Your itinerary
Day 1
Adventure starts in Athens; transfer to Rafina; ferry to Evia
Our adventure begins at Athens airport. From here we transfer by road to Rafina (approximately 35 minutes) and then take the ferry to Mamari on Evia Island (about one hour). It is a 20-minute drive to our hotel in Karystos.Around 6pm we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner.Want more time in Athens? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Walk through rolling hills and the Gourna villages, passing Roman sites and visiting the Castello Rosso
Our first day takes us from the hotel, through Karystos town and up to the villages of Gourna, which are scattered high above Karystos bay and below the peaks of Mount Ohi. Walking through the verdant countryside along worn-stone paths next to springs and streams, we reach a Roman aqueduct from 160 BCE. We continue to Castello Rosso, one of the grandest forts of the Fourth Crusade, where we can enjoy lunch with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. Using mountain goat trails and country lanes, we walk down to the fertile valley of Mili, full of citrus, olive and cypress trees, before reaching the coast.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 3
Walk through the ravine from Platanistos and the Albanian descent Villages of Panohori and Mourtia
We drive (45 minutes) along the southeastern 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. We hike along the riverside path in the lush valley of Platanistos. We then continue our journey by bus (30 minutes) until we reach the sea and one of the nicest, yet still relatively unknown, beaches in the Aegean.
During the warmer months, we can swim and relax here at Marmara Beach. We return to Karystos on foot (approximately 20 minutes).
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 4
Ascend Mount Kliosi and visit the Acropolis of Styra
We start with an early morning drive (45 minutes) along the panoramic mountain road to the north, known as the Eagle Route, which takes us above the evergreen valley of Styra. We then summit Mount Kliosi, home to the remains of an ancient acropolis. An 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 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 (one hour).
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
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 (15 minutes). We enjoy a coastal walk on a flat dirt track 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.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 6
Imperial Roman quarries on Mount Ohi and the villages in the Valley of Aetos
We start with a 20-minute drive to the Springs of St Theodore in the mountain village of Argastaras. From here, we climb on Mount Ohi, following multiple trails and worn-marble paths to the heart of the Roman quarries where green and white marble known as cipollino – small onion in Latin, due to its stripes and rings – was shaped into monumental monolithic columns around Biblical times. There are 10 perfectly completed marble pillars still here, abandoned during the decline of Rome. Ancient paths take us to the villages of upper and lower Aetos with superb views of the Aegean Sea all along the way. We reach the coast, dotted with beautiful small sandy coves, on the way back to town.
Please note: You need trousers (pants) for today’s walk to protect against overgrown vegetation.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 7
Mount Ohi gorge walk down to the rugged east coast and the Aegean archipelagos
Today we walk on one of the oldest paths on the island, an ancient corridor within the gorge to the remote and wild beach on the east coast. We travel by taxi/coach to the isolated village of Agios Dimitrios on Mount Ohi (one hour), which is the starting point of the gorge walks. The ancient path in the beginning runs next to the river and gradually rises high above it with outstanding views of the limestone cliffs and the ever-blue Aegean. The dramatic canyon is a natural habitat for thyme, oregano and sage; peonies and orchids; eagles and falcons; plane and chestnut trees. We then take a one-hours transfer back to our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 8
Ferry to Athens; Adventure ends at Athens Airport
After breakfast, we can visit a local beekeeper to learn about and taste Greek honey and its products. Around lunchtime, we check out of our rooms and begin our return journey. It’s a 20-minute ferry ride then a one-hour drive to Athens airport, where our adventure ends.If you want some additional time in Athens, speak to your sales representative about booking extra nights in the capital, giving you a chance to explore this history-soaked city at your own pace.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Food
The buffet-style breakfasts include fresh bread, butter, jam, fresh juice, milk, local yoghurt, honey and wild cherry syrup, porridge, eggs, ham and cheese, cereal, muesli, cake and cookies, honey, coffee/tea, chocolate and lots of fresh seasonal fruit.
A dining experience in Greece isn’t the same without spending evenings in a taverna – a small, family-run Greek restaurant – and on this trip we visit many of them. Dotted along the Karystian promenade, these cosy tavernas serve delicious local dishes with a variety of Evian wines in an informal setting.
Dishes to try in the evenings include homemade filo pastry pies, moussaka, stuffed vegetables plus a variety of other vegetarian and vegan dishes, fresh salads, crunchy bread, cheeses and locally caught fish and seafood. Local meat such as lamb, pork, chicken and the renowned Evian beef are prepared in many ways.
Mount Ohi Roman Quarries & Aetos Villages
Follow ancient lanes from the Springs of St Theodore into the Roman quarries of Mount Ohi, where green-veined cipollino marble was carved for imperial projects. Discover perfectly shaped monolithic columns left in situ, silent witnesses to Evia’s stonecraft.
Continue via terrace paths to upper and lower Aetos, pausing for wide Aegean panoramas and maquis scented with sage and oregano. Landscape, geology and history braid together on this richly textured walk through the island’s uplands.
Mount Ohi Gorge Walk to the East Coast
Follow an ancient path through the Mount Ohi gorge from Agios Dimitrios, skirting a tumbling river as limestone cliffs rise toward the sky. Scan the thermals for eagles and falcons while sea-blue glimpses beckon ahead.
Flora shifts from plane and chestnut to thyme and wild oregano as the trail meets a remote east-coast beach. Pause for photos and a quiet shoreline moment before the return—an elemental slice of Evia’s wild side.
Gourna Villages Walk, Roman Aqueduct & Castello Rosso
Explore worn-stone paths that climb from Karystos into the terraced Gourna hamlets, threading past springs and shady lanes. Trace the line of a Roman aqueduct from 160 BCE, a quiet feat of island engineering framed by olives and cypress.
Continue to Castello Rosso, a crimson-hued stronghold of the Fourth Crusade, and take in sweeping views of the Mediterranean. Weathered ramparts and chapel ruins reveal Frankish and Venetian layers—an evocative backdrop for photos and stories of medieval Evia.
Platanistos Ravine Walk & Marmara Beach Swim
Walk a shaded riverside path through the ravine of Platanistos, where plane trees, cascades and birdsong cool the air. Pass stone-built lanes in villages of Albanian descent, noting Arvanite heritage in place names and traditions.
Finish at Marmara Beach to swim in the Aegean’s clear waters or rest by the surf as caiques nod in the cove. In warmer months, the turquoise shallows are perfect for an unhurried dip between coastal vistas and herb-scented breezes.
Mount Kliosi Ascent & Acropolis of Styra
Hike high above Styra and summit Mount Kliosi for expansive sea-and-mountain views. Explore the hilltop Acropolis of Styra, where an ancient gateway and the Cave of St Nicolas lend a quietly mythic atmosphere.
Descend among wild strawberry bushes and the vestiges of Roman marble quarries, gazing across the strait toward Marathon. This route blends rugged scenery with classical echoes, rewarding steady walkers with far-ranging panoramas and compelling archaeology.
Bay of Marmari Coastal Walk & Fishing Hamlet Visit
Enjoy a gentle coastal walk from Lycorema around the Bay of Marmari on a flat track, with thyme on the breeze and broad Aegean views. Low headlands, sandy nooks and wind-shaped tamarisks set a relaxed, seaside rhythm.
Visit the fishing hamlet of Marmari to linger by bobbing caiques and waterfront kafeneia. Everyday island life unfolds along the quay—nets drying, ferries plying the channel—offering easy photo moments and an unrushed taste of south Evia.
Beekeeper Visit & Greek Honey Tasting
Join a artisanal apiary visit to visit a local beekeeper and taste Greek honey shaped by Evia’s wildflowers and pines. Sample fragrant thyme and pine honeys with creamy yogurt while learning how bloom cycles influence aroma and color.
Hear about island apiculture traditions, from moving hives with the seasons to crafting small-batch jars. This sweet, place-based encounter is often arranged on day 8 before departure and makes a flavorful finale to your island week.
Karystos Welcome Dinner & Tour Briefing
Meet your group and meet your Tour Leader over a traditional taverna feast on the Karystos waterfront. Share meze, just-landed fish and local Evian wines as harbor lights reflect on the bay and Mount Ochi fades into silhouette—an easygoing introduction to Evia hospitality.
Your leader outlines the week’s routes, terrain and cultural highlights, from Roman quarries to hill villages, so you feel prepared and inspired for the walks ahead. It’s a relaxed setting to ask questions, compare kit, and get to know your fellow walkers.
