Golden Beach - Molos - Aliki Walks on Paros, Greece.

Beach and Coastal Walks on the Greek Holiday Island of Paros - ending up at Lefkes - visiting beaches, monasteries, churches, Byzantine road and Windmills.

Lefkes to Golden Beach. This 18km walk starts at the bus stop in Lefkes (the highest village on Paros) and ends up eventually at Golden Beach - it kicks off on a really nice paved and walled path which wanders along the side of the valley to eventually reach the pretty village of Prodhromos. Then there is a little bit along quiet roads before continuing on a pretty hard climb up to Aghios Antonios Monastery and finally all the way down again to go on to the end of the walk at Golden Beach. There is a fairly frequent and reliable bus service from Parikia to Lefkes - get off the bus by the tavernas (the bus drivers often call out the names of the various villages on route but you can always ask him to let you know when you get to Lefkes to be sure). An alternative way is to get a taxi from the rank at Parikia - this is located near the ferry terminals, and the fixed rate from Parikia to Lefkes is meant to be 8 Euros.

The bus stop is at the top of the village by a bend on the main road - follow the small road into the village - ignore a road on the left which heads steeply down towards the church far below - just continue along round the top of the village, soon pass a taverna and then a sign indicating the Byzantine Road. Continue round the top of the village until a cafe appears in front of you, turn right on the increasingly narrow village road and then right again following the now dirt path round to a junction - here the Byzantine Road is clearly marked. Just as you start on the path have a look at some old wash houses and springs which are hidden on the left amongst trees and shrubs.

The next part of the walk is now straightforward - the path goes alongside the valley soon with good views back to the village and it's very impressive church, the valley and fields below as well as several windmills higher up on the right. The path dips down eventually to cross a small bridge and then climbs easily back over the next rise - then slowly drops down to the outskirts of Prodhromos. Aghios Antonios Monastery is now clearly visible perched on the coned hilltop (Kefalos).

Go right into the village where you will see some direction arrows and a map. The myriad of marbled effect small streets are really pretty with plenty of flowers etc. so it is well worth spending a little while having a look round. To continue the walk - and because of the numerous small roads you can easily lose your sense of direction - you need to get to the far side of the village and onto the main road [N37°03'04.55" E025°14'25.91"], so if necessary just ask someone how to get to it.

Turn right and follow the main road away from the village - just having passed a delightful church somewhat hidden in the field on the left (although we of course did go and look inside it before continuing our walk) take a dirt road on the left which soon heads right very steeply up hill to enter Marpisa village. Go through the village passing a church to reach a road, go right to soon reach three windmills on the left. Take the road on the left which passes these windmills - this now becomes a concrete road which heads very steeply up towards the monastery.

The road levels out a little by a fairly large concrete reservoir on the right - leave the concrete road heading towards the reservoir but almost immediately take a small moni path which goes off on the left. This really nice path is paved in places, it climbs very steeply at times as it wanders on up through trees and with great views of the coast - passing the ruins of a church on the right and a little further along on the left a small church - to finally reach the base of the monastery. [N37°02'46.24" E025°15'33.36"]

The monastery itself may have its gates locked but if you go left along the outer wall a stone has been placed so that you can easily climb into the grounds. There is a really nice shady area for sitting and enjoying a drink and perhaps lunch but note there is no running water available here. You can walk right round the monastery walls and there are great views of the island including Molos Bay and it's huge beach and of Piso Livadi fishing village.

Return back down to the windmills at Marpisa, turn left and then on reaching the main road go right soon passing the Hotel Afendakis - then shortly take a small road on the left (opposite a church).

Continue on this small road for about 500 metres - there are several dovecote towers nearbye - until you reach some derelict houses, go left in front of the houses on a dirt track and stay on this track until you reach a junction, turn left and then left again to reach a main road.

Turn right and then shortly go left on the road marked to "Pounda" - follow this road all the way down to the beach area. Turn right to join a coastal path - this takes you along past Mesadha beach to then join a road at New Golden Beach. Carry on along the road but as the road goes right keep left along a dirt track which more or less follows the coast - there is a large hotel in front of you which appears to block the way but you can go to the left of this hotel alongside its outer walls.

Soon you pass a small church and the large sandy bay which is Golden Beach comes into view. The best place to get the bus back is to go along the beach to the far end where there are two tavernas - take the road leaving the beach between the tavernas and follow this for a short 5 minute stroll back up to the main road.
On the main road there is a small supermarket next to the bus stop where you can get cold drinks etc. and sit in the shade whilst waiting for the bus

Lefkes to Aliki. We found this walk to be pretty tiring both because of distance (19km) but also the climbs in quite high temperatures. It takes in moni paths - visits the now private Monastery at Aghios Ioanis before climbing up on another really nice path and then steep road to get to the highest point on the island - the aerials [N37°02'47.10" E025°10'43.51"] at Aghii Pantes (755m). Then it goes back down and via AGH. Theodhori Monastery to finally arrive at Aliki. There is a fairly frequent and reliable bus service from Parikia to Lefkes - get off the bus by the tavernas at the top of the village by a bend on the main road (ask the bus driver to let you know when you get to Lefkes). Another way - especially if there are several of you walking - is to take a taxi from the rank at Parikia - this is located near the ferry terminals. The fixed rate fare from Parikia to Lefkes is meant to be 8 Euros.

Take the road into the village - ignoring a small road on the left which heads steeply down towards the church far below - after passing a taverna go right and take some wide steps ahead - cross a track and then continue on more steps to reach a tarmac road. Turn left and walk up this steep road passing a small church on the left - ignore a road going left but simply continue along passing a church high up the hill on the right. Just after passing the church a track goes off right but also there is a fairly wide paved path ahead. Leave the road and take this often walled path - the aerials are now clearly visible ahead of you.
The wide path briefly meets the road but then continues straight ahead to once again reach the road. Cross the road and continue now on a narrow track opposite - soon the dome of the monastery comes into view amongst the tree tops.

Continue along the track to finally reach a small house and the Monastery of Aghios Ioanis. The monastery is actually privately owned but you can sit under the trees outside where there several tables and also some water (probably not drinkable but ok for cooling off). From the monastery go back a few metres passing the house - as the track bends left a path goes off almost straight ahead - follow this nice path which winds round the valley side - on one of the bends you get a pretty good view of the monastery again - now below you of course. At a junction with a dirt track go left then right passing a white building to reach a wide tarmac road.
Turn right along the road (there is actually a moni path down on the right which runs along below the road but this path was in a terrible condition where the bulldozers had let huge rocks and debris fall down on it plus it had plenty of heavy thorns etc. so we did not attempt to use it). At a road junction around 650 metres along turn right (the previously mentioned path comes out here but it looked very hazardous to clamber out/onto it due to a huge amount of road building rubble etc.) and follow the road now heading towards the aerials.
Around 1500 metres from the junction a track goes off to the right - if you wish you can walk along this track and when it ends you will see the aerials on the left above you. You can then scramble up the hillside and get to the site thus avoiding walking the much further way round on the road but it is quite scree and also thorny in places - otherwise simply follow the road as it bends round and then up the hill to the aerials and the churches.
Return back either via the road or again scramble down to the track and then follow the road back to the road junction, turn right and continue along the dirt track. After around 1600 metres at a track junction go right and follow this track as it bends left soon passing Aghios Georgios church [N37°01';28.96" E025°10'29.26"]. The track now continues almost straight ahead to eventually reach a junction - go left here to walk the short distance round to visit the monastery of AGH. Theodhori..

Return back to the junction and turn left and continue along the initially concrete road - if you look back you get an excellent view of this quite large monastery. The concrete road drops down considerably for a while but as it levels out the road reverts back to become a rubbly dirt track and eventually reaches a fairly wide track junction.

Sadly there is now a further example of a pointlessly destroyed moni path. On the far side of the junction and across a wall a path is meant to go on to reach the outskirts of Ageria but it has been obliterated by the bulldozers which have piled loads of rock rubble for several hundred metres and the area is heavily infested with thorns - this has caused the path to be virtually unreachable although we made two attempts to do so. So instead at the junction turn left and follow the road as it climbs up steeply and then round the hillside - keep right at the junction and then later ignore a track going off left near a small church - continue along to arrive at a main road at Ageira.
Cross the main road onto the road opposite and then a little way along take a steep track on the right which heads up to a road by the windmills in Ageria. Turn left then go right at the next junction and follow the road round until it reaches the main road. Turn right and follow the road down to the very nice little fishing port of Aliki. The bus stop is alongside the beach area by the road junction and there is also a small kiosk where you can get a cold drink if you wish.

Other hiking ideas for Paros can be found via our Paros Walks page or see our Paros Home Page

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