Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Fly to Athens; transfer to Rafina; ferry to Evia. Fly to Athens; from Athens airport we 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. Accommodation: Hotel Galaxy or similarStandard Hotel Day 2 Walk through the ravine from Platanistos to the beach at Potami Bay We drive along the south-eastern tip of the island, over the mountains towards the Cape of Cavo Doro, heading to the beautiful ravine of Platanistos and the first of 20 ancient villages of Albanian descent. Over the arches of stone bridges, we follow the river towards Potami hamlet on the coast, a Hellinistic anchorage since Homeric times. En route we view the site of Hellinikon with the remains of the foundations of Poseidon's temple, dating back to the 8th century B.C. Walking amongst large plane trees we reach the sea and one of the nicest, yet still relatively unknown, beaches in the Aegean. During the warmer months of the year, we have the opportunity to swim and relax on the beach. We return to Karystos by taxi/coach.Walk: Distance 9 km Ascent 100 m Descent 400 m Max Altitude 400 m Time: 4.5 hoursAccommodation: Hotel Galaxy or similarStandard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Ascend Mount Kliosi and the Acropolis of Styra. We start with an early morning drive along the panoramic mountain road to the North, known as the 'Eagle Route', which takes us above the evergreen valley of Styra. We then climb Mt Kliosi's dramatic summit where the remains of the ancient Acropolis defy time and elements on a 'Wuthering Heights' plateau. The Eerie ancient Gate, the cave of St Nicolas and the ruins of Castro Armeno, often in the mist, make this a visit to remember. The gentle walk down takes us past wild strawberry bushes and the remains of the Roman marble quarries to the quaint villages of Styra Valley, which overlook Marathon, just across the water on the Continent. In the afternoon we take the bus back to Karystos.Walk: Distance 10 km Ascent 300 m Descent 400 m Max Altitude 700 m Time: 5 hoursAccommodation: Hotel Galaxy or similarStandard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Walk through rolling hills and the Gourna villages, passing Roman Columns and visiting the Castello Rosso Our third day takes us up to the villages of Gourna that are scattered high above the bay of Karystos and below the peaks of Mount Ohi. Walking through verdant countryside along stone-worn paths next to springs and streams, we reach the monolithic marble columns in the Imperial Roman Quarries, perfectly completed and abandoned during Rome’s decline. We continue to Castello Rosso, one of the grandest Forts of the 4th crusade, from where we can enjoy beautiful views of the Mediterranean. Using mountain goat-trails and country lanes we walk down to the fertile plain of Aetos, full of citrus, olive and cypress trees, before reaching the coast.Walk: Distance 11 km Ascent 450 m Descent 450 m Max Altitude 500 m Time: 6 hoursAccommodation: Hotel Galaxy or similarStandard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Morning walk in the Bay of Marmari; afternoon free to relax on the beach or wander around Karystos. This morning we drive to the village of Lycorema. We enjoy a coastal walk around the bay and visit the fishing hamlet of Marmari. The afternoon is free to relax on the beach or wander around Karystos, an authentic Greek island town. Walk: Distance 5 km Ascent 0 m Descent 150 m Max Altitude 150 m Time: 3 hours Accommodation: Hotel Galaxy or similarStandard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 6 Morning ferry to Athens; walking tour of Athens including visit to the Acropolis; transfer back to Evia This morning we take the ferry to Athens to discover the historic centre of this breath-taking city, the cradle of Western civilisation and the birthplace of democracy. We wander around the beautiful Plaka, the impressive Houses of Parliament, Zappion National Gardens and St Paul’s Boulevard, before heading up to the Acropolis Hill. We end the tour outside the Acropolis giving those who wish to explore the Acropolis, one of the ancient wonders of our world, the option to do so. In the evening, we transfer back to Evia.Walk: Distance 4 km Ascent 0 m Descent 0 m Time: 3 hoursAccommodation: Hotel Galaxy or similarStandard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Gorge walk from Mt Ohi down to the rugged East Aegean coast. Today we have a picturesque walk through the gorges to the rugged East Aegean coast. We travel by taxi/coach to Boublia on Mt Ohi, which is the starting point of one of the famous gorge walks to the east coast of Evia. The gorge is a unique habitat for flora and fauna with peonies and orchids, eagles and falcons amongst plane and chestnut trees. The ancient stone path leads us close to the dramatically exposed Aegean coast. Walk: Distance 10 km Ascent 0 m Descent 900 m Max Altitude 1000 m Time: 5 hours Accommodation: Hotel Galaxy or similarStandard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Morning ferry to Athens; fly to London After breakfast or lunch, depending on the time of the group departure flight we transfer back to Athens where our adventure ends. Those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport for the flight to London. Meals included: Breakfast
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Galaxy Hotel Our base for the week is the 2-star superior Galaxy Hotel which overlooks the sea in the small coastal town of Karystos. Friendly and traditionally Greek, it has been run by the same family for over 30 years. Situated at the west end of the esplanade just 100 metres from the main square and town centre and a stone’s throw from the beach and its cafes, the Galaxy Hotel is in a perfect location for exploring the town and soaking up the fresh sea air. All rooms face the sparkling sea and have a balcony with a table and chairs to watch the world go by below with a cup of tea in the mornings, with en-suite facilities, fridge, television, telephone, coffee and tea making facilities, air conditioning, toiletries, hairdryer and free Wi-Fi. There are safe and computer/printer facilities in the reception area, 24hr room service for snacks and drinks, one indoor and one outdoor bar and a dining area where a hearty breakfast is served. The tap water is natural spring water from the mountains and is drinkable.
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Reviewed October 2019 Yvonne Fitzpatrick Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia Excellent Adventurous walking & scrambling along the dramatic coastline & remote villages of Island of Evia. Tasting delicious cousin of their culture. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Arriving, meeting the group leader & the rest of the travellers. What did you think of your group leader? Cecile was very passionate about Greece, Karystos Isle of Evia & the adventures she was taking us on. Safety conscious & a lovely sense of humour. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you take all equipment that has been advised. Strong boots which supports your ankles very important as you could easily twist your ankle/s in the rough terrain. Is there anything else you would like to add? Be open to your adventures & enjoy every moment.
Reviewed July 2019 Sally Ward Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia Fantastically enjoyable holiday If you like sparkling turquoise sea pretty much outside the hotel then this holiday is for you ! I found the walking quite tough as I wasn’t quite fit enough and as other reviewers state it’s more moderate than leisurely especially in June! However, I enjoyed the three walks I did enormously and it was amazing to get up (and down) to the Roman columns the view from which is so memorable and now my screen saver. Solid support and encouragement up and down from Cecile and lovely group members. Plenty to see and do if you want to dip in and out of the walking you can, ie to dip in and out of the sea on comfy sun loungers with inexpensive waiter service from the taverna whilst helping the Greek economy (what’s not to like). One day I went on an astounding snorkelling trip to the renowned Petali Islands : 7 hours for €35 including CAKE !!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? (In my case) staggering to end of first walk to arrive at a heavenly beach, sea and taverna...... First sight of the acropolis on the inclusive day trip to Athens Getting to the top of the Roman column walk The turquoise sparking sea...... Our lovely group - all so different but all so lovely ! What did you think of your group leader? Solid as a rock - very experienced and entirely dependable and she has a rescue donkey! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Over 65’s take passport to Athens trip for discounted entry to Acropolis and Archaeological museum I regret not biting the bullet and seeing the Acropolis AND the museum and foregoing the hot walk through Athens, meeting at parliament as suggested. It would have been easy to do in hindsight perhaps clearer instructions on this alternative would be good. In summer you need to be fit - it was 30 degrees plus in June 2019. I had originally booked for May but not enough people so I transferred to June. Luckily I love the beach so it was a PERFECT HOLIDAY for me. Is there anything else you would like to add? I hadn’t been to Greece for many years and had forgotten some of its foibles, one plug for kettle, fridge and charger the other plug in external door jam, the shower head that was so reluctant to point downwards to the drain..... BUT I grew to quickly love and appreciate Hotel Galaxy, it’s super family staff, the amazing breakfasts, service, kindness, generosity and it’s position on the harbour. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again - it just takes a day to acclimatise..... then you won’t want to leave........
Reviewed June 2019 June Egglestone Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia Lovely holiday A lovely week walking, plus swim in the sea at the end of each day. The town is nice and laid back. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Day 2 when we ended up at a lovely beachside taverna for lunch followed by a swim was a great way to start. But, I enjoyed all the walks, hard to pick a favourite. This was my first time in Athens too, so great to see the Acropolis. What did you think of your group leader? Cecile was an excellent group leader, very easy to get along with. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? day 2 walk - take flip flops/wet shoes, as the beach you end up in (which is lovely) has stones that are quite painful to walk on (if you want to have a swim), and burning hot too if you are there in summer! days 3/4 walks - wear long trousers, the gorse is quite scratchy on your calves. The hotel is basic, but it's fine, and a great location (beach over the road), so dont let the two stars put you off going on this trip. Athens - if you want to see the acropolis AND the associated museum, you will not have time to do both on the day trip, advise getting in a day early or a day late if you wish to do both. It's easy to get into Athens and back to the airport using the metro, and there are facilities in the airport to store your luggage, if you just get an earlier flight on day 1. Is there anything else you would like to add? I would definitely recommend this holiday!
Reviewed May 2019 Janet Bates Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia Describes the holiday perfectly If you want a really relaxing entirely relaxing atmosphere with few tourists, then Evia is the place to go. The itinerary was varied and exactly as described. The family at the Galaxy hotel couldn't do enough for us. Their breakfasts are fantastic and grandad's home-made goat cheese legendary! It was a pleasure to stay there. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The walk to Castello Rosso and the Roman columns and the lovely relaxed and friendly atmosphere on an island that doesn't appear to have changed for centuries. What did you think of your group leader? Having Thanos with you, is like having a walking Google with you. His knowledge is incredible and his "elevenses" are delicious, not that we really needed them as the food throughout the trip was amazing. Thanos couldn't do enough for us and his enthusiasm was infectious. Having been to Paphos in Cyprus many years earlier, I had tasted "tourist menus" and didn't particularly like Greek food. This was an entirely different experience. Everything tasted wonderful. Don't think you will lose weight or even come back at the weight you started the holiday, unless you have got a will of iron. You will definitely have to diet when you come home. I can guarantee you will come back around half a stone heavier! The days really aren't long enough to fit in the great breakfast, Thanos's "elevenses" treat, the foot long lunch roll, the evening's five plus assorted starters, the main course and then the sweet ! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you are going in April, my advice would be to take waterproof trousers as one day in particular, during our walk, it rained throughout. I would also recommend taking gaiters if you have delicate skin below the knees, as some of the gorse really scratches even though you may be walking in long trousers. Is there anything else you would like to add? Having walked in the Lake District, I found the gorge walk scenery very similar. The only time you could take in the view was if you kept stopping, as most of the time you are having to concentrate hard looking where you are putting your feet and doing this for five hours downhill got a bit boring although the lunch stop was very pretty.
Reviewed April 2019 Patrick Hetherington Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia Most enjoyable trip in a fascinating and untouristy area. Varied but generally not too challenging walking in an area with a fascinating history and archaeological interest. Also an opportunity to visit Athens. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Discovering how widely the Evians travelled and founded settlements in various parts of the Mediterranean. What did you think of your group leader? Thanos was an exceptional group leader. His knowledge of the area and its history was extensive and he inspired me with his enthusiasm. He was very attentive to our needs, ensuring all went smoothly, and going out of his way to give us the best possible experience. He took a flexible approach to the schedule, taking account of weather forecasts. Strong winds later in the week affecting the ferries necessitated delaying the Athens visit until the final day, but even so we were able to have a visit to the Acropolis and a walking tour of the city guided by Thanos. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for changeable weather! We were probably lucky not having any rain. Is there anything else you would like to add? Basic but pleasant tourist hotel with excellent breakfast. Wide choice of evening dishes in a variety of restaurants. Comfortable minibus. Excellent service from the drivers. A few of us not on the group flights were looked after with transfers provided.
Reviewed April 2019 Phil Risdale Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia There's more to Evia than you might think A relatively restful week of walking, eating, drinking and learning a lot from a knowledgeable leader (Thanos) in a wonderful location. No walk is too long or taxing, but just enough to engage, but with plenty of rests for snacks and interesting history lectures! This trip is leisurely because there is no rush and plenty of free time. Also, no early starts! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Visiting the abandoned Roman quarry with the marble columns lying around. What did you think of your group leader? Thanos cannot be criticised at all - everything ran smoothly, he is very knowledgeable and a good communicator, supplied an interesting variety of snacks on the walks, took us to a good variety of restaurants every evening, basically looked after everything. He also adapted the itinerary when the weather forecast looked a bit dodgy. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't be fooled, it will be cool at altitude and in the evenings, so take clothing layers. If you really want to see Athens then add a day before or after the trip - the day trip included will be too rushed for many people's tastes due to time constraints & ferry times. And if you like beer then ask for 'Septem' in the local bars - a locally brewed craft ale. Is there anything else you would like to add? The hotel used isn't great but isn't that bad either - we found it clean & tidy with a decent bar & an OK breakfast - what really lets it down is the bathrooms & the showers especially.
Reviewed November 2018 Salman Syed Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia Mountains & Villages of Evia The tour guide, Thanos, was superb. The food was great. Treks were beautiful. However, the quality of the hotel was OK. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching to the summit What did you think of your group leader? Superb, Considerate , Helpful
Reviewed November 2018 Charlie Robinson-Hodge Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia Walking and eating This was my first holiday on my own, couldn’t have asked for a better one. Exodus sorted everything and were very helpful and lovely. The hotel was lovely, right next to the beach. The staff were great and couldn’t do enough for us. Met some great people, walking is just enough to get your heart pumping with some fantastic views along the way. Going in November was great weather not too hot, perfect for walking. Even though we walked everyday I must have eaten my body weight. Our guide had pumpkin pie and doughnuts for our brunch stops. Food was delicious and lots of it.... we’ll definitely recommend this holiday and I will be booking with Exodus again........ just need to loose some weight first!!! lol.... What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Being able to touch and see the unfinished columns see where they were made, carved by the hand of 7000 slaves 100’s of years ago. Also the trip over the Athens. What did you think of your group leader? Our group leader was fantastic, had a good laugh with him and was very informative. He looked after us and hes always feeding you lol Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Walking poles are handy. It can get chilly 1000m up the mountain Is there anything else you would like to add? Great holiday, loved every minute
Reviewed November 2018 peter colclough Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia mountains and villages of evia good walks with patient guide and pleasant social evenings with fellow walkers What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? gorge walk from mt ohi to coast What did you think of your group leader? excellent guide and very sociable Do you have any advice for potential travellers? ensure you wear good boots and take adequate clothing .(water proofs) Is there anything else you would like to add? hotel ok but showers need updating.owners and staff friendly and accomodating
Reviewed October 2018 Chris Sanday Trip: Mountains & Villages of Evia Unspoilt area Varied walks, which tended towards the moderate rather than leisurely. Everyone at the hotel was friendly and helpful. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Arriving at Potami Bay at the end of the walk from Platanistos. The taverna with its long table laid out just for us and sole use of the beautiful beach too. What did you think of your group leader? Cecile was an excellent guide. Engaging and knowledgeable. She rearranged our walks around the weather conditions. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Poles were very useful when descending some of the rocky slopes.
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