1. Vathy – Gidaki beach:

Duration:

4 hours: 1.5 hours hiking – 2 hours beach stop – 20 minutes boat transfer.

Distanse:

5 kilometers (hiking)

Description:

An easy hike from Vathy to Gidaki beach. Half of the hike is on the road. Then we take the path through the pine forest from Shinos beach to Gidaki beach. Gidaki is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island and we can relax and swim there. Then we have a boat pick-up to return to Vathy harbor.

Transfers:

Boat transfer back to Vathy.

Minimum participants per Group:

3 people

Cost:

40€

2. Kathera Monastery – Anogi village – Kioni village:

Duration:

6 hours: 5 hours hiking – 1 hour stop at Anogi village at the traditional cafe.

Distanse:

9km

Description:

That’s a medium difficulty hike which will last 6 hours depending on our pace and the stops we will do. The first part of the path is a rocky old path with a stunning view. We reach almost 700 meters elevation and you have a view of the whole surrounding middle Ionian sea area. The second part of the path (after Anogi village) is covered with stone in a traditional way. We can visit some spots around Anogi village as the monastery of Kathara, the medieval church next to the main square of the village and the huge monoliths also known as Menirs. On our way to Kioni we visit the small chapel dedicated to the Holy Marry also known as Mouhla, recently refurbished by the locals. Kioni village is a great place to relax after this hike or to swim at its tiny beaches.

Transfers:

There is a morning taxi or mini bus transfer from Vathy to Kathara Monastery and a boat transfer from Kioni to Vathy.

Minimum participants per Group:

3 people

Cost:

60€

3. Cave of Nymphs – Perahori village – Marathias area – Arethousa Krini spring – Pera Pigadi beach:

Duration:

7hours: 5 hours hiking and 1hour stop at the traditional cafe at Perahori and 1 hour beach stop.

Distanse:

11km

Description:

This is a longer hike. We start the hike straight from Vathy. We visit the cave of the nymphs then we “climb” to Perahori village and we visit Paleohora Medieval village and its church with the amazing frescos. Then we hike to the agricultural Marathias area through the old path and finally we visit Arethousa Krini spring which is a Homeric location. Next to Arethousa Krini it is located a nice beach  where we can swim and then a boat will pick us up from there.

Transfers:

Boat transfer from Pera Pigadi beach to Vathy. There is also the option to skip the last 1km of the hike and have a taxi pick up from Marathias Area.

Minimum participants per Group:

3 people

Cost:

60€ 

4. Stavros Village – Stavros Museum – Homer’s School – Perivoli beach for swimming (optional):

Duration:

6hours: 3 hours hiking, 2 hour stopping at the points of interest and 1 hour beach stop

Distanse:

7km

Description:

We start the hike just above Polis bay and we talk about Polis cave and the important artifacts that the archeologists found during the excavations there. Then we visit the scale model of Odysseus Palace at the main square of Stavros village, designed by the Italian architect Bruno Mazzali. Then we head to the archeological museum of Stavros village and after that to Homer’s School, where Odysseus Palace is located. We go to Perivoli beach for a swim stop and we finish the hike at Platrithias village at a modern cafe restaurant.

For a more complete “travel” into history make sure you’ll book the local history expert, Spyros Couvaras. He will provide you with scientific information of the whole area. He proves in just 3 hours how modern Ithaca is related with the Homeric Ithaca and why it is considered as the same place.

Transfers:

There is a morning taxi or mini bus transfer from Vathy to Stavros village and an afternoon taxi or mini bus transfer from Platrithias to Vathy.

Minimum participants per Group:

3 people

Cost:

(60€ + 50€ per group for the professional history guide)

5. Custom hikes:

– We can also design custom hikes according to the attraction you want to visit and to your fitness level. There are plenty of paths around the archaeological site of Homer’s school ( the location of Odysseus palace). Also there is a great network of paths and dirt roads at the South side of the island.

– For groups that they have less hours available to spend with us, we can always “break” the hikes in smaller parts in a reduced price.