Island hopping and ancient paths in Greece

When you picture Greece, you probably conjure up images of those iconic cobalt-topped white buildings, perched over the turquoise seas around Santorini. This is what Greece is renowned for, and Laura from our Felixstowe shop was looking forward to enjoying those famous vistas on her guided walking tour of the Greek Isles with Exodus. “I was excited for this trip!” says Laura, “I thought the islands would be really beautiful.”

Exodus are experts in small group adventures, offering walking, cycling, culture and wildlife tours across Europe and Africa. Founded over 50 years ago, the company is all about discovery, exploration and cultural immersion, with sustainability at the heart of their operations. With expert local knowledge, supporting local economies and minimising their impact by travelling respectfully, they now offer over 500 itineraries to 90 different countries across the globe.

Laura’s tour was to visit three of Greece’s Cyclades Islands, nestled in the Aegean Sea. The first was Santorini, the jewel in the Cyclades crown, with its whitewashed houses and stunning sunsets. The island was created from a gigantic volcanic eruption around 1650 BC, which formed its distinctive crescent shape, and many speculate that it was the location of the legendary lost city of Atlantis. Here Laura walked the famous Cliff Trail, a spectacular path 400m above the volcanic caldera, with stunning views to reward hikers’ efforts.

Journeying on to the largest Cyclades Island of Naxos, here Classical, Venetian and Byzantine influences blend throughout, with diverse landscapes dotted with walking trails, ancient sites and mountain villages. Naxos is home to some of the finest produce in Greece such as olives, corn, grapes, figs and citrus fruit, and Laura hiked the lush Tragea Valley with its famous olive and citrus groves, passing Kouros, a giant statue from the fifth century BCE, lying abandoned where it fell all those years ago. There is also The Temple of Apollo for history lovers, and the Venetian town of Hora with charming markets, shops and restaurants scattered among its ancient streets.

The third island of Laura’s itinerary was Paros, which famously provided the marble for the Venus de Milo and Napoleon’s tomb. The island is in steeped in history, as well as boasting some beautiful beaches. Here Laura hiked from Lefkes village at the heart of the island, travelling along Byzantine paths all the way to the east coast. This ancient route is thought to be over 1,000 years old and originally straddled the entire island. Here you literally walk in the footsteps of people from hundreds of years ago…..

Each walking route showcases the best of the natural and historic sites on each island, and overnight stays are in family run hotels to benefit local communities. Flying into Athens, but then travelling by a mixture of public transport, bus, ferry and local taxis, you get a real feel for living, breathing Greece.

Exodus’ group size is between 4-16 people, and this trip, graded Easy-Moderate averaged 3-4 hours walking a day. You don’t have to be an expert hiker, “I really enjoyed the walking, and it’s something I’ve not really done before.” confirms Laura. Greek cuisine was a big hit too, “I knew the food would be lovely, as I’ve been to Greece before – we tried Greek fruits in the valleys on Naxos, and I tried the famous Tzatziki – I love it!”

“This trip was amazing!” confirms Laura, “It was a great way to experience three different islands in seven nights. The hotels were lovely, with pools and spacious rooms, each situated close to shops, bars and restaurants for us to explore in the evenings. We could learn about the islands with our excellent local guide, Thanos, whilst enjoying those breathtaking views, it was fantastic!”

If you feel inspired to visit Greece, you can talk to Laura at Felixstowe or visit your local shop.

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