Ms Hine says...
The holiday was relaxed and organised. Great routes and amazing guide, Thanks. Loved it!
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The delightful island of Evia is a real hidden treasure, close to Athens yet a world away with old stone paths connecting quaint mountain villages. This walkers’ paradise offers unique history and an authentic atmosphere as you walk past Roman quarries, aqueducts and Byzantine churches. In summer, there are plenty of opportunities for swimming at a deserted beach or a tucked-away cove, while traditional tavernas and waterfront ouzo-meze shops make eating and drinking here a wonderful experience.
We meet at Athens airport and transfer by road to Rafina (approximately 35 minutes). We then take the ferry to Mamari on Evia (about one hour). It is then a 20-minute drive to our hotel in Karystos.
Our first day takes us from the hotel, through Karystos town and up to the villages of Gourna, which are scattered high above Karystos bay and below the peaks of Mount Ohi. Walking through the verdant countryside along worn-stone paths next to springs and streams, we reach a Roman aqueduct from 160 BCE. We continue to Castello Rosso, one of the grandest forts of the Fourth Crusade, where we can enjoy lunch with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. Using mountain goat trails and country lanes, we walk down to the fertile valley of Mili, full of citrus, olive and cypress trees, before reaching the coast.
We drive (45 minutes) along the southeastern tip of the island, over the mountains towards the Cape of Cavo Doro, heading to the beautiful ravine of Platanistos and the first of 20 ancient villages of Albanian descent. We hike along the riverside path in the lush valley of Platanistos. We then continue our journey by bus (30 minutes) until we reach the sea and one of the nicest, yet still relatively unknown, beaches in the Aegean. During the warmer months, we can swim and relax here at Marmara Beach. We return to Karystos on foot (approximately 20 minutes).
We start with an early morning drive (45 minutes) along the panoramic mountain road to the north, known as the Eagle Route, which takes us above the evergreen valley of Styra. We then summit Mount Kliosi, home to the remains of an ancient acropolis. An eerie ancient gate, the Cave of St Nicolas and the ruins of Castro Armeno, often in the mist, make this a visit to remember. The gentle walk down takes us past wild strawberry bushes and the remains of Roman marble quarries to the quaint villages of Styra Valley, which overlook Marathon, just across the water on the continent. In the afternoon, we take the bus back to Karystos (one hour).
This morning, we drive to the village of Lycorema (15 minutes). We enjoy a coastal walk on a flat dirt track around the bay and visit the fishing hamlet of Marmari. The afternoon is free to relax on the beach or wander around Karystos, an authentic Greek island town.
We start with a 20-minute drive to the Springs of St Theodore in the mountain village of Argastaras. From here, we climb on Mount Ohi, following multiple trails and worn-marble paths to the heart of the Roman quarries where green and white marble known as cipollino – small onion in Latin, due to its stripes and rings – was shaped into monumental monolithic columns around Biblical times. There are 10 perfectly completed marble pillars still here, abandoned during the decline of Rome. Ancient paths take us to the villages of upper and lower Aetos with superb views of the Aegean Sea all along the way. We reach the coast, dotted with beautiful small sandy coves, on the way back to town. Please note: You need trousers (pants) for today's walk to protect against overgrown vegetation.
Today we walk on one of the oldest paths on the island, an ancient corridor within the gorge to the remote and wild beach on the east coast. We travel by taxi/coach to the isolated village of Agios Dimitrios on Mount Ohi (one hour), which is the starting point of the gorge walks. The ancient path in the beginning runs next to the river and gradually rises high above it with outstanding views of the limestone cliffs and the ever-blue Aegean. The dramatic canyon is a natural habitat for thyme, oregano and sage; peonies and orchids; eagles and falcons; plane and chestnut trees. We then take a one-hours transfer back to our hotel.
After breakfast, we can visit a local beekeeper to learn about and taste Greek honey and its products. Around lunchtime, we check out of our rooms and begin our return journey. It's a 20-minute ferry ride then a one-hour drive to Athens airport, where our adventure ends.
This single-centre holiday is based at the following hotel. If you'd like to extend your stay here, or upgrade your room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or email sales@headwater.com
Our aim is to provide holidays that are unbeatable for choice and flexibility. We've listed our most popular travel options below, however you aren't limited to these - we can tailor-make virtually any holiday to suit.
To find out more about the travel options available call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or email sales@headwater.com
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
The holiday was relaxed and organised. Great routes and amazing guide, Thanks. Loved it!
Excellent hiking, very good company, relaxed ambience, excellent informative, helpful, friendly guide, outstandingly efficient. The island of Evia is a wonderful place to holiday in - interesting, varied hikes, clear seas for swimming, healthy food.
The holiday was exactly as I had hoped. Lovely walks, all of which were beautifully scenic, with a fantastic guide (Cecile) who was approachable, knowledgeable and supportive throughout. The balance of walking to free time was perfect to give a restful holiday. The day in Athens was a little rushed; sufficient to get a brief snapshot of the city, but with hindsight I would have added a day or two to the end of my trip to spend more time there. Evia certainly feels unspoilt; Karystos has a relaxed feel to it, but had enough restaurants and bars (none of which were 'tacky') to provide variety for the week. The food (particularly lunch) was plentiful, one certainly did not go hungry. Hotel Galaxy was perfectly located on the seafront, and we were lucky enough to all have rooms with balconies overlooking the lovely view - ideal for sundowners before going downstairs to join the group for dinner. The staff were all very welcoming and accommodating. The rooms are pretty minimalist, but clean with a decent sized fridge and lots of storage space. If pushed for a negative, I would say the bathrooms could be updated, but I am told the set up was not unusual for Greece. Morgan at Headwater was great to deal with, extremely pleasant and every time I spoke with her I looked forward to the trip more. I will certainly be using Headwater again in the future.
beautiful walks, great food, lovely coffee and good company
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night guided walking holiday includes:
All breakfasts, six picnic lunches and two dinners All accommodation All transport and listed activities Free group arrival and departure transfers available Tour leader throughout
How to book:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
Departure date | Tour only | Prices | Single supplement | |
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12th May 2024 | US$2250 | US$345 | Tour only: US$2250 Single supp: US$345 |
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9th Jun 2024 | US$2250 | US$345 | Tour only: US$2250 Single supp: US$345 |
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8th Sep 2024 | US$2250 | US$345 | Tour only: US$2250 Single supp: US$345 |
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22nd Sep 2024 | US$2250 | US$345 | Tour only: US$2250 Single supp: US$345 |
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6th Oct 2024 | US$2250 | US$345 | Tour only: US$2250 Single supp: US$345 |
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20th Oct 2024 | US$1950 | US$345 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$345 |
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3rd Nov 2024 | US$1950 | Call us | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: Call us |
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22nd Dec 2024 | US$1650 | US$345 | Tour only: US$1650 Single supp: US$345 |
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29th Dec 2024 | US$1650 | US$345 | Tour only: US$1650 Single supp: US$345 |
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16th Mar 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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30th Mar 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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13th Apr 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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20th Apr 2025 | US$2100 | US$368 | Tour only: US$2100 Single supp: US$368 |
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11th May 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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8th Jun 2025 | US$2100 | US$368 | Tour only: US$2100 Single supp: US$368 |
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7th Sep 2025 | US$2100 | US$368 | Tour only: US$2100 Single supp: US$368 |
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21st Sep 2025 | US$2100 | US$368 | Tour only: US$2100 Single supp: US$368 |
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5th Oct 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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19th Oct 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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2nd Nov 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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23rd Nov 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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21st Dec 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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28th Dec 2025 | US$1950 | US$368 | Tour only: US$1950 Single supp: US$368 |
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The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
This holiday is operated by our sister company, Exodus
Seven nights in two-star superior seaside hotel with en suite rooms Five full days walking and one half-day Between four and six hours' walking per day Altitude maximum: 3,281ft (1,000m); average: 1,640ft (500m)