Hiking Village Trails
There are certain popular villages from where several hiking routes begin. Some of these villages include Filoti, Apiranthos, Chalki, Koronos, Potamia, Apollonas, and more. The hiking routes loop back, starting and ending at the same point. All the hiking villages are easily accessible either by car or public bus. For more adventure, one might also rent a motorbike to get around. The main Naxos Town, also called Chora, is connected to most of the hiking villages by road, as well as public transport.There are several attractions that one passes while hiking in Naxos. The villages themselves are highlights along the trails. You can rest, detour a bit and explore the village and learn more about the culture and history of the land. The natural attractions include beaches, ravines, plateaus, forests, springs, waterfalls, islands, and more. On the other hand, the urban and rural landscapes encountered during hiking are churches, chapels, water fountains, marble quarries, aqueducts, windmills, and more.
Hiking Trails
1. Filoti – Mount Zas Trail
Another trail from Filoti to Mount Zas and back is 5.6km long. This trail has a few steep points, and the last ascent to the peak is slightly tricky, considering the position of the rock and the direction of the wind. However, the views from the top of the peak compensate for all the hard work uphill.
2. Cave of Zas Trail
Another trail leading to the Cave of Zas begins from Filoti along the western slope. The trail passes the Cave of Zas during ascent. Also, before reaching the cave, one passes the Aria Spring. The Aria Spring is a great resting place if you are tired from the climb. The trail then continues upwards towards the peak. This section is a difficult climb as the trail is rough and steep. However, it continues offering spectacular views of the surrounding terrain. On the descent, the trail passes Agia Marina and continues towards Filoti. This trail is 4.2km long and takes around two and a half hours to complete. This trail, too, is relatively hard, as the other trails on Mount Zas.
3. Chalki and Tragea Valley Trails
Moni is the highest point on the hike at about 500m. You can return to Chalki or continue to the village of Kaloxilos, where you can spot another Byzantine church, the Panagia Damiotissa. The trail continues to Akadimi village, where the Markopoitis Tower is located. From here, the trail loops back to Chalki again.
Another trail is the Chalki – Ano Potamia hike. The route begins from Chalki and turns west towards Tsikalario village. It passes through the magnificent Tragea Valley, looking resplendent with its olive groves. The route then continues on to Apano Kastro Hill, goes downhill again, and finally ends at the village of Ano Potamia. Further down are the picturesque villages of Mesi Potamia and Kato Potamia. This trail is about 3.5 km and takes an hour or so to complete.
A great hiking trail to explore the Tragea valley begins at the village of Danakos. The toad is stone paved initially but leads into a forest area. The trail then passes the Monastery of Christ Photodotis. From here, one can view beautiful views of Naxos and the sea. The route continues to Karkos and then moves onwards through the Pera Chorio region, where the dam is its main attraction. The hiking trail reaches Agios Ioannis Church, and one can see the stone windmill, which highlights the village of Apiranthos. One needs to hike through the Finelia area to reach the Tragea plateau. The route then reaches the village of Kerami and continues to Metochi, where the remains of the Church of Agii Apostoli are found. The hike ends at the Church of Panagia Protothronos, also called the Byzantine Park in Chalki.
There are other trails from Chalki, such as Chalki – Filoti, Chalki – Damarionas – Panagia sti Spilia Chapel, Chalki – Kerami – Agios Ioannis – Apiranthos, Chalki – Koronos - Apollonas and more.
4. Danakos Trails
Another hiking trail begins at Apiranthos and ends at Danakos. From Apiranthos, the trail passes the plateau and then descends south. From there, one reaches the Fotodoti Monastery, and continuing downhill, the trail leads to Danakos.
5. Koronos Trails
Another popular trail is the Koronos – Lionas route. Starting from Koronos, one has to move across deep ravines to reach the bridge at Tihio. The path continues till another bridge at the Kolos tou Vounou is reached. The hike now is uphill towards Kalamafka village. Further, the trail reaches the Our Lady Avdeliotissas Chapel. The path continues till it reaches its final destination, the Lionas coast. At Lionas, there are remains of shipping facilities and an inviting pebble beach.
6. Melanes Trail
Another trail from Melanes reaches Ano Potamia and back. It is 10.5km long and is moderately easy to hike. Starting at Melanes, the route leads through vegetative groves and marble quarries. The trail reaches Kourounochori village. Here one can visit the Faragi Kouros and Flerio Kouros, the two unfinished male statues from the 6th century BC. From here, the trail passes Ano Potamia and back to Melanes.
7. Seven Villages Trail
Other Hiking Routes in Naxos
Kynidaros – Eggares
This route starts from the village of Kynidaros. The trail then leads northwest and passes through green vegetated landscapes. Hikers can see water springs, aqueducts, watermills, and waterfalls along the way. The trail finally reaches Eggares and loops back to Kynidaros.Ano Sangri – Temple of Demeter
This 5km hiking trail is easy and great for first-time hikers. The hike begins from Ano Sangri and crosses fields and ravines to reach the Temple of Demeter. This temple is a historic landmark built in 530 BC and is made from Naxos marble.Similarly, other trails lead to the Temple of Demeter. One such trail begins at the village of Tsikalario. From there, it passes Chimarros village, and forward hikers can view the Agios Artemios church on their left. Other landmarks on the trail include the Agii Anargiri, Paleologos Tower, and the Panagia Orfani Church. The route then continues to the village of Sagri and reaches the Temple of Demeter. There is also a museum near the temple for those who are interested. This trail is around 7km long and can take around 2 hours to complete.
Naxos West Coast Trail
Kalandos – Rina Bay
The trail begins at Kalanos Beach and moves southeast. It then follows the coast route at Cape Patsouras till it reaches Rina Beach. Rina beach is a pretty sandy beach where there are caves to explore. The road circles back to Kalanos beach.Agiassos – Kalantos
Another relatively easy hike in southern Naxos, this trail starts from Agiassos. The dirt road from Agiassos to Kalantos is beautiful as it offers splendid sea views and coast views. One can also see the island of Iraklia along the hike.Vivlos – Plaka Beach
There is another trail from Plaka that leads to Mikri village. The route starts from the Plaka beach, follows the rural pathways, and emerges again on the coast. It leads to the slopes of the Pyrnios hill and continues to the private beaches of Orkos before finally reaching the Mikri Vigla.
There are many other hiking trails across Naxos. You can plan your hiking route depending on where you stay and how much time you have at hand.
Hiking Operators in Naxos
Naxos Trekking
https://www.naxostrekking.com/
Zas Tours
https://zastours.com/naxos-hiking
Find In Greece
https://www.findingreece.com/experiencescat/naxos-walking-hiking-tours/
Walking Plus
https://walkingplus.co.uk/tour/naxos-donoussa-guided-walking/
Naxos Hiking
https://naxoshiking.com/
Best Time for Hiking in Naxos
The best time to visit Naxos is between April to October. Spring and fall are ideal for hiking when it is not too hot or too cold. July and August are considered the peak season for Greece tourism. So if you want to avoid crowds, you must avoid the summer. Also, it rains in January, so December to February may not be ideal for hiking.Tips
- The first thing to do is lay your hands on a Naxos hiking map. There are many available in the shops around Naxos. Or you can also use digital maps.
- If hiking is the main attraction in Naxos for you, then staying in Filoti, Chalki, or Apirenthos is perhaps best. There are many routes in and around these villages.
- If you are not too fond of circular trails, you can drive back from the last point on the hike before the road loops back to the beginning. You can hire a car or check out the route and timings of public buses. Also, certain taverns and hotels do arrange for pick-and-drop services.
- There are also guided hiking tours organized by different travel and hiking companies. It is advisable to book these tours in advance.
- Ensure you have the essentials for hiking – comfortable shoes, drinking water, hats, sunshade, and more.
- Some hikes might be crowded during the peak tourist season. You can choose to start out early if you want to avoid crowds.
- There are several hikes in Naxos, and more than one trail usually begins or ends at the many villages and beaches of the island. Thus, choose your hiking trail according to your interests. The choice of trail route can depend on whether you are a nature enthusiast or enjoy local culture or historic structures.
- Research the hiking trails well. There is often much to explore and other attractions by taking small detours off the trails.