Exploring the Greek Islands of Paros, Santorini and Naxos during the beautiful wildflower and lush spring season was a dream come true. Not only was I able to explore archeological treasures, dramatic landscapes, and delicious food, but our itinerary allowed us to hike through the small villages and explore lesser known areas.
Our journey began on the enchanting island of Paros, a lesser-known gem in the Cycladic Islands that steals your breath with its whitewashed buildings and vibrant bougainvillea blooming over each doorway. This is definitely a laid-back but charming island, with smaller villages scattered along the coastline and great sndy beaches to enjoy the turquoise Aegean waters.
Next, we did as the Greeks do and headed south on the BlueStar Ferry line to the infamous island of Santorini. Traveling the Greek islands in April/May means you get to experience warm sunny days and cool overcast ones as well. We arrived into the cloud covered caldera, you could just barely make out the white-washed villages on the caldera rim, giving the illusion of an island dusted by snow. Luckily, spring weather brought sunny days for the rest of our stay, so we were able to witness the sparkling villages and jaw dropping construction of cliffside buildings with unbelievable views of volcanic rock meeting the brilliant blue of the sea.
Our final destination was the island of Naxos, with its delightful villages and azure seas stretching as far as the eye could see. Entering the harbor by ferry you are greeted by Portara on your left, a marble gate from a temple of Apollo constructed in 530BC. Exploring this lush and self-sustaining island, with a fresh water source and endless groves of olive, and fruit trees, was truly my favorite part of the trip. The end of our trip also brought the warmest weather so it was lovely to experience the Mediterranean sun on Naxos famous white sand beaches.
Throughout the trip, I was incredibly grateful for Thanos, our very Greek guide, who brought each island to life. Sharing stories and history of each island and warm conversations with locals wherever we stopped. The icing on the cake to these beautiful locations was seeing it through Thanos's eyes as a proud Greek.
By diving in, exploring the smaller villages, wandering the remote hiking trails, stopping at small cafes and restaurant tucked away and taking some time to learn a few Greek phrases, had me feeling like the island life was for me!
Active Discovery in Greece
Aug 06, 2023
I highly recommend travelers consider exploring the beauty of the Greek Islands on foot, if you can take even a day to hike and explore the area outside of the main city or villages you will have a deeper appreciation for the beauty and uniqueness of this part of the world. I was fortunate to hike between 5-10 miles on Paros, Santorini, and Naxos, each island offers an enchanting and unforgettable experience, combining stunning natural beauty with a rich historical and cultural heritage.
First and foremost, the landscapes on each island is simply breathtaking. From Paros rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and sandy beaches, to Santorini's stunning caldera rim trail that offers dramatic caldera views and the chance to walk through white-washed villages with the iconic blue domed churched, and last but not least Naxos, the largest of the three, offers endless hiking trails through the picturesque landscape of rolling hills, ancient ruins, and quiet villages. It's easy to understand why you must take time on each island to get off the pavement and onto a trail so you can enjoy the individuality of each place.
Aside from the natural beauty each island has its own history and cultural story. On the island of Paros you can hike the ancient Byzantine trail from the village of Lefkes to the east coast of Paros. This route is 1,000 years old and used to be the only way to traverse the entire island. Along the trail are Cycladic villages, such as Prodromos, that has a labyrinth of narrow winding streets designed to protect villagers from pirate attacks.
While Santorini is the one of the most known and visited Cycladic Islands, few people take the time to wander outside the main towns of Thira and Oia. The trail offers no shortage of breathtaking views as you hike the 6 miles along the caldera rim, passing through smaller towns such as Imerovigli. The geological history of the Minoan volcanic eruption, is also fascinating as it reshaped the entire island, and buried successful bronze age civilizations such as Akrotiri on the southern part of the island.
Naxos not only offers endless hiking trails and a true "mountain" Mount Zeus (3,200 ft above sea-level) to explore, but it is home to the famous Naxian marble quarries, where along your path you come across fully carved marble statues that broke in transport and have been left to rest for thousands of years. While exploring the lush fields and hiking through the countryside you can feel the ancient history that such a place carries.
Hiking in the islands is a beautiful experience and something that people of all ability levels can enjoy, from short level walks, to full day treks across large areas, you won't run out of options. However it is important to consider the weather when planning an active trip such as this. While sea breezes blow across all of the islands it can become quite hot and tiring under the Mediterranean sun. The idea time for island adventures is either spring or late fall when the temperatures start to drop and you can enjoy time outside without overheating.
Hiking the Greek islands of Paros, Santorini, and Naxos will give you a unique and completely different experience and deeper understanding for each place than you can have from a quick port stop on a cruise. An active itinerary on the Greek islands offers something for everyone whether you are an adventure enthusiast or simply seeking to unwind amidst the natural beauty, these islands promise an unforgettable experience.
Tips to Make the Most out of your Greece Adventure
Aug 06, 2023
When people talk about traveling to Greece the options are endless, there are nine distinct regions in Greece, from the Aegean Islands to the Ionian Islands, historical Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly and a few other regions. This just means that planning the perfect Greece trip requires plenty of time (if you want to see it all), or the information to narrow down your trip to just a spot or two. My recommendations when planning a trip to Greece and tips to remember for your time in Greece are:
Start with some basic research. What does Greece mean to you? Is it all about white-washed buildings, and lounging on the shores of beautiful Aegean waters, then Santorini, Paros and Mykonos is the place to go for the upbeat iconic Greek Village photos and great beach experiences. If exploring the countless ruins and rich history of this once very divide land is of interest then time in the Peloponnese, Meteora or Crete would be a historians paradise.
Think about your travel time. In Greece the ferry service is most common among locals and a great way to get from island to island, but they also offer reasonably priced flights around the mainland and from Athens to certain islands so you can make the most of your time without spending it all moving between places.
Try to avoid peak season. Greece is exploding with visitors especially in the summer months. If you want the iconic blue domed roof photo in Oia then try to visit in the off-season, spring, fall or winter will give you the chance to see the sights without thousands of your closest friends.
Learn some Greek. No one said it was easy or that the cyrillic alphabet seems natural for many of us roman alphabet people, but the effort you put in to learn a few Greek words will pay off with countless smiles and endearing remarks from the locals you interact with.
Always be hungry. The food is incredible, fresh ingredients no matter where you turn. Try to find smaller restaurants and places with older Greeks eating so you can enjoy the rich and delicious flavors of their dishes. From moussaka (eggplant dish), saganaki (fried cheese appetizer), mouth watering tzatziki with the freshest herbs, and juicy doner or souvlaki kebabs. Once you've eaten all you can eat don't forget to end your meal with some Ouzo on ice.
Take your time. No matter what you are doing in Greece take your time, during meals get comfortable and enjoy the experience, on walks through new areas stop to look around, while sightseeing give yourself plenty of time to take it all in.You will notice that everything is a bit slower in Greece particularly on the islands and each experience will be more special if you are able to slow down as well.
Have fun! You are on an adventure, every day will present a new opportunity, learning experience or memorable moment.
I cannot recommend a place to travel more highly than Greece, it is a spectacular country that one can easily fall in love with regardless of which region you visit.
Dealing with Erin is such a pleasure; she makes the planning process extremely easy.
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Mary Klaus
2 days ago
I have been working with the wonderful professionals at Adventure Life for many years and keep coming back because of the friendly, courteous, professional expertise I always receive. I've looked for travel agencies here at home but nothing compares to the service I receive with Adventure Life.
Chris Robinson
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I am travelling alone on Bordeaux river cruise. Very prompt and informative responses. No issues.
Cliff Jones
3 days ago
Dealing with Erin is such a pleasure; she makes the planning process extremely easy.
Sue Ryan
5 hours ago
Tilly has been quickly responsive to my texts and emails.
Paula Thompson
1 day ago
I love working with the travel coordinators as they are helpful, friendly, and provide the information with the committed timeframe.
Mary Klaus
2 days ago
I have been working with the wonderful professionals at Adventure Life for many years and keep coming back because of the friendly, courteous, professional expertise I always receive. I've looked for travel agencies here at home but nothing compares to the service I receive with Adventure Life.
Chris Robinson
3 days ago
I am travelling alone on Bordeaux river cruise. Very prompt and informative responses. No issues.
Cliff Jones
3 days ago
Dealing with Erin is such a pleasure; she makes the planning process extremely easy.
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