Arrival in Athens (SIWH01)
Your holiday starts in Athens. You’ll be taken from the airport to your hotel in the centre of Athens. Should you arrive early, you might start exploring Athens and maybe have dinner or a drink with view on the Acropole.
Biking tour Athens and afternoon city walk (SIWH02)
In the morning you’ll explore Athens in a unique way - by bicycle! With a local guide you’ll cycle in a small group along the city’s highlights. Not only the famous ones like the majestic Acropole, the Zeus temple and the Panathenaic Stadium, but you’ll also explore the lesser-known areas in the centre, like the lively neighbourhood Psirri and the indoor meat and fish market.
The afternoon is free; you’ll find a lovely city walk suggestion in your navigation app.
biking time: 3 hours
Via Hydra to Poros (SIWH03)
In the early morning you’ll be taken to Flisvos port near Athens and board the comfortable excursion boat that will take you in 3 hours to the pictoresque island Hydra. You’ll have about 1½ hour to explore the charming harbour town. You won’t find cars on the island; all transport is by mules. This is the ultimate Greece!
Then you sail on to Poros. On the excursion boat a buffet lunch is served. Upon arrival in Poros harbour you’ll be taken to the hotel in Askeli, close to Poros town on a beautiful bay. In the afternoon you may take a refreshing sea bath or take a stroll to the famous bell tower of Poros Town.
Walk Poros Kalavria and Poseidon temple (SIWH04)
Today’s walk will take you to the innerland of the bigger part of Poros: Kalavria. You’ll ascend past agricultural fields and through dense fir woods until you’ve reached 300m altitude.
Here the ruines of the Poseidon temple are situated, high on a hilltop. The temple was built in the 6th century bC and was dedicated to Poseidon, the sea god. The remnants still are impressive and the views over the surroundings magnificent. By a different route you’ll descend again into Poros Town and Askeli.
(Note: you may also take a taxi until the temple and start the hike from there; this will save you the first climb.)
walking time/distance: 4h15’ / 10,9km
ascent/descent: 415m
start/finish: Poros Askeli
Optional visit Hydra with hike (SIWH05)
For this optional trip you may prebook tickets for the morning catamaran to Hydra and the last boat back. You may also buy the tickets on the spot. Maybe your stop-over on Hydra made you anxious for more and this day is perfect for an exploration of Hydra by foot.
In the route book you’ll find 2 great hikes on Hydra. The first hike is a short one along windmill ruins with splendid views over Hydra town. The other option takes you along the coast to the Vlycha arched bridge and then back to Hydra town through the innerland and past the ancient port Palamidas.
Should you not opt for Hydra, you may undertake another activity on Poros, or make the Sferia walk (see day 6). Sea kayaks and bikes are available for rent. (The boat to Hydra does not sail every day in low season.)
walking time/distance: 4h / 9,6km or 2h / 3,4km
ascent/descent: 250m or 200m
start/finish: Hydra town
Walk Poros Sferia; to Aegina (SIWH06)
In the morning you’ll discover on foot the smaller peninsula Sferia: the southern part of Poros. You start from Askeli to Poros Town, situated on Sferia. By age-old steps in the village you’ll climb all the way up to a windmill ruin. From here the views over Poros and the sea channel between Poros and the Peloponnese are breath-taking.
At this altitude a path starts towards the old Agioi Anargyroi chapel, a nice cool spot for a break. By a paved path with steps you’ll descend again into the port of Poros. Maybe it’s time for a refreshing drink before you head back to Askeli?
You may also stay in Poros town for lunch, because in the afternoon you’ll board the excursion boat again to sail in 1 hour to Aegina island. (Your luggage will be taken to the harbour.)
The character of Aegina is completely different than Poros. In Aegina your luggage is taken from the port and you walk in 15-20 minutes to the hotel, maybe after a quick tour of the cosy harbour town. You’ll immediately notice the many pistachio stalls: the island is famous for its nuts and as soon as you’ll leave the village you’ll find lots of pistachio orchards.
Aegina has a long history dating back into ancient times and it’s worth the while to explore the archeological finds in and around the town.
walking time/distance: 2h / 6km
ascent/descent: 115m
start/finish: Poros Askeli
Walk Aegina Agios Nektarios-Mesagros-Agia Marina (SIWH07)
By public bus you’ll travel to the famous monastery Agios Nektarios, nowadays run by nuns. The enormous church is built for Nektarios, patron saint of the island and of the sick. From there you walk to Paleochora, a Byzantine ghost town, once the heart of the island. There are still 38 ruins of Byzantine chapels, some in good condition. Past the chapels you’ll reach the high castle offering 360o view over Aegina. From there you descend along windmill ruins to the graveyard near the village Mesagros. You may stay on the bus and leave at the bus stop Mesagros, if you want to shorten the walk.
You proceed on gravel roads and paths to the east coast. Suddenly the temple of Aphaia comes into view, proudly presenting itself above the tree tops. The temple is built in 500 bC in honour of Aphaia, goddess of fertility, and is an important archeological site.
After your visit you continue on a hiking path and descend to the harbour village Agia Marina. You travel back to Aegina town by public bus or taxi.
walking time/distance: 4h / 9,1km or from Mesagros 2h10’ / 5,2km
ascent/descent: 230m / 390m or from Mesagros 85m / 190m
start/finish: Agios Nektarios or Mesagros / Agia Marina
Walk Aegina Perdika-Marathonas beach; to Athens (SIWH08)
For your last day on Aegina you’ll have several options. In the route book you’ll find a lovely walk from Perdika past the Ellanion summit to Marathonas beach; you may shorten the walk by skipping the summit. For this hike a taxi is necessary, not included.
The route takes you through the innerland past old agricultural fields, idyllic chapels and unique views over the Peloponnese and Methana peninsula. You’ll pass prehistoric ‘dragon houses’. You may go all the way to the summit of mount Ellanion (520m!). You descend to Marathonas beach through the Elaionas, an olive grove with trees more than thousand years old. On the beach you’ll take a taxi back to the port.
You may also rent a bicycle and cycle to the pictoresque fisherman’s village Perdika, with many small fish tavernas on the shore viewing Moni islet. There are fisherman’s boats going to Moni from Perdika and Poros town. In summer season you can sunbath on the organised beach with sunbeds and umbrellas.
At the end of the afternoon you’ll take the excursion boat back to Flisvos port. During the crossing of about 1½ hour there’ll be a folklore dance group on board and maybe you’ll join them in the sirtaki. You’ll be met at the port and taken to your hotel in Athens.
walking time/distance: 4h15’ / 11,3km or without Ellanion summit 2h45’ / 7,1km
ascent/descent: 500m / 525m or without Ellanion summit 265m / 290m
start/finish: Perdika / Marathonas beach
Departure (SIWH09)
End of the arrangement. Transfer to the airport and departure.
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