Symi Chorio Pedi Monastery Byzantine Beach Walks Holidays Greece Simi Photos

Symi - Greece. Since we stayed in the Old Town (Chorio) all of our Symi walks are described as starting from 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 high above the town.

If you are staying in the harbour you might prefer to use a taxi up to the monastery especially if the weather is really hot rather than have to walk the Kali Strata to the village square. This because to continue the walk you then have to climb again even higher and further up through the alleys and donkey path although it is certainly worth doing this at least once since the alleys and especially the donkey path are really excellent walking with great views.

(the photo on the above right is of the tiny Monastery of Ag. Vasilios with the lovely wild Vasilios beach in the background).

Please see further down this page for:
Chorio-Pedi-Aghia Marina-Chorio Circular via Ag. Nikolaos beach+ridge back via Aghia Marina. Short climbs 11km
Chorio-Yialos-Emborio-Chorio Circular via Kali Strata returning via monasteries+donkey path. 2 climbs 12km

Chorio - Pedi - Aghia Marina - Chorio. This walk is fairly easy, has the benefit of tavernas at Pedi, Ag.

Nikolaos and Aghia Marina and ends up back at Chorio by the derelict windmills.
From the cafe head down the Kali Strata and after a few metres turn right by Georgios taverna and follow the street and then take the next turning on the right (before reaching the Village Hotel) - this will bring you onto the main Pedi road. Turn left and follow the main road down towards Pedi. After passing the noisy diesel generators the road splits, take the right hand fork and continue on into Pedi's seafront. Turn right and follow the road round the harbour - going eventually through a taverna and then across a slipway - continue on the (now) wide path alongside the sea - go through a gate (which is actually an old bed stead) and continue along the stoney shoreline.

After a few hundred metres look out for a marker on a stone where a narrow path starts going gently up parallel with the shoreline - continue along this path as it undulates over the top of the hills and eventually brings you out above the beach at Ag. Nikolaos - walk down the sometimes steep steps to arrive at the beach.
Return back to Pedi on the same path - on reaching the waterfront continue right round to the far side of the harbour - the road eventually ends by houses but here a very stoney path continues up out of Pedi into the hills (this is well marked) - the path is between fences and goes over some very barren ground - quite difficult underfoot because of the large stones.

The path swings slightly left as it climbs and then after a short unfenced area regains it's fence and swings right still going up - eventually you get a distant view of Ag. Nikolaos beach - the path eventually swings left again as it goes over the ridge and then down into Aghia Marina. Continue through the grounds of the taverna to the far side of the beach and go through a gate and then go left to climb out of the beach. Now simply stay on this path as it goes via a saddle in the hills and then continues via very barren ground - there are markers but not that easy to spot however the path is mostly fairly obvious to follow - at the top the area is fairly flat for quite a distance and from here you can see where the old fields were laid out years ago.

Keep going in the same basic direction and eventually swing left with the path

as it goes up and over the hill tops - you eventually get great views of Yialos harbour way below you.

The path then starts to descend and eventually arrives at a series of derelict windmills some of which are being restored. On reaching the road go straight across - go down the hill and to arrive at the Village Hotel - turn right to go back into the square.

Chorio - Yialos - Emborio - Chorio. From the Old Village Square head down the Kali Strata to the harbour - turn left,

go along the harbour front and then over the bridge, now turn left round the edge of the square until you reach a road going off to the right (this road goes to the cemetery).

Go up this road - it soon becomes very steep as it climbs out of the harbour - but levels out by the Elikonis cemetery which is on the left.
Carry on alongside the cemetery wall on the concrete road - the road then becomes a footpath and then a kalderimi between walls.

Stay on the kalderimi until you arrive at the monastery of Ag. Georgios Drakoundiotis - from here there are very good views of Emborio. A quite rough footpath heads down from here to rejoin the kalderimi - sadly this kalderimi is not in too good condition but it is ok to walk as it zig zags on down the hillside to reach a road. Turn left and follow the road along the coastline and when it ends carry on along the beach. Emborio beach is stoney but does have a taverna (in fact the cheapest for drinks etc. that we found on the island) - you can also hire sunshades/chairs from the taverna if you wish. Further along from the taverna there are some steps on the left which go up to a small church - there are also meant to be caves here somewhere but we did not find them - maybe because the path had been "disappeared" for some reason.

Continuing the walk - go on across the stoney beach to the far end - go up the steps in front of you and just before you reach a gate turn left to pick up the path heading inland round the hill.

This path is marked but is in quite a poor condition in places and does require scrambling at times and quite a lot of care too at times. As you head up hill look to your left at the ruins of what must have been a really grand building. About halfway up the hill the church of Ag. Georgios Kylindriotis - a small path diverts up to this church - however we found the gates locked but it is worth the effort even so. From the church return back down to the path and then continue on along the path as it goes more or less straight on into the hills. Eventually the area opens out and flattens and you arrive by a fence - go round to the right of this fence and then left crossing an area which is heavily bulldozed - then turn right and aim for an obvious track a little way up above you.

On reaching this track turn left and now continue on - the track soon changes from a rough dirt surface to concrete and winds on passed several churches (Ag. Dimitrios and Panagia Katholiki) and then eventually comes out at the monastery of Taxiarhis Mihail Roukouniotis. Outside of the monastery gates is a really great place to sit and have a cool down - but remember to keep the gates closed because of the goats. You can also go into the monastery and have a walk round but again ensure the gates are securely closed. Also this is a military area - with a large camp down below the monastery on the right so remember the "no photo" rules. Continue along the main road, ignore a concrete road on the left, to eventually arrive at the monastery of Mihail Perivliotis - this is located right on the bend of the road just after a road comes in from the right.
Opposite the monastery (i.e. on the left of the road) is a fenced area with a gate, take the donkey path which starts to the right of this gate - initially this is a very well restored paved path (although already the goats are doing their best to destroy the walls which line both sides). Follow the path as it goes through trees and then winds down to arrive at a small church - Ag Paraskevi - a good spot for another cool down under the trees. From here the path is not restored at all and is quite difficult to walk in places but it is ok.

As you walk down you start getting really good views of Yialos, Chorio and Pedi Bay way below, and also the Akropolis above the Old Town comes into view. The path eventually arrives at a wire gate, this should be closed to

keep the goats out of course. Carry on down the steps and on reaching the houses you will start to

see red and blue markers on the walls, simply follow these - when you arrive at a flat paved area with a church in front of you take the steps down on the left - this then winds you on down via narrow alleys - simply keep following the markers. After you pass a small supermarket on the right carry straight on and at the next junction turn right and after a few yards turn left - follow the markers to take you up to the Akropolis with it's several churches and really good views.
Return back down by following the markers which will take you to the village square.

Our other Symi Items can be found here
If you are thinking about which Greek Island to visit for your next holiday you may be interested in our Home Page which has holiday, travel, walks and photos guides on about around 16 other Greek Islands and similar guides for The Canary Islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.

Walking Guides for Greece Simi.

Symi Chorio - Pedi - Aghia Marina - Monasterys - Churches - Yialos - Emborio and Beach Walks.

Symi Walking and Hiking (with photos) up Symi's steep donkey and moni-paths and visiting several isolated beaches, monasterys and churches.