Symi Vasilios, Lapathos, Chorio, Monasteries and Symi Beach Walks.

Walking up Symi's steep donkey and moni-paths into the hills visiting isolated beaches, monasterys and churches - Symi Greece Walks.

Symi - Greece. These Symi walks are described from a starting point of the Lefteris cafe in the village square and quite often involve climbing via the alleys and then the old donkey path up to the main road by the monastery of Mihail Perivliotis which is just over the saddle high above the town.
If you are staying down in the harbour then walking up to the monastery especially when the weather is really hot is a good way to get your legs going as you have to walk the Kali Strata to the village square and then have to climb much more than that all over again initially via the alleys and then the excellent donkey path to reach the saddle. Although it is certainly worth doing this at least once since the alleys and especially the donkey path are really good to walk you might want to use a taxi or Symi Bus up so far especially if you are considering heading up to Vigla Mountain or perhaps all the way down the island to Panamortis and back.

Chorio - Ag. Vasilios - Lapathos beach - Chorio. If you like a quiet beach which has no sun beds or tavernas or anything at all and like naturist sunbathing and swimming then Lapathos is the beach to go to.
There are no water taxis to get you there, nor a road or even a track - this means that having reached the beach if you find you are sharing it with anyone else then it rates as being over-crowded. You do need therefore to take plenty of drink and a picnic but certainly on the three times we walked to and used the beach we did not need our swimming gear on the beach - we just went nude. note: Sue + Dennis Orchard have advised that boats DO visit during the main season-usually on a Wednesday.
The beach is clean but very hot although there is shade available back in the trees - the water is crystal clear and you do get waves which is nice - there are a couple of small sandy bits but most of it is pebble. The end of the walk down to the beach does require some scrambling as it is very steep and slippery since you have to go down a cliff (see the photos on the left) but it is perfectly ok if you take it slow and easy.

From the village square by the cafe go on up past the bars (the kiosk is on your right) and keep going - passing the grocers, the bakers and the old pharmacy.
When you come to a shop on the left (selling plastic items) take the steps on the right next to a supermarket (you cannot miss it since the supermarket has it's produced stacked up all over the place on these steps).
Continue along the alley, passing a small boutique on the right, and shortly afterwards where the alley splits go right up the steps - now the way is marked with blue and red dots. Just follow these marks until you come to a more open area which has a lot of derelict buildings on the right, there are numerous red and blue markers on the walls around here but carry straight on until you reach a T-junction, turn left and then keep to the right of a supermarket.

Turn right at the next alley and now follow the markers again until you reach an open area with a church slightly back to your left. Carry on in the same direction and then take the steps on the left - these will take you up to the donkey path. Soon go through a gate (remember to close it behind you) - you now start to get great views of the harbour, Pedi and the Akropolis. Just past the gate the path splits with another path going off to the left but ignore this and keep on straight ahead. This is quite a rocky path in places and has a couple of narrow bits but is fine to walk on - it eventually arrives at the small church of Ag Paraskevi - a good place for cooling down under its trees. From just after the church the path has been restored and is very easy to walk on - stay on it to eventually arrive at the road with the Mihail Perivliotis monastery opposite.

Turn left and as you get to the end of the monastery wall turn right onto a concrete road - this area is called Ksisos - there are lots of little churches and a small monastery - Ag. Nikolaos. Also on the left hand side look out for the threshing circle. We were very fortunate to meet with the couple who live by this monastery and we were given a grand tour of it - the sleeping areas, kitchen, living area etc. - really very interesting. Continue along the concrete road which soon after changes to a dirt surface - shortly before you come to a gate in front of you look out for and take a marked path on the left which goes off down and then round a fenced enclosure.

The path dips down and crosses a dry river bed and then climbs a little way up the hill on the other side - the path is not too wide and quite rough in places but is clearly visible. The path stays more or less level as it follows the hillside and the ravine towards the coast - only in one place did we find the path had collapsed and needed extra care for a few metres. The cliffs are really spectacular with occasional fir trees growing in the rocks and also Lapathos beach comes into view. The path goes on straight towards some high cliffs but then swings to the right and dips down quite steeply into a heavily forested gully - stay on the path and climb back out of the gully now going in between fir trees. Eventually you walk out of the trees into a open area which is covered with low shrubs and thorn bushes. The path here is rather vague in places but is marked with small cairns and occasional red and blue markers - your general direction is down towards the sea but sort of bearing half left all the time.

You eventually come out above the tiny monastery of Ag. Vasilios - there is a series of rock steps which go off on the right steeply down to this monastery. The path to Lapathos beach continues along now with very heavy rocks either side of you and becomes very narrow in places. Now for the really good part - trying to get down to the beach. This involves climbing down via very steep rocks although it is ok to do with foot and hand holds easily found - the more difficult part is about halfway down when the surface becomes scree and is quite slippery (and still quite steep). Just carefully make your way down to arrive on this lovely isolated beach.

There is no alternative i.e. circular route back - you have to return to Ksisos along the original path and then back down the picturesque moni-path to the village square (no problem since a different walking direction means different views).

Chorio - Ag. Emilianos - Chorio. This is quite a long walk with an initial climb out at the start and a good climb on the return - there are no facilities other than well water at several of the churches so you do need to take food and plenty of drink with you - it took around 3 hours to walk to Ag. Emilianos although we were spending time looking at the churches and monasteries etc.
From the village square climb out of the Old Town and up the donkey path to Monastery Mihail Perivliotis (as previously described here).

On reaching the main road with the monastery in front of you turn right and at the bend take the concrete road straight ahead - this climbs up with views of Ksisos below you on your left. Ignore the first road on the left - when the road starts to climb very steeply take the dirt track on the left - now the church of Panagia Myrtariotissa and it's houses are above you on the right. The track takes you to some steps which you can take to go on up into the church. Back down the steps turn right on the track and a little way on take a newly bulldozed track slightly to the right and going uphill. Follow this track which will take you to a small church hidden in some trees (we do not know the name of this church). Go through the church area and leave it by it's back gate, now turn right and make your way down (there is no obvious path to use) over the scrub to join a clear path going along the hillside below you - turn left onto it and continue along this path.

There are really great views of the coast and also the monastery Taxiarchis Mihail Roukouniotis (and the military camp so take care where you point the camera..) - the path goes into and through trees and then comes out in a more open area with some ruins scattered around. The path swings left over the open ground and then re-enters woods - keep going through the trees - the path is in fact marked with red dots. Always staying on the main path and ignoring smaller side paths you come to the small church of Ag. Ioannis Theologos - as with many of the churches this one has a well and somewhere cool to sit for a while if you wish (remember this church since it is a welcome rest point on the way back).

Carry on through the woods and then emerge onto a more rocky open area with views of Ag. Emilianos as well as the Maroni bay and then the bay's beaches. As you continue along the path drops down to almost sea level - at the bottom of the dip ignore cross paths and carry on back up the hillside bearing right to arrive just below the Monastery of Ag Filimonos. The path was a little hard to find but is there and also you have to go up over heavy boulders so just head towards the right side of the buildings - the monastery was locked up and surround by rough walls and wire fencing and we could not look round it at all. From the monastery steps lead you down to the beach at Skoumisa Bay - not the most fabulous beach on the island though. Carry on in the same direction and pick up a sometimes quite narrow footpath which will take you on round the left side of the bay to Ag. Emilianos which is clearly visible. The monastery has plenty of seats available for a picnic break and a very small stoney beach if you fancy a swim - it is also a favourite stopping off place for "round the island" day trips so you could maybe scrounge a lift back if you did not fancy the climb back out but of course that would be the lazy option.

Leave the monastery and walk back to the start of the Skoumisa Bay beach - but now take a clear path going off the right which goes up through scrub - at the top you get a view of Ladi Bay and the headland. Continue across the top and then drop down towards a fenced enclosure - go left just before reaching the enclosure and heading inland make your way back down to rejoin your original inbound path. Head back up into the hills - quite a climb in the heat - but you soon get back into tree cover. Retrace your steps eventually passing the Ag. Ioannis Theologos (and its well) and continue along to the ruined buildings in the open area.

Head towards a row of cypress trees a little below on the left - follow the marked path which winds down to eventually reach the road at Agii Anargyrii. Turn right along this concrete road - go on through a road gate and continue along until you reach the monastery of Taxiarchis Mihail Roukouniotis. When you reach the main road turn right (NOT though the road going down into the military camp..) and follow this up hill until you come to a concrete road on your left. Right on this junction and to the left of the wall a moni-path leaves which will take you along beside the wall (the main road is still close by on your right), then goes over a very rough area of heavy fallen rock and walling, then goes out into a more open area. Pick your way along this what must have been a brilliant moni-path once upon a time - it dives down to cross a dry stream and then climbs back out and eventually picks up the Chorio donkey path. Turn left along the donkey path and soon passing a small church (Ag. Paraskevi) and then continues back down into the Old Town.

Other of our Simi Items can be found via our Symi Holiday Guides.