Andros Greece - Holiday Walks.

Sightseeing and Hiking Guides whilst on vacation on the Greek Island of Andros

The Greek Island of Andros (Cyclades) is some island for walking - it is very very hilly and has a lot of dirt tracks many of which just do not appear on any map we could find. Similarly there are also extensive moni-paths but unfortunately very few of them are shown on a map either and even worse some paths do not seem to be maintained at all. They are often high walled so vulnerable to damage caused by the incredible amount of goats and sheep jumping and knocking the stones out. Also no doubt winter takes it's toll as well, and the very lush foliage also knocks the stones out as it grows through them - the result is that some paths have become more or less unusable. Andros is probably scenically one of best of the 20 or so Greek Islands we have so far visited. We had a GPS receiver with us and some readings (WGS84) have been included with the walks in [..]'s
Note about numbered footpaths: Some of the walks are along numbered footpaths. We found that sometimes the numbering was frequent and clearly indicated where a change of direction etc. was needed, but on other paths we walked a long way without any help from the indicators. Because the maps do not show many of the paths and tracks which you can come across this can make things ambiguous at track or path forks and so on. As a rule we found that where a path split/forked if there was no indicator then the answer was to continue straight ahead on present direction.

Again because of the myriad of tracks and paths which can cross your route it is best to have a clear idea in your mind of your general route direction/layout. Our walk notes below are not comprehensive since we would never have walked anywhere if we had noted every cross path etc. Because of the really heavy undergrowth in places it can be easy to miss a path indicator so like us, you may well go wrong and come to a dead end and have to retrace to a previously noted indicator etc. to find the correct way. Still, if it was easy then everybody would be out there doing it....

Andros Greece Walks -
Andros Town circular 16km - track+moni-path+road
M.Panachrantou+Menites. Strenuous in places
Apikia circular 8km - via Stenies - Ghialia beach. Steps/paths. Fairly easy
Ormos circular 16km - via Exo - Vouni - Stephanes gorge. Strenuous
Circular walk to Achia Beach 10km - track+moni-path (visits the lovely Achia beach). Moderate
Vourkoti - there and back 8km - mostly track - undulates

Batsi circular walks described further down the page at Batsi Walks

Andros Town (Chora) circular - to M. Panachrantou and back via Menites - total climb 980 metres. This walk involves an easy start alongside a river, followed by track and monipath, and then a continuous hard steep climb up a monipath to the monastery M. Panachrandou (a climb of over 500 metres), then back down the monipath and a walk across to Menites and it's really lovely springs followed by a walk back into Andros town.

The walk starts from the car park in Andros Town (on the main island road into Andros Town just after the pedestrian only area the road swings right and then left and the car parks are clearly marked from here on the right). The path leaves from the corner of the car park and heads inland passing down through houses - at a path junction turn left and continue down to the river, cross the bridge and then turn right along a concrete road (this is the road from Paraporti to Livadia) which then follows the river with houses and orchards both sides of you - this tree lined area is full of wildlife including herons. Continue along here until you come to a road bridge at Livadia, go over the bridge and then go immediately left on concrete track this time with the river on your left. This quickly changes to a track - the river is underground along here and when the track splits stay on the main track ignoring a rubbly river crossing - after this the track becomes smaller and then becomes to mostly grass and the river is back on the surface so is soon quite pleasant to walk along. When the track bears left you come to a river crossing which has stepping stones (at this point if you look in front and behind you will now see the start of the red arrow markings.

Cross the river and turn immediately right onto a very overgrown path which you may have to fight your way through for a several metres - as you continue along the path it varies from being obstructed by fallen wall to sometimes heavy foliage but it is passable. When you come to a more open area the path bears right and then left by a wall (the wall is now on your right and is marked with an arrow). From here on you follow the cobbled path as it zig zags often very steeply up - it is quite overgrown in places but not a problem to follow.
When eventually you come to a t-junction (remember it for your return journey) the path is now marked with a red 1, go left and soon pass a footpath sign which points you up to the monastery or to the village of Falika. Take the monastery path and now just keep going ever upwards - marked with red 1s all the way up to the monastery. There is a small abandoned church near the monastery (in fact you see it and then walk just above it on the final part of the walk up) and this can be reached by walking down the track past the monastery a little way and then over long grass - this is a nice shady spot for a picnic and cool down and lots of company from 100s of spiders as well as lizards and everything else.

Return back the same way but when you get back to the junction continue down slight left following the red 1s - you will eventually come to the river and a delightful stone bridge, cross the bridge, turn right and look out for the terrapins lazing and swimming around the rocks here. This part of the path is very overgrown and in fact had been barricaded by branches - so having removed these we proceeded along the river and then had to climb up to find the path again - finding the path was quite easy though. Now continue on the path until you come to a road, cross over and continue on the moni-path opposite to then come to the main road.

Turn right and after a few metres go left and walk down to the levada - you are now at Mesaria. Turn left along the initially concrete and then grassy path and keep going along the valley heading towards Menites with the levada (and it's welcome cool spring water) bubbling alongside. Ignoring any joining paths on the right eventually the path swings round to cross a river, turn left and continue past springs, small levada waterfalls, up steps and then via old ruined buildings and also houses.
Eventually the path seems to come to a dead end however there is a spring (very overgrown) on the left and you can get through here. Continue to a t-junction where the marked path red 1 continues right over the bridge, however turn left at this t-junction and then right to walk up into Menites. Menites is very much worth the visit so see the several springs - they are easily the best on the island - also there are a couple of tavernas here.
Return is by following the levada back on the original path all the way to the main road at Mesaria and then turn left to walk back down into Andros Town.

 

Apikia circular This walk is fairly straightforward with good views of some of the large villas in Stenies, goes mainly via steps and paths, gives you an opportunity to have an inside look at the spaghetti factory (ruins) and ends up at the beach at Gialia (possibly not the best beach on this Greek Island..).
Starting in Apikia by the springs and bottling plant, facing the sea go left and after a short distance you see some steps going down on the right - these are marked in red. Follow the steps down through the houses, quite soon the this changes to a grassy track/path and winds round to cross a small stream. The path doubles back and goes along varying from cobbled steps/moni path to field paths and has red 8 indicators - simply stay on this path - when you have gone down a quite long fairly straight stretch of cobbled path go left by a house on the corner to cross a track and pick up a stone track which has a large red arrow pointing to the left - a few metres on go left again to divert to the spring and old wash basins.

Return back to the track (which is now marked with red dots and arrows) continue along - passing the Bistis-Mounelas tower on your left - when you come to a bridge ahead of you take the path on the left (do not cross the bridge) - this now marked with a red 8 indicator again. A little way along you will just about see in the trees on the right the old spaghetti factory, with its large iron wheel (this will be visited on the way back). Continue along the marked route until you join the road - turn right and just after a very large and expensive looking villa turn right again and follow this down to the river - follow the path along the river to the beach (there is a taverna on the beach to the right).

Return back along the river and up to the road by the villa, turn left along the road and then back down the original path. Just after passing the spaghetti factory (now on your left) come to a t-junction, turn left and after crossing the bridge the track splits, the route continues right but first go left and after a few hundred metres you get to the spaghetti factory - which you can go right into and investigate - you can see the horizontal grind stones plus the remnants of the pulley systems etc.Return back down to the junction and keep straight on - this now marked with red 8 - the path is concrete and has a stone wall on the left and an unusually big levada running alongside - presumably once a large volume of water was needed to drive the wheel at the factory. The path ends up at a really nice stone bridge - cross the bridge and then follow the marked path to soon reach the large red arrow marker near the wash basins diversion. Turn left up and then right up by a house to take the long straight path up and then round the village eventually arriving back at the start point.

 

Ormos circular via several villages as far as Exo Vouni then back via part of Dhipotamata Gorge. This Andros circular walk involves walking up many steps on moni-paths and village alleys and starts from the harbour front in Ormos where the river goes through to the sea. Walk a few yards into the town and then cross the river on the bridge - then follow the wide path alongside the river which is now on your left - shortly picking up the red 5 markers. When you come to the next bridge take the right hand fork to go on a cobbled/stepped path up through the southern edge of the village of Rogo. This path basically goes up and round several villages including Lardia (not named on the Road Map), after which it crosses the main road and continues via the lower part of Stavros (or Gianiseo depending on map version), and then comes to more open country side.

On reaching the dirt track cross it slightly to the right and continue between stone walls and then drops down to cross a stream in a quite boggy area, then goes back up to reach a church. The track/wide path now heads into Mesa Vouni - continue following the markers as the path goes round the right edge of the village to meet a main tarmac road. Turn right on the road and then as the road goes sharply right take the track on the left - this is more like a goat path but it is still marked - this takes you down to a dirt road. Go left on the dirt road and follow this until you come to the steps on the right heading down into Exo Vouni. Make your way through the village to the main road.

Turn left and walk along the main road (heading in the direction of Sineti) for about 2km - with really good views of the gorge you will shortly be walking along below you . Look out for a dirt track on the right which doubles back into the gorge - this is marked with a red 3. This is initially a track running alongside the moni-path (the moni is far too overgrown just here to use) but after a short while you can join this really lovely moni-path - the flowers and wildlife down here are really good, there are old water mills here - also you can see caves on the opposite side of the gorge, other old ruined buildings and also stone walls built in quite amazing places up the side of the gorge. The path goes down to reach a stone bridge next to old ruined mill - cross the bridge and don't forget to have a look round the mill on the left before continuing.
The stepped moni-path now heads back up out of the valley - climbing and winding around somewhat - soon you will see the ruins of the Venetian castle Faneromeni high above you. Continue along the path to the dirt road - turn right and follow this to a tarmac road - go across and then take the steps down into Kochilou. The path now takes you through this village (still marked red 3) - you then come out onto more open countryside as the path winds it's way down towards Ormos.

When you come to the next tarmac road turn left and then at a t-junction go straight across back onto a moni path - go straight across at the next road - eventually to come out on your original track by the river. Turn left to walk back to the start point.

 

Circular walk to Achia Beach Determined to somehow walk to Achia (see below) we discovered a track part of which is not shown on the maps which allowed us to visit the beach and then walk some of the moni path back towards the M. Ay. Nikolaou. The road from Vourkoti passes the Monastery and then continues round a sharp bend - a track goes off to the aerial masts right on this bend - but then a little way further along the main road another track leaves it from the left - park on this track.

Walk on down the track heading towards the coast - ignore a track going off to the right (this fork goes down to Platanos Cape) - and again ignore a right hand track further along which goes to nowhere in particular. Shortly after this, with the church of Panaghia which is situated on a rock in the sea now in view - take a track off to the right and almost immediately go left staying on the lower very rough track. This track goes round the side of the hills and eventually becomes a dead end - the views of the rocks in the sea below are really good just here and obviously a haven for birds - also you can now see Achia beach to the left and below you plus a lighthouse on the cliffs (Gria Cape) above the beach.

A goats path goes straight on from the end of the track but note this is very thorny and quite indistinct in places. With care - especially keep away from the cliff edges - make your way down to the small church at the end of the beach - and then scramble down onto Achia beach. This is a lovely beach - it has steams coming into it and a large freshwater lake just on its edge - reeds, birds, freshwater fish and everything.. great place for a picnicFrom here the moni-path starts by the church and heads inland with a steam on your right - this path is quite walkable and in spring it's full of wild flowers with bees and butterflies etc. everywhere around you. Stay on this moni path until it appears to come to an end in a grassy area with a ruined building on the right, ignore a farm track on the left but go through the gate next to it to continue on the moni path - this winds round until it comes to a track (please read this note). Go left on this track and almost immediately go through a gate and then continue along ignoring any side tracks to arrive at another gate - continue on through this gate and follow the track as it climbs gently out of the valley. Having walked on the track through the hills you eventually re-join your original track - continue back to where you started the walk.

 

Vourkoti - there and back; We wanted to do the walk on the moni-path from Vourkoti via M. Ay. Nikolaou to Achia beach which is shown on the map but this was actually impossible to undertake (when we tried in May 2004) as the walls have collapsed in and also the thorns and other foliage are too thick (the local villagers in Vourkoti were also insistent that the moni-path was unwalkable). We decided however to walk the track from the end of Vourkoti village heading down the left side of the valley towards Achia in the hope we could do a "scramble" to try and pick up the moni-path further down but in fact the track becomes a dead end and there was no way we could see of getting to the M. Ay. Nikolaou or to Achia from it.
We could see the Vourkoti end of the moni-path from this track and it was truly collapsed and obviously infested with thistles and thorns etc. (see the Achia walk above for an alternative walk to the beach.)

Park beside the road near the bus stop** which is located above the village and quite near the village church - there is a spring here and steps lead down into the houses. The way through the village is marked with arrows and these will take you on down to the start of the track. We saw a couple of snakes on the way including a quite unconcerned viper which kindly posed to let us take a photograph - also the usual loads of small lizards as well as hunting and other birds.
As mentioned, this is just a case of staying on the track and going until it ends a while down the valley - this is a quite pleasant walk with good views of the countryside and eventually M. Ay. Nikolaou and Achia beach appear tantalizingly not so far away in the distance.
**On the opposite side of the road a moni-path leaves going steeply upwards - this is the route if you wish to walk up to the highest point on this Greek Island.

 

Andros Greece walking guides centred around the Batsi area of the Island.

Andros Greece - Batsi Walks described below:
Batsi circular (1) 6km via 3 beaches and Ipsili headland - easy walking
Batsi circular (2) 11km - to Moni Zoodochou Pigis - moni paths, track and steep
Batsi circular (3) 22km - via K. Katakilos + Katakilos. Moni-path, track/road - very steep in places
Strapouries to Batsi 15km - mostly moni-path, road+track at end. Undulating

Batsi circular (1) Ipsili headland plus beaches - easy walking   From Batsi square and facing the sea go left along the front - where the road bends sharp left continue straight on past the war memorial on a concrete road - this soon becomes tarmac. Continue along the coast on this road - passing a small untidy beach (Stivari) below you - then as you top the hill you will see two more beaches below.
Continue until the road ends (it skirts the back of the Anerousa Hotel), and take the steps down to Aga Marina beach which is a narrow sandy beach - walk across the beach and then (probably accompanied by the local duck population) cross the rocks at the end and then climb up the steps to reach a track by a pink house.

Turn right to follow this track on round the headland - at the junction [N37°50'40" E024°47'27"] continue right - a little way along you can divert to climb up on a goat track to the rocks - this is well worth doing because the views of Batsi are good and also you can do a little goat spotting too. Back down continue on to the road via grassy track and path to arrive by a small church - this area is an archaeological site but there is no access..
Take the steps down to get onto the track below the road and turn left. Keeping on this track go back round the other side of the headland to arrive back at the junction mentioned previously - turn right and go back to the steps at Aga Marina beach.
Re-cross the beach, take the steps back onto the road, but at the bend on the road continue straight on - this will take you down to Delavoyas beach.
This beach has a taverna which was being built/re-opened - Delavoyas beach is also the unofficial naturist beach. Next to the taverna by a stream take steps back up to the road. Turn left and retrace you steps back into Batsi

 

Batsi circular (2) via M. Zoodochou Pigis. Total climb around 640 metres. From Batsi square and facing the sea go right along the road, cross the bridge, pass the scooter hire and Andros Travel and take the next road on the right. At the end of the road go left and then go right onto a very rough track. Follow this track round as it goes uphill - at a T-junction go right up some steps to reach the main road - cross the road to go onto a track opposite. Stay on this track until you reach two new white houses (the track passes to the right of these houses).
Go to the left just behind these houses where you can with a bit of difficulty climb up onto a moni path - the first few metres are in poor condition but soon the moni path becomes a really lovely path. Stay on this path climbing up to eventually rejoin the main track in front of you.

Turn left and heading towards the aerials high above you come to another white house which has really lovely new dry stone walls - just past the house turn sharp left onto a grassy track and follow this until you come to a derelict building on the right. Just after this is a small open area - turn right here and the follow the sometimes faint path as it winds down to cross a small stream and then arrives at a hidden church [ N37°52'16" E024°46'45" ]. Passing the church (but have a look inside first) take steps which lead down via quite heavy undergrowth to a spring - a very soggy area. From here -on the right - climb up a couple of steps to join a faint goats path and continue on this as it meanders around but basically heads in a northerly direction to then pick up a moni-path.

Follow this moni-path (although in places it is very overgrown and sometimes it's easier to stay right of it and walk in more open ground) - always stay in the same basic direction and do not take any paths leading downwards. The moni-path arrives at a track with the Moni Zoodochou Pigis looking quite forbidding up above on the right, turn right to walk up to the main track. Turn left to pass behind the monastery and continue along to reach a track crossroads by a concrete water cistern. Take the right track to walk on up to the aerials [N37°52'38" E024°46'53"] and here also you will find a small church; the views around are really good and it's a great place to have a picnic.

Walk back down to the junction and this time go straight across (the first right-hand track would take you back to Batsi). Just after passing under power lines take a track on the right which heads back downwards - just before the second pylon turn right alongside a wall - this is now a case of finding a way down to another track visible below - there are various goat paths to help you do this but be careful of the scree in places. On reaching the track turn left - take note of a church slightly to the right and look out for a grassy track leading to this church. Passing in front of the church - now on a goat's track - go through a wire gate and continue down to pick up a track by a small farmhouse (watch out for the friendly dogs and killer geese). Turn right and follow the track as it winds on down passing lime-workings (?) to eventually reach the main road. Turn left and follow the road down to reach the river by a bridge - turn right to walk back into Batsi beach by the town bridge

 

Batsi circular (3) A long walk round the Katakilos area. Total climb 1100 metres.   From Batsi square and facing the sea go left along the front and continue on the road until you reach the ring road. Turn left and then take the road on the right marked Katakilos - follow this as it winds steeply up - after about half a kilometre ignore a track on the right going to a house but take the next one on a slight bend which goes off almost directly in front of you - this goes up and winds round and after the 3rd hairpin - find a somewhat hard to see moni path leaving the track on the left (it's next to a house) - there is a small cairn (we put a few more stones on it so it's a bit bigger now so perhaps stick on a stone or two on it to help others) and also a hard to see red dot on a stone.

Follow the moni path to a t-junction, turn left and this will bring you to the spring. Continue ahead and at the next junction go right - this path now goes up between two walls - at the next junction go left (the stone wall now on your left). At the next junction go half left - in effect continuing on the same path (do not take an overgrown path joining sharply from the left) - the moni path was blocked by a tree trunk which we had to climb under - we think it was there just to support the quite high walls rather than trying to bar the path to walkers.

Carry on up the moni path which opens out quite a little and then becomes more of a grassy track - this eventually reaches a dirt track by a church [N37°51'39" E024°48'18"]. The views from here are really good and also you can see nearly all of the rest of your walk before you - it's like an amphitheatre. Take the track opposite - this winds you down through the valley to the river - great views and wildlife (and goats) - there is also a small and very old church which can be reached by a very steep down track on the left.

Return back along the valley to the main junction and turn right going past the church and follow the dirt road down to the tarmac road - turn right and almost immediately right again on a concrete road then left down to the main road and then turn right into the village of Kato Katakilos and it's nice cool stream and square. Continue on the main road out of the village as it winds up to a road junction - go right along the road to Katakilos - as you get towards this village you can see a large church and it's bell tower above you. To cut walking the whole (hairpin) road look out for a moni path which leaves the road on the right by a bend - on regaining the road turn right to continue up to the church. From the church continue up the track which winds round - with the cemetery on your left - and then comes to a track junction. Take the right-hand track and follow it as it winds round the hill and stay on this right up to near the summit - a couple of rough tracks go to the left here (there is a wrecked bus parked and a couple of other wrecks) - the track ends and so just climb over rough scrub to reach the high point of Rachi which is at 618 metres [N37°51'26" E024°49'36"].
Return back to the main track and continue along it heading towards a small church. The track splits - take the right fork which passes on the left side of the church and follow this round the hill - stay always on this track ignoring the several joining tracks and later walking behind a huge rocky outcrop and eventually arriving back at the church.
Turn left and take the original track and then moni-path back down to the main road - turn left and look for a concrete path on the right - this takes you down to the bypass road. Cross this and take the steps back down into Batsi.

 

Strapouries to Batsi   This walk from Strapouries follows a marked route red 9 and generally is well marked throughout - the walk is not too difficult for climbs etc. and follows a very old wide moni-path which was originally made to give access across the island. On the road from Menites as you get into Strapouries look out for a small dirt parking area on the left - the walk has a red 9 on it and leaves on steps from here. [N37°49'59" E024°54'16"] (If you get to a tarmac road leading to the church or you get to the taverna on the left you have gone too far through the village. Also do not take route number 10 which starts from around here as well). Walk up the steps and follow the path round and between a couple of houses - then it goes up to shortly reach a path junction - take the left hand path (marked with a 9) which seems as if it is just going to return you back down to the road.

This now becomes a matter of staying on this lovely stone walled path as it tries to stay as level as possible (without too many climbs and descents) to go round the hills, going by several streams, and passes slightly above Menites. The flowers and general foliage is really good here - the lizards scatter as you walk along as does the occasional snake - the wet areas have small birds, butterflies, dragon flies and bees etc and above are buzzards and small hunting birds.

As you get near Pitrofos the moni-path comes to a track - the route continues by crossing the track going slightly to the left and picking up the path which takes you down into the springs in the village. Continue along the road and just past the museum take the steps by the side of it and this takes you back onto the moni-path. The path now continues along the side of the hill undulating past several springs and lovely foliage then goes up to reach a track junction with aerials visible a little way off to the left.
Turn right here and after a few metres look out for a not too obvious track on the left going out over more open ground, this can be quite hard to spot - there is a 9 marker but it is on a rock only visible from the other direction.
(If you reach a levada crossing the track then you have gone too far). The track leaves the open ground after a while and changes back into a walled moni path - on reaching a dirt road turn right and then after a few metres look for a sign on the rocks on the right hand side which points you up (there are tiny springs nearby - if you get to the really lush spring by the bend of the track you have gone too far). Clamber up the rock to the moni path just a few yards above you - you can clearly see the walls of the moni path as it goes on round the hills and this can seem a possible problem for vertigo sufferers but don't worry, the moni path is wide and high walled and should create no problems.

Follow the path as it takes you through the springs and waterfalls - you will see Paleopol far below you and should spot a quite large waterfall high above you - the path now hugs the side of the hills crossing springs and streams full of lovely flowers and shrubs as it heads towards Ano Aprovatou. On reaching a concrete road (this is the end of the number 9 markings) go left to walk down onto the tarmac road - here turn right and follow this road as it zig zags down to the main road near Ipsilli. Cross the road and take the steps down on the right to a track below the road and turn left. Stay on this track as it goes round the right-hand side of the hill ignoring any joining tracks until you come to a pink house on the left. Take the steps by the side of this house down to Aga Marina beach, cross the beach and then take the steps back onto the road - stay on this road to arrive back in Batsi or of course you can first divert to Delavoyas beach for a refreshing naturist type swim and sunbathe(see Batsi circular (1).

More about Andros Greece can be found via our Andros Main Page

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