Athens via the port of Piraeus. The arrival time in Piraeus is usually at 8 pm (ferry crossing Tinos-Piraeus: 5 hours). Optionally, you can book an additional transfer from Piraeus to Athens and hotel accommodation in Athens.
- You travel onwards to Naxos and continue exploring Naxos-Santorini.
What to expect
Accommodation
In Andros, you are accommodated in a pension near Andros Chora in the area called Nimborio. In Tinos, your first overnight is in a pension in the village Falatados in the inner land and on the last night, you will stay in the lively capital of Tinos Chora. All rooms have private facilities and usually a balcony or terrace.
Click to view our default hotels for this trip
*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
Breakfast is included every day, and products for lunch are available in the local shops. In the evening you have a wide choice of taverns in Andros Chora and Tinos Chora (last evening). In Falatados there are limited possibilities, but the restaurant of the hotel itself offers good local dishes.
Difficulty and terrain
Some of the paths take up to 6-7h of walking and have some steep sections. This holiday is appropriate for experienced walkers and requires a good level of fitness in order to enjoy the walking sections to the maximum (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
The best time to travel to the Greek islands is between April and June and in September/October. Our recommended periods are the springtime (when nature is at its best) or early autumn (when the seawater temperature is still very pleasant). In the summer months, it gets very hot and overcrowded. The climate of the Cyclades is typically Mediterranean, with mild and rainy winters, and warm and sunny summers. The bulk of the rain falls from October to March; in the summer it almost never rains. In the warm season, starting from May, the Cyclades are particularly affected by the Meltemi, a wind that blows from the north, persistently and in periods lasting a few days. This wind is able to make the air feel cooler than it is and make the sea rough. 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 and route planner
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Athens (ATH).
By train or bus
- The transfer from Athens airport to Rafina port is included (app. 30 mins) as is the ferry ticket from Rafina to Andros. The duration of the ferry is 2 hours. The last ferry in the low season leaves at 17:30 hrs. In summer season can depart later as well. In case of flight arrival after 14:30 hrs, an additional night in Rafina (Mati Hotel or similar) must be booked before the arrangement.
- From Tinos, there is either a ferry ticket to Piraeus included or a ferry ticket to Naxos in case you have booked the Naxos-Santorini itinerary after this trip. The arrival time in Piraeus is usually at 20:00 hrs. The ferry crossing Tinos-Piraeus takes 5 hours. Between Tinos and Naxos, there is usually a catamaran in the morning. Occasionally it may be necessary to travel via Paros or Syros with a stop-over. It is possible to book an additional transfer from Piraeus to Athens and hotel accommodation in Athens
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation as described in the itinerary
- 7 breakfasts
- Transfer Airport-Rafina, transfer bus station Andros-hotel round trip, Tinos port-Falatados and Falatados-Tinos Chora
- Ferry ticket Rafina-Andros, Andros-Tinos and Tinos-Piraeus OR Tinos-Naxos
- 24/7 telephone assistance by our local office/representative
- 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 before departure and no printed documents are mailed or provided on-site.
Excluded
- Airfare and departure transfer from Piraeus
- 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 Rafina, Andros, Tinos and Athens
- Airport departure transfers
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