There are decent maps around for Naxos and due to track
laying etc. it is possible that some of these paths may have been
interrupted and so our descriptions may have changed somewhat but a good map
will let you make a work around if necessary.
Ano Sagri to Plaka Beach via The Temple of Demeter (or Dimitras)
This walk starts off at the square in Ano Sagri - which
can be reached easily by bus. From the road - with the monument in the
square in front of you, head to the far right of the square where you will
spot a concrete road, take this road and soon find a paved path on your
left which passes the deserted monastery of Agios Elefterios. You will
spot a stone statue of a man with a bow tie and some steps to the right of
it, take these steps and then continue on along a track in the direction
of a small church on a hill.
The dirt track ends above a shed, now follow the red
arrows to the right - this is a very rubbly and rough path. You can easily
see the temple in the distance - there is meant to be a path but we failed
to find it so we just made our way there which was easy enough.
The Temple dates from the 6th century BC and is being
gradually re-constructed. There is also a visitors centre which is located
near the car park.
From the temple head for the road, turn right and follow it up into the hill. When the road bends sharply right you will see a dirt track going straight on - take this track and follow it as it soon passes a gravel works on the left and then goes down to a road. Turn right for about 100 metres and then left through a gap in the wall and down across some fields to pick up another dirt track.
Turn right and follow this track soon passing a farm on your right - the track goes up and bends round to the left - then bears right ahead of another farm house. The track goes between rocks and ends on rough terrain with the sea visible in the distance. Heading (carefully because the footing is very rough and full of thorn bushes and scrub) straight on make your way down to the soon visible Kyriaki Chapel - there is no clear path, you just have to make it up. From the chapel follow the dirt road as it winds round the hill. Bear left on the track with high reeds either side of you and at a main T-junction turn left and follow this track to eventually arrive at the beach. Turn right and walk along the beach to the bus stop - which you will find by a turning circle in front of a taverna.
Agia Anna to Pirgaki
We had a look at the map and decided to do
a longish "there and back" walk along the coast and this one seemed pretty
obvious to do. The walk can either start at Agia Anna itself or you can
stay on the bus a little further south of the town to where it terminates
by the taverna and start from here.
This is a straightforward wander along
both track and then onto the beach - when the beach ends continue on the
track going over the headland to arrive at Mikri Vigla where you will find
a couple of tavernas.
From Mikri Vigla just continue south along the coast, varying underfoot between track and beach.
After Kastraki the walk is on beach only and the countryside becomes salty wetlands and dunes
- you have to make your way round a usually dry lake and head for a small
chapel which you pass to emerge on a metal road.
Turn right and follow the
road until you come to a dirt road on the left which goes to Ik. Velgon
(a.k.a. Pirgaki) - there are beaches right along here.
There is a bus
service back to Naxos Town from here but note they are not too frequent so
check the timetables if you don't plan to walk back to Agia Anna.
Chalki to Moni This walk starts in Chalki by the church (Panagia Protothronou) and perhaps before starting the walk take the path by the side of the church and have a look at one of Naxos's many towers - the Grazia Tower.
Back to your start point, opposite the church there is a tobacco/drinks kiosk - take the road to the right of this kiosk and then quite soon the second (very narrow) lane on the right. Go straight across the next junction, where the (now) path bears left you will see a water cistern on your right and just as you pass this turn right along a lane to Rachi. Cross a usually dry river bed and keep left round Richi - passing the church and soon after find a small footpath on your left - this goes down the valley - passing a ruined church on your left. Continue up the other side of the valley to reach a wide track. Turn right here and follow the track straight along the side of the ridge - keep your eyes out for various ruins amongst the often heavy undergrowth as you walk along.
The track eventually becomes a narrow sometimes rocky path - as the path detiorates
and goes off the left into
another valley, locate and take a faint track on the
right which goes steeply down to a stream bed at the bottom of the valley -
cross this and then climb up the other side (something of a scramble).
At the
top go right and make your way round the ridge eventually arriving at a small
field - cross the field and you arrive at another well marked path - follow this
sometimes very brambley path to arrive at a road.
Cross the road and you
are at the church of Panagia Drosiani - the oldest church on Naxos.
From the church take the moni pati and stay
on this path to a junction, turn left and follow the monopati uphill into
Moni. Moni is a lovely quiet little place and great to wander around - it
has some small gift shops and a couple of tavernas. We returned to
Chalki via the main road, which was not at all "main" in that it was very
quiet and a quite enjoyable walk.
To reach the road from the village return via the moni-pati, pass the junction on
the right and simply continue to the road - turn left for Chalki
Danakos to the coast Danakos is a small village and is found by turning right off the main road between Filoti and Apirathos - there is a parking area at the top of the village which has a tap (that tap is very welcome as you might discover later) and also the village has a taverna.
This walk is very straightforward to do
since it really amounts to simply joining a track and following it down to
the coast. According to our map it is possible to find tracks back to make
a circular but in our case we decided to simply retrace our steps - main
reason being the heat was tremendous the day we did the walk but also
there had been bulldozers at work (how unusual on a Greek Island..) and some of the
tracks/paths 
shown on our map seem to have "gone somewhere". Take the very steep road down into the
village - at the bottom there is a heavily shaded area with seats and a spring - go left
and simply join/follow the main track
as it winds its way through the valley towards the sea. There are loads of goats and sheep
around here - also note where gates are closed it is necessary/correct to re-close
them once you have passed through. The valley is well
cultivated for quite a way along and you can see the local farmers working
in their small fields below you at the bottom of the valley. We walked to
where the track went sharp right with farm buildings, a fence and gates in
front of us and then simply walked back.
Near Galanado to Ano Potamia This walk takes you through really nice countryside, ruins to explore and features moni-patis with really lovely stone walls and one of the oldest churches in Naxos which dates back to the 9th Century. It starts on the Galanado to Chalki road, just outside of Galanado pass a petrol station on your left and then you come to a parking area on the right by an unfinished building. On the other side of the road is a wide gravel track but the path you want is a very narrow rocky path on the right of this track - it descends often quite steeply into the valley - note it also has quite an abundance of thorns.
At the bottom bear
right and climb the wall by the side of the old portal - make your way
across a field and then scamble down to join a now visible track - go
right on this track to the ruins of the ArchBishop's Abbey (but
note the track on your left which will be your ongoing route).
At the Abbey you can see the ruined church of Agio Mamas but to get to it
you have to return along the track and now take
the path on your right - after a few yards turn right again to
walk to the ruins. These are interesting ruins and well worth going to.
From here make your way back
across the field to the track and go right - cross the stream bed and
then follow the moni-pati up between stone walls - this is a really nice
path which goes through olive trees. Continue straight on at a junction
and carry on down into a small hollow and then up to Kato Potami. There
is a church (which has a tap available) and a taverna on your left but
to continue the walk bear right into an alley and continue on through
the village. Several hundred yards out of the village you come to a
junction, go left uphill - walking through olive groves and with
picturesque old buildings and walls to enjoy looking
at - when you reach a path junction (by a basin) turn left passing a well and then into the
tiny village of Messi Potamia. Keep going uphill
passing a chapel and then when you reach a small church with a tiled roof
on the right leave the track to take a small path by the side of the
church which then winds downwards, and crosses a river.
Take a now
visible wide stepped path up and at a junction turn left into Ano
Potamia. If you carry on through the village you will find a taverna
just down to your left.
We returned the same way but it is easily
possible to carry on to the Apano Kastro and then onto Tsikkalario and
Chalki.
Naxos Old Town circuit An interesting short walk out
of Naxos Town (Chora) and
back giving you some great views. Starting from
the harbour climb up to the Portara where you get good views of the
harbour and the old town. Walk back across the causeway towards Chora and
at the end turn left to cross the smallish beach and carry on up the track
which follows the shoreline and go up to Grotta where there are apparently
underground/underwater caves. Carry on through the town bearing right to
cross the main road and then continue on a track opposite. This track winds its way up to Agios
Ioannis Theologos - a small church clinging to the hillside which you have
to climb up too.
However where the track bends right instead take the left fork and walk down a few yards to see another small church nestled in the hillside below. The main track (turn right at the previously mentioned fork) continues up to the Moni Chrysostomu if you fancy a bit more up - the views are good from here.
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