MOUNTAINS & VILLAGES OF EVIA

Day 1
Fly to Athens; transfer by road to Rafina (approximately 35 min), and then take the ferry to Mamari on Evia Island (about 1hr). It is then a short drive to our hotel at Karystos.

Day 2
Our first day take us to the villages of Gourna that are scattered around Castello Rosso,one of the grandest castles of the 4th Crusade and certainly one of the most impressive in the Meditteranean with stunning views of the Aegean.We visit the ruins of the mediaeval citadel and the Roman aqueduct on the hill of Montofoli. We descend back to Karystos via the village of Aetos, famous for its lush lemon and olive groves.

Day 3
The Ravine Driving along the south-eastern tip of the island, over the mountains towards the Cape of Cavo Doro, takes us to the beautiful valley of Platanistos and the first of 20 ancient villages of Albanian descent. Over the arch of the Mourtia bridge we follow the river towards Potami hamlet on the coast, a Hellinistic anchorage since Homeric times. We visit the site of Hellinikon with the remains of the foundations of Poseidon's temple, dating back to the 8th Century B.C.and amongst large plane trees we reach the sea with one of the best beaches in the Aegean where we can swim and relax. We return to Karystos by taxi.

Day 4
An early morning drive along the panoramic 'Eagle Route' takes us above the evergreen valley of Styra. We climb Mt Kliosi with its dramatic ancient Acropolis on top. The Gate, the Cave of St Nicolas and the remains of Castro Armeno often in the mist make it a visit to remember.We descend gently past thousants of strawberry tree bushes and the Roman Quarries, where megatonnes of Cippolino Green Marble was extracted, to the village of Nea Styra for lunch, before a transfer back to our hotel.

Day 5
We travel by taxi to Petrocanalo on Mt Ohi (1,000m altitude) where we start the famous walk of Demosaris to the east coast of Evia. The deepest and longest gorge on Evia is a unique habitat for flora and fauna; the gorge is also home to peonies and orchids, golden eagles and dippers. In the shade of huge plane and chestnut trees, we pass waterfalls and pools (swimming possible) as we walk down the ancient stone path to the hamlet of Lenosei, famous for its honey and its 12th century church of Panagia. At the bottom of the gorge we arrive at the village of Kalliani - another Albanian community - with a broad secluded beach; this area is occasionally visited by monk seals and dolphins. Here there is time for lunch and some swimming.

Day 6
Relax on the beach, or wonder around Karystos, a living Greek island market town. Alternatively you can hike along the Karystian bay or the lovely countryside of the bay of Marmari, or travel to Athens for a day exploring the capital's famous sites.

Day 7
Today we'll trek the slopes of Ohi, one of the sacred Mountains in Greek Mythology: this is the place where Olympic Zeus met Hera. An uphill walk will take us to the heart of the Marble area of the famous Cippolino, the green and white striped coloured Karystian Marble. A most renowned marble, much praised and used by the Romans, it decorated almost every monumental building all over the Roman Empire. Walking along the Roman steps we reach the superb site of Kolones, an ancient quarry with ten Roman columns still lying there, awaiting shipment since biblical times. Our descent towards the village of Mili will offer commanding views of the deep blue and beautiful Aegean sea. At the Montofoli Winery Estate, a place of wine making for the last 2,000 years, we will try the exquisite Vin De Liquer, a unique desert wine and its full bodied Merlot.

Day 8
Back to Rafina by ferry. Transfer to Athens. Fly to London