Paros Greece Hiking Guides and Photos.

Paros Walks for Aliki, Lefkes, Molos, Tripiti, Golden Beach etc. all with pictures for the Greek Island of Paros.

These Paros Walks instructions also have plenty of descriptive photos which help to show features of the routes taken as well as showing off the Island's brilliant scenery - Paros is great for walking trips both long and short whilst on holiday but if you want to go driving instead then a sightseeing tour of the island is another option for getting to know and enjoy Paros. The walks are a variety of point to points and some circulars - varying in distances from 12 to 20km in distance. Due to the excellent bus service on the island plus sometimes the use of a taxi we found it possible to do all the walks shown without having to bother using a hire-car. Even if you do not like distance walking there are plenty of photographs showing Paros beaches, villages and scenery which may be of interest for possible visiting and sightseeing whilst on holiday on Paros.
We have instructions for one short walk plus a full "Paros Walks" menu which will take you to other pages on our site describing walks you may care to try whilst on Paros. As regular Greek Island Walkers will probably know all too well paths can be "disappeared" due to someone deciding to crash through the countryside with a bulldozer whilst putting in or grading a track so our instructions are not guaranteed and you should ensure you have a decent map in case you have to make a sudden diversion etc. There are various GPS latitude and longitude readings given for anyone interested in using these devices - set on wgs84.

Coastal Paths on Paros. It is possible to walk most of the Greek Island of Paros on a coastal path - we understand that access to the coast and it's beaches must always be possible and the island authorities do seem to enforce this despite the sometimes frequent villa-building around the coasts. We walked a considerable part of the Paros coastline however at times because of erosion we found the path had disappeared into the sea - in all but one case (Faragas) we found that the villa owners have allowed access via gates alongside the walls at the bottom end of their properties. One bit we could not see a coastal path on was between Analipsi and Ambela i.e. Cape Damoulis although it may well be possible (we did not have enough time to check it out). We used the following maps: Anavasi - TOPO Paros - isbn 960-8195-36-5 and the freytag&berndt Paros - isbn 3-85084-587-7

Paros Walks Menu (several will open on a new page)

Lefkes to Lefkes   Circular - 18km - via Monis ag. Kiriakas/ag. Georgiou
Lefkes to Aliki   One way - 19km - via Agios Illias - highest point at 755m
Lefkes to Golden Beach - Old Byzantine Road   One Way - 15km - via Moni ag. Andonios on Mt. Kafalos
Aghia Arini to Parikia  (this is described below) One way - 7km - Paros coastal walk
Marathi - Marble Quarrys   Circular - 4km - via Moni ag. Minas. Easy
Marmara - Molos - Santa Maria - Naoussa   One way - 25km - mostly coastal walk
Cape Korakas and Cape Almiros   Circular - 12km - visits the lighthouse and Paros beaches
Prodhromos to Dhios  (described below) One way - 12km - villages - coastal path from Piso Livadhii
Tripiti to Pounda (port)  (this is described below) One way - 16km - coastal walk via Aliki.

Aghia Arini to Parikia. This approximately 7km walk starts at Aghia Arini Bay - we went by taxi from Parikia - this only cost 6 Euros, however you can get the bus if you wish but then you have to walk down to the beach from the main road. Being such a short walk you probably don't need to take much gear with you - perhaps a bottle of water, towel and possibly swimming gear if you fancy dipping in the several beaches - and of course a hat. Underfoot it is mostly not too bad although the path is quite rubbly and sometimes rather narrow in places. There are tavernas on the way at the various beaches.
Aghia Marina's two beaches are not that big but are probably really nice places to be on in the summer - we say probably because when we visited (late May 2006) the tractors were all around clearing off the heavy seaweed as they geared up for the main holiday season. The beach is tree-lined so there are places to get out of the sun as and when necessary - there is also a small taverna which was still closed but they were seemingly about ready to open up as well.

From the north end of the beach pick up the coastal path and simply follow this round what is a really attractive rocky coastline. Sometimes the path seems to disappear especially near the outside walls of the frequent villas along the way - however the path is always there sometimes on the wall edge but other times you have to go over a wall or two. You pass a small church which is conveniently placed close to the sea and has great benefits - somewhere to sit, a nice cool sea breeze and possibly some high speed ferrys wizzing by to watch.
Having passed the small church the path dips down into a small gully and then climbs a little - watch out for a nice bit of rock on the sea edge which has been hollowed out by the sea. A little further along another bay comes into view and soon you drop pretty steeply to reach Parasporos beach. This is a large beach with all the facilities such as beach chairs and tavernas, and is also shaded as it is mostly ringed with trees.
The coastal path continues from the far end of the beach but although it was initially clear we soon found it became very difficult going with no real clear path because of heavy rock and thorns. We worked our way up the hill a little away from the coastline and picked up a parallel path which we think must have come from the car park at Parasporos. Therefore it might be better to walk up to the car park via the wooden steps and pick up a path leaving from there. As you get nearer Souvlia there has been plenty of villa building - one curious thing we found on the island was the advertising boards for the villas for sale all had the same picture - nice treelined villas and a swimming pool etc. Souvlia beach is quite small and although it has a few trees gives the impression of being a very hot little beach in mid-summer.

From Souvlia beach it did not seem possible to continue along the coast because the the edges had collapsed, therefor leave the beach on it's access road and walk up to the main road (really steep..). Turn left along the main road and around 400 metres along take a small road on the left - this takes you back down to the coast. The path is wide at first but them goes along the bottom of gardens belonging to some small houses, then as the path turns right it narrows considerably and in places has nearly diisappeared where it goes alongside a wall. You need to take a lot of care just here but it is quite possible to walk safely. This only lasts for a few metres and then the path is ok again - continue along the path which then emerges by a hotel. Turn left to walk past the hotel and then rejoin the coast path (the path on the seaward side of the hotel has fallen way completely.). Go along the path for a short distance and then rejoin the road - now simply walk back into Parikia by the small-boat harbour and beach.

Paros Coastal Path Walks including and visiting Prodhromos, Dhrios, Tripiti and Pounda.

Our holiday accommodation on Paros, Greece was located at Parikia therefore we have described getting to the start of the walks from there using buses and a taxi. The two coastal walks described below are generally straightforward to follow although due to cliff erosion you may at times find the coastal path has been destroyed. In this case simply divert as necessary - we found that new paths a little further inland had been created - sometimes these even went along the inside walks of villa gardens. We have particularly populated the walks instructions with loads of photographs - simply to show how nice the villages are and also some of the great coastline Paros has to offer.

Tripiti to Pounda (port) This Paros coastal walk is again quite easy as far as gradient is concerned but in places the paths were extremely rocky underfoot so we were glad we had decent boots. The 16km walk starts off from the main road near Tripiti - there are no buses serving this location so we had to get a taxi from Parikia to the start of the walk - this cost us 14 Euros. You need to get the taxi to drop you off by the track which leaves the main road and goes to Tripiti Beach. The only certainty of finding refreshments along this walk is at Aliki - there do appear to be several other "taverna looking" buildings along the way but none were open when we did this walk in early June 2006.

The track forks almost immediately - go on the right fork and just follow this until it ends where it then changes to a walled footpath which descends on down to Tripiti Beach. This is a nice little beach of sand and shingle but there is very little shade and no facilities at all. On reaching the beach go left - you have to climb up a slope to a gate.

The path bears right as it crosses the headland - the path is clear but very rocky in places - follow it where you have to obviously take a big detour round a rocky inlet - take a look around here because there are several large blow holes. The water comes right through and from the direction of the waves as they crash against the rocks it becomes apparent that the sea is actually underneath where you are standing.
Return back to the gate at Tripiti beach - if you look across you can see a gate somewhat hidden by a wall - cross the beach and make for this gate (it is very hard to see this when on the actual beach). Once out of the beach and through the gate there is no obvious path and the terrain is quite overgrown with thorns and shrubs and is also extremely rocky underfoot. Simply make your own way across always aiming to stay to the left of the higher ground - eventually you will come out by the coast.

The area is now full of huge flat rocks - continue along following the edge of the sea - the coastline has become quite eroded here so you need to pick your own route always staying as close to the sea as possible - sometimes following the bottom garden walls of villas. Continue along the coast passing a small rocky inlet where several fishing boats are moored to soon arrive at Faragas Beach. This beach has a small taverna plus sunbeds etc. although it was only just opening up for the season when we arrived at the start of June. From Faragas beach the path hugs the coast - you can (as we did of course) divert across to the tip of Faragas's headland and back - else follow the rocky path which soon drops down almost to sea level and heads for Cape Mavros Kavos. This area has been blessed by quite of lot of villa-building going on but this does not spoil the walk at all.

Stay left of the villas and walk round the headland - there is a church called Aghios Mironas marked on maps but this now appears to have been incorporated into a newly built villa's garden. The coastal path becomes very stoney as it goes along close to the sea and with walls on the right - eventually it joins a tarmac road - follow this into Aliki where there is a nice fishing harbour, tavernas and beach. Cross the beach and the path continues on the far side - you climb up and then goes via gates into and then along the bottom of someone's garden and out by a gate on the other side - (remember to close the gates behind you). Carry on around the rocky headland of Cape Makria Miti and continue along the coast - at one point joining a road for a while (which goes up into Voutakos).

Just after passing Voutakos small fishing harbour leave the road by going ahead on the coastal path - you passing several small beaches and eventually arrive at a track. Go straight ahead on the track with soon passes by Aghios Nikolas church. From here simply follow the sandy track as it goes almost straight along the coast - there is quite a lot of beach area along here as well as wide sandy areas. As you approach Pounda you pass by several Wind Surfing centres before finally reaching the tiny ferry port of Pounda and it's bus stop.

Prodhromos to Dhrios This 12km (or 20km) walk starts inland at Prodhromos - we started here so that we could have a look round the village which is extremely pretty with it's narrow marbled streets plus flowers and shrubs on display. This also meant we could then walk on and have a decent look in Marpisa for exactly the same reason. The number 1 bus from Parikia gets you to Prodhromos inexpensively. The walk is quite flat apart from a short climb up to Marpisa -  once you get to the coast it is particularly refreshing because of the sea breezes. Note - we walked on another 4km from Dhrios via Dhrios Bay, Cape Pirghos and Lolandonis along the coastal path but if you do this then it is necessary to return to Dhrios for the bus home adding 8km to the walk distance.

From the bus stop in Prodhromos head right into the village - it's really worthwhile looking round the narrow village streets before continuing the walk. Make your way back to the main road and turn right - walk out of the village soon passing an old well with it's machinery and then a small church on the left.

Continue up the hill towards Marpisa then take a path on the left which heads up into the village. Once in Marpisa it's well worth while having a look round the village - taking note of the location of a large church with a red tiled dome located in the village square. From the church take the road which goes downhill to a junction, turn right and follow the road soon passing derelict windmills. Continue along to the main road junction and turn left - you have to walk a short distance on the main road then at the next junction keep straight ahead but you can now use a footpath on the right hand side of the road.

Simply continue along to walk into the small fishing village of Piso Livadhi with it's beach and tavernas.

From here continue along the main road which goes alongside the beach then when it bends right take steps down to Logharas beach. Continue along the beach and now the walk is simply a question of following the shoreline - the coastal path goes round Cape Pounta and the beaches at Pounda and Mesadha.

The coastal path eventually becomes a track near Tserdhakia and then becomes a road just by New Golden Beach. Follow the road still along the coast - it climbs slightly then when it veers right carry straight ahead on a dirt track - there is a huge holiday complex built up to the sea edge ahead of you. Keep to the left of the buildings and continue along the coast now on a path again - this path passes a small church and rounds the headland of Cape Chone before arriving at Golden Beach. There are tavernas at both ends of Golden Beach - plus the usual sun beds and stuff.

Continue along the beach and at the far end take a narrow path which goes to the left of fields and with tall canes on the left - follow this path via Boudari to finally walk into the small harbour at Dhrios. From Dhrios the coastal path has collapsed so you need to take the small road on the right which heads up via houses - also on the left there is a picturesque taverna and what we think is meant to be a duck pond but there were no ducks..

Once at the main road, turn left and soon arrive at a church and bus stop. Our walk continued since we wanted to go further along the coast but you can of course simply finish the walk here and get the bus back to either Parikia or Naoussa (check which bus is going where).

To continue the walk turn left just past the church and walk back down to the coast, turn right and the coastal path then continues along the shoreline. The path changes into a small sandy track and there are lots of small sandy and shingle tiny coves along here where you can easily stop on for a while. Quite unexpectedly you come across a tiny fishing harbour just before reaching Cape Pirghos - continue along and climb on up to the small church at Cape Pirghos.

Regain the coastal path and just stay on it as it heads to Lolandonis beach - from here the path continues round the outside garden walls of a large house. The shoreline is really collapsed around here and the path seemed to go through the bottoms of the gardens of various villas instead - nobody yelled at us as we did this so presumably it was ok. From Lolandonis again just follow the coast over a quite rocky but open area to finally arrive at a quite pretty little rocky beach with a large villa perched above it on the far side.
Clearly the cliff had collapsed on the far side of the beach and destroyed the coastal path so we decided that this was as far as we could reasonably go. Therefore we simply retraced our steps back to Dhrios and caught the bus back to Parikia.

Our Paros related topics:-
Paros Holidays - Paros Naoussa - Paros Molos-Aliki -  Lefkes + Marathi - Paros Monasteries + Paros beaches.