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 naturist 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
The following open a new page:
Chorio-Ag. Vasilios-Chorio There+back to Lapathos beach. 2 quite reasonable climbs and beach scramble 10km
Chorio-Ag. Emilianos-Chorio Sort of circular - a long walk with reasonable climbs. 16km
Chorio-Vigla-Moni Kokkimidis-Chorio Circular - long walk - detour to visit M. Zoodohou Pigis Vrisi. 20km
Chorio - Pedi - Chorio Shortish circular going to Pedi and back by the scenic route. 10km
Byzantine wine presses Short and easy circular to see the wine presses also passing several monasteries 5km
Chorio - Stravros Polemou - Chorio Circular (ish) - fairly long walk down the island - several good climbs. 15km
Chorio-Yialos-Toli-Emborio-Chorio Circular - several good climbs. 13km
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
Symi's famous 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.
Please take a look at our Symi Home Page for lots more topics about Symi and loads more photos of the Island.
| Go to the Top of this page Please visit our Home Page to Contact Us and for our Links. |
| Useful Books on Greece and her Islands:- Walking the Greek Islands The Rough Guide to Greece Greece Insight Guide Greek Islands Eyewitness Travel Guides Cadogan Guide Greece |
Our Other Travel and Holiday Web Sites feature England, Bali, Lantau Island, Cyprus, Portugal,
Singapore, Bintan, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand and Egypt - Sharm el Sheikh and Luxor. Please visit our Home Page for these topics. |
Consider taking a visit to this external site for lots of things about Symi: symivisitor.com