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Tinos island 7-day hike in Greece

Tinos island 7-day hike in Greece
Tinos island 7-day hike in Greece
Tinos island 7-day hike in Greece
Tinos island 7-day hike in Greece

Discover the authentic Greek culture and cuisine, and the typical Mediterranean nature with this unique 7-day guided hike in the island of Tinos, in the Aegean Sea. Sylvie, an ASAM guide, takes you to this beautiful off-the-beaten-path destination.

7 Days

Apr

Intermediate


Description

Tinos is a beautiful island in the Aegean Sea, a hidden secret away from the tourist crowds. I invite you to join me on a unique 7-day hike and discover this magical island. 

This is the perfect programme for hiking lovers wishing to immerse into the authentic Greek culture and to discover a typical Mediterranean natural preserved environment.

Located in the Cyclades Archipelago, Tinos radiates light, reflected by its famous gray-blue and white marble architecture, surrounded by a magnificent blue sea and an immaculate Mediterranean sky. A few beaches for swimming and an essentially religious tourism have contributed to preserve the island from massive tourism.  

You will discover a land of charming traditional villages, historical architecture with Venetian dovecotes, cultivated terraces that tumble into the sea and mills perched on massifs. 

This trip takes you on naturalistic, herbalist and cultural daily walks, to explore the different parts of the island. You can check the day-by-day itinerary below this text. The walks are educational, with times of exchanges devoted to plants, their uses, birds and ecology in general. We will also visit traditional villages of the island and museums.

All the hikes start from the city of Tinos. During the day we will have a picnic in nature or lunch in a tavern. Although you do not need to be an expert hiker, some previous hiking experience is preferable. The walks last on average of 5 to 6 hours, to cover 10-20 km distance. The altitude varies from 0 to 600 meters.

Besides, you will discover the Mediterranean lifestyle with our homesty accommodation and happy team of hosts**. The discovery of the natural and cultural wealth of Tinos** is our main goal during this unique hiking programme.

I have lived in the Mediterranean area for a long time and I am passionate about nature and culture. I am a mountain-naturalist guide and naturopath-herbalist and I love sharing this passion. Together with Tassos, a local guide, we will take you on this unique hiking tour. Tassos wil be the hiking guide, the translator and the friend during our stay in Rinos. He will be our reference for all the practical organizational steps.

You will be amazed by landscapes of an arrogant beauty, with striking green valleys that contrast with the aridity of the landforms that fall into deep cliffs or spread in bays of heavenly blue waters. In the center of the island dominates the Exomvourgo, an impressive granite colossus.

This island was the garden of Athens, and it keeps a rich Mediterranean culinary tradition, healthy and alive. Agriculture, breeding and gathering are living practices despite the wind that leaves its trace even in the strongest olive trees.

Tinos is bathed in natural beauty and serenity. The passionate about great natural spaces and the lovers of simple life will definitely succumb to its charm. 

So if you want to join me on this unique hiking tour in Tinos, just send me a request. Book your trip and get ready for an unforgettable trip in this Greek island.

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Dinner

Price details

The price includes transfers during the program, and accommodation with breakfast, lunch and 3 evening meals (Days 1, 4 and 6).

The price does not include air transport, airport shuttle to Rafina, ferry (half-fare), insurance, entries of sites and museums, drinks, and personal expenses. Dinners on days 2, 3 and 5 are not included. Price per person for a group of 9: 1490 CHF.


Itinerary

Day 1: Rafina-Tinos

Arrival in Athens. Bus to Rafina. Arrival at 5 pm maximum to embark on ferry direction Tinos. Arrival in Tinos at 9:30 pm. Setting in at homestay accommodation. Shared dinner to get to know each other in the group.

Day 2: South West Coast

On the first day of our hiking tour, we will follow the south-west coast of the island between terraces and cliffs. We will walk in the arid side of the island, in the midst of the Greek scrubland, saturated with essences of powerful odor of savory and sage. We will enjoy a great view over the island of Syros, in the middle of this immense turquoise sea and we will have lunch on a small beach, with a wonderful Cycladic atmosphere. We will enjoy a feast of local flavors. We will climb to the pristine village of Kardiani, with fantastic white marble architecture,  contrasting with the green of the huge plane trees. Walking time: 6-7 hours. Ascent: 400 m.

Day 3: The Volcanic North-East

As a moon-like destination, the Volax area is made up of rounded granite rocks chaotically diseminated in the landscape, creating a surreal lunar atmosphere. The wet valleys are green snakes in the middle of these sun-drenched slopes. This is an opportunity to discover the fig trees and olive trees. We will eat at Agapi in a traditional inn and then end our journey in Kolibitra Bay for a well deserved swim. Walking time: 5-6 hours. Height difference: 400 m.

Day 4 to 5: The West: marble and monastery

We will enjoy 2 days of trekking in the West of the island. The first day is cultural. We will leave Ysternia and visit the village of Pirgos, a traditional architectural masterpiece of the cyclades. Pirgos houses the national training center of the fine arts. We will descend to the slopes of “Garrigué” to reach the port of Panormos and eat at a tavern in this idyllic setting. Then we will go up to the Monastery to spend the night in open country. We will attend orthodox religious ceremony with songs, guitar chords and dances. In the middle of the Cyclades, somewhere in Tinos, we will be just happy to feel alive! The next day, we will leave the monastery for a beautiful day of walking in the wild part of the island. We will make interesting naturalistic explorations on the way. A coffee break is planned at the shore in a private house and we will resume our journey to discover this intimate part of the island. We will finish our tour in Ammos, to catch our breath and dream again of these two days of adventure.

Day 4- Walking time: 5-6 hours. Ascent: 350 m.

Day 5.  Walking time:: 5-6 hours. Ascent: 150 m. Descent: 250 m.

Day 6: The mountainous center of the island, jams and fiesta

This last day of hiking will take us to the heart of the island on the trails of Exombourgo. We will go around the summit to take in a last panorama of the island. Lunch will be at homestay in Tripotamos. In the afternoon, we will join the house of Nikoleta for a preparation session of delicious jams and traditional preserves (strawberry, artichoke, capers,  depending on the season and availability). Finally, in the evening, we will celebrate our week in Tinos with a private show, laughs, songs, dances, and authentic dishes. Joy of life, pleasure of eating and fresh products with vegetables and fresh fish, and we have the secrets of Mediterranean longevity! Walking time: 3-4 hours. Ascent: 300 m. Descent:300 m

Day 7: Churches and cliffs

We will pay a last tribute to Tinos by visiting its Orthodox Church, Panaghia Evangelistria, walking up the main street of the city that leads straight ahead of this imposing religious building. We will then go to the cliffs of Tinos to admire the serpentinite cliffs and do some botanical revisions. We will have lunch together on the harbor and the boat will be waiting for us at 2pm for departure to Athens. After 4 hours of travel, we wooñ then take the bus to Athens airport.

 

Details

More info

-The price per person for a 9 people group is 1582 CH.

-You should bring a small backpack of less than 30 liters for hiking, to put everything you need in the day.

-Meals. Breakfasts are served by the hosts at the homestay. They are traditional and depend on the culinary talent of the host family. The food will be Mediterranean with vegetables, fresh fish and olive oil. The specialties of Tinos will be tasted on a picnic, in taverns or in the evening during organized meals.The special diets will be taken into account as far as possible provided we warn them before the stay.

-It is possible to continue the adventure for a few more days by participating in an environmental action in Tinos. The island's hiking trails are lacking in maintenance. Local organizers can offer you to participate for 2 days in a trail restoration project or other projects. If you are interested, I can give you additional information.

-Besides hiking shoes or boots suitable for stony ground, a good windbreaker and comfortable clothes, you should bring a swimsuit, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Meeting point


About the guide

Guide profile image

Sylvain

Mountain Guide

Passionate about botany and ornithology, trained in ecology, I have long worked in environmental protection, rural development and adaptation to climate change in the Sahel.

Coming from a family of (small) farmers in the West of France, my initial training focused on the management and protection of nature. My associative activities have also allowed me to develop a solid naturalistic culture.

My professional career began with a regional development project in the Alpes de Haute-Provence. Afterwards, I was an ornithological animator in the Eastern Pyrenees. At 25, I went to Niger and worked there for 7 years, first as an international volunteer (France volunteers) then as a technical advisor for the German cooperation services (DED/GIZ). After a brief return to France and a visit to Canada to perfect my English, I went back to West Africa - this time to Senegal where I coordinated a climate change adaptation project for a French NGO.

Tired of the contradictions of the associative and institutional milieu, I finally chose to fly on my own while keeping a privileged link with nature. While my stays in so-called "developing" countries have led me to grasp the fragility of life, it is quite naturally that I wanted to take a closer interest in health.

I then trained in naturopathy with the Herbothèque (Quebec) and the Mandorle School (Switzerland), and specialized in scientific aromatherapy with Dominique Baudoux. I also returned to my first loves: botany and the study of plants. Settled in Switzerland since September 2015, I also trained as a mountain leader at the Saint Jean d'Anniviers school in Valais. I opened my naturopathic practice in Neuchâtel in the summer of 2016 and am a member of the Syndicat des professionnels de la naturopathie (SPN) and the central committee of the Association suisse des accompagnateurs en montagne (ASAM).

Two caps - naturopath and herbalist and hiking guide - for the same passion: nature. My vocation today is to share and transmit it in many ways.
I propose "nature and health" or "nature and culture" stays, cooking-nutrition courses, herbal walks, botanical walks. It's about walking, discovering a region, its nature, learning about wild plants, who they are, what they do. A complete naturopathic check-up can be integrated into the program. This allows individuals to have a complete view of their health status and to obtain an individualized health optimization program.

The proposed destinations are regions to which I am strongly attached and/or that I know well for having lived there: the Mediterranean basin, West Africa, South-West and West France, Switzerland :

France: the Languedoc Roussillon Mediterranean and its causses, the eastern Pyrenees, the Grenoble region with the Chartreuse and Vercors, the Charente Maritime, Brittany, the Southern Alps.
Southern Italy, Naples region.
Greece: Cyclades and Parnitha Natural Park
Sahelian Africa: Northern Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso.
Morocco: from Essaouira to the South of the Atlas Mountains
Switzerland: Vaud, Neuchâtel and Bernese Jura, pre-Alpes, Valais.

The stays take place either from a fixed point in a gîte, or while roaming. In both cases, healthy local cuisine will be at the party.

Any reservation of my stays abroad for my Swiss clientele is made through the travel agency "Le goût du voyage". This partnership is based on mutual trust and a shared travel ethic. The organization of the pre-trip is thus delegated to competent and experienced professionals, which allows me to concentrate on my work as a guide and to secure this activity on the legal level.

Other tailor-made offers can also be proposed. Feel free to contact me.

The past and present programming of my health hiking activity can be found on the "Events" page.

A blog also presents articles on hikes or stays proposed to inspire you (choose the "hiking trips" category).

Languages

French | English

Certificates

ASAM


What people are saying about Explore-Share

Kumari

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I’m extremely happy with the ease with which I could book via your site reliable and experienced guide. Thank you so very much, and I’ve started to recommend your site to my friends. Dimitris is not only an awesome guide, but a wonderful person who was always looking out to give me the best experience I can have when he found out how much I love climbing! He is the Best!

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I am very pleased with Explore-Share! This was my first international climb, and the communication and response time were great. Herbie is a very skilled guide and very efficient. The entire booking process & payment was smooth. I will definitely use Explore-Share again. Thank you.

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Lesley

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Thank you explore-share for a wonderful via feratta experience. We have been wanting to learn for a long time but don't have the facilities in Scotland. The guide Mitja was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, answering all my many questions and providing advice. On the day head to take another group but he quickly arranged another guide Borut, who was brilliant. We had a fantastic morning learning via ferrata at Hvadnik in the gorge. It gave us the confidence to later hire our own equipment and go out in Mojstrana. Altogether a five star + experience. Thank you.

 

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