Trekking Amorgos

Amorgos island like many other Greek islands is very suitable for lovers of trekking and nature. An activity different from the usual tour for the beaches that for God's sake always have their charm and basically is the main purpose of every tourist, which in recent years is gaining ground just to use an aphorism with the possibility of exploring and discover a wonderful territory with a thousand differences.

A wild land, a secret jewel of the Cyclades Islands where you will be amazed by the still uncontaminated environment, where you can find wild aromatic herbs with a deep blue sky and the sun that, reflecting on the sea, blinds and makes everything as if it were inert.

Various are the paths to do and the most suitable seasons are surely spring and autumn for the temperature. Even in summer it is possible, but you have to leave very early in order not to be surprised by the hottest hours which are very difficult to deal with, especially on routes that have ups and downs and always notify someone of your movements. Remember to have suitable equipment such as shoes that protect the ankles, water, a hat and sunscreen.

If you are a DIY lover and obviously and have a modest experience in trekking, you can very well embark on these adventures by following only the maps that are found in all the shops of Amorgos, or you can rely on expert local guides or still find books interesting that explain which routes to take and in this regard on Google you will be spoiled for choice.

Here we want to give you some information on the seven main paths to do so just to get an idea and maybe spend a different day during your holidays in Greece in Amorgos.

Let's start with the Chora - Hozovitissa Monastery - Kapsala - Asfondilitis - Potamos - Langada route. The departure is from Chora the capital up to the beautiful Hozovitissa Monastery to get to Kapsala where you will find the Panagia Theoskepasti dedicated to the Virgin Mary around which a beautiful legend revolves. It is said that during one night the inhabitants saw a light that from the sea approached the coast and curiously followed it. The glow stopped inside a cave and came from a splendid silver icon. They then decided to transfer it to the church of Agios Athanasios but in the morning the icon disappeared and was always found inside the same cave. So it was that they decided to build the church just above the cave hill and leave the icon in the small chapel. Unfortunately the locals did not have enough funds to be able to finish the church which remained without a roof for a long time until one night mysteriously from the sea some wooden logs were brought to the shore which were used to complete it. Since it was considered as a gift from God, the church was called Theoskepasti which means "covered by God". You then continue on a path that leads to Asfontilitis where you will find an old settlement with a well, rock paintings and the church of San Nicola. We then proceed to Oxo Meria up to the church of Agias Mamas and finally passing through the village of Potamos alto (Pano Potamos), to the picturesque village of Langada. Walking time, about 4/5 hours, medium-high difficulty.

The second route that we recommend is Chora - Milies - Sant'Irini - Katapola. Always departure from the Chora in the northern part of Vorina along the Kato Filladi ravine with a unique view, where in front of it is the church of the Madonna di Fidopotamianis and just after the chapel of the Archangel. We continue towards the Fonias area up to Milies where the vegetation is extraordinary and luxuriant with fresh springs. It ends by crossing the Gialyna olive grove to arrive at the tabernacle of Santa Irini and conclude the walk in the village of Katapola. Journey time about an hour and a half, easy difficulty.

The third route includes Lefkes (Ag. Thekla) - Agioi Saranda - Kamari - Kastri (Ancient Arkesini) - Vroutsi - Rachoula - Arkesini (Tower of Ag. Triada). A real dive into the past, a cultural journey of almost four millennia between the ancient city of Minoa, the summer residence of Minos and Arkesini, a city founded in 900 BC where the human settlement was present until the Middle Ages and then was abandoned for fear of pirates. Also called Kastro (castle in Greek), it has a tower from the 15th century and in the early Cycladic period it was enlarged with fortifications as evidenced by the relics, ceramics, inscriptions and sculptures found. In the geometric period the Acropolis was also built in honor of the Goddess Aphrodite and the Goddess Athena with a street of columns. The panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and the surrounding islands is stunning. The whole path is called Itonia and refers to the country festival to thank the Goddess Athena Itonia. You can also reach Rachoula, the Tower of Agia Triada then passing through canyons and beaches such as Foinikis beach and Agios Saranta beach. And still small chapels with Byzantine frescoes such as the chapel of Ag. Thekla and Agios Nikoalos Kamari. A catapult into history among landscapes in constant morphological change where you can still breathe the atmosphere of the past. Walking time about three hours, medium difficulty.

In the fourth route we touch the port towns of Aegiali - Langada - Stroumbos - Panagia di Epanochoriani - Tholaria - Fokiotripa (at the end of Aegali beach). We are in the north of the island of Amorgos, a promenade full of cultural interests and amazing views over the bay of Aegiali. We arrive at the village of Langada with its windmills and the scenic ravine of Araklis and then visit the Panagia Epanochornias and again on the hill of Vigla where the ancient Acropolis of Aeigiali is located to admire the ruins of the surrounding wall and the tombs dating back to the early Cycladic and middle Cycladic periods. Walking time about two hours, easy difficulty.

And here is the fifth route which includes Lagkada - Theologos - Stavros - Krikelos. In the midst of a wild nature between barren and mysterious mountains that are part of the Natural 2000 project that reach the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Theologos dedicated to the Saint who wrote the Apocalypse and then reach the Stavros chapel on the top of the primitive bauxite mine. It ends arriving on the highest peak of the island of Amorgos, the Krikelos at about 821 meters high where you will be breathless not for the fatigue, but for the view that sweeps from the whole island and over the majestic Aegean Sea. Walking time about two and a half hours, difficult difficulty.

We continue with the sixth path Katapola - Agios Georgios Valsamitis - Agia Marina - Minoa - Katapola. Departure from the beautiful village of Katapola through natural areas of rare beauty to the monastery of Agios Georgios Valsamitis hidden by dense vegetation. One of the first built in Byzantine style on top of an ancient temple dedicated to the God Apollo. Scented rose gardens will envelop you on the terraces of the square and inside 18th century murals. Vaslamitis is an ancient divination ceremony through the water of the spring now sealed by the diocese since 1967 but the faith in the “talking” holy water in Amorgos was and still is very much felt today. In current times you will receive the nun Irene who takes care of this picturesque place with extreme dedication. It follows the church of Agia Marina to reach the ancient Minoa on the hill that testify to the human presence since 4000 BC. You can also visit a Mycenaean cemetery with an arch-shaped tomb and the temple of Dionysus. The walk in the village ends on the road to Agios Nicolaos. Walking time about two hours, easy difficulty.

We end with the seventh path Xylokeratidi (Katapola) - Nera - Vigla - Peristeria -Evangelistria. A circular walk through the Katapola cemetery to the Nera an ancient well near the church of Agios Theodori. Continuing on the right you meet Vigla with its ancient Acropolis and you end up at the chapel of Evangelistra which preserves murals representing the life of the island in the early Byzantine period. The surrounding landscape during the walk is stunning starting from the natural port of Katapola to the islands surrounding Amorgos. Journey time about an hour, very easy difficulty.

Here are a few traces but to give you an overview of how many excursions you can do on the beautiful Amorgos and if you want to know more, consult the site https://amorgos.gr/walking-paths-amorgos/.

A different experience to live your holiday in Greece in a different way and I recommend you check these beautiful walks on the list of things to do in Amorgos that will be a healthy touch from many points of view.