Walking & botany vacations in Greece
The island’s unique culture is another unmistakable draw for the inquisitive visitor. Walking here with local guides that double as botany experts will not only help you identify different species of flower that you may not recognise, but also allow you to connect with local producers and craftspeople, as well as villagers, to understand their customs and ways of life first-hand.
Walking is the ideal way to delve deeper into the wildlife and culture of this Aegean island, which is far off the main tourist track and nowhere near as busy as neighbouring Crete or Rhodes. You might combine your walking with hands-on cookery lessons, perhaps learning how to make the classic Greek dish of makarounes with finger-rolled pasta, or foraging for wild vegetables and herbs to include in your meals.
Our Greece walking Vacations
Amalfi Coast walking vacation, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
Archaeology vacation in Greece
A small-group archaeology tour of Greece
Luxury gulet cruise in the Aegean
5 star services while cruising the Greek Islands in luxury
Peru walking and cultural vacation
Trek the cultural sites and mountain scenery of Peru
Trekking in Ethiopia, nr Lalibela
Walk through beautiful landscapes as guests of the villagers
Atlas Mountains trekking and Marrakech
Stay at Kasbah du Toubkal to trek in style then in Marrakech
Brown bear tracking in Northern Greece
Track wild bears & explore the wilderness with park rangers
Greece biking vacation, archaeology tour
Discover Greek history and the Greek seaside beauty by bike!
Las Alpujarras hiking vacation, Spain
Guided walking vacation, Andalucia, with writer Chris Stewart
Sicily walking vacation, Sicilian Volcanoes
Discover Mt Etna and the beautiful volcanic achipelago
North Cyprus walking vacation
Varied walks amid rugged scenery and superb archaeology
Walking vacation in Montenegro
Guided walking vacation in stupendous Montenegro
Tuscany tours, walking and wine tasting in Italy
Walking and wine tasting in Tuscany
Peloponnese turtle conservation vacation, Greece
Sea turtle volunteering on stunning Greek beaches
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
Kerala hiking vacation in India
Walk through beautiful hills and tea plantations
Liveaboard diving and sailing vacation in Greece
Combine a sailing and diving adventure in the Greek islands
Cappadocia walking vacation in Turkey
Trek the unique and fairytale landscape of Cappadocia
Kumano Kodo trekking vacation, Japan
Village to village walking in the sacred Kii Peninsula
Spanish course & hiking vacation, Picos de Europa, Spain
Spanish classes + stunning hikes in Picos de Europa
Tigray trekking tour in Ethiopia
Walk through beautiful landscape as guests of the Villagers
Catalonia self guided walking vacations, Spain
Self-guided walking vacations in Catalonia
Transylvania winter walking and snowshoeing vacation
Wander through the mountains and forests of wintery Transylvania
Croatia national parks hiking vacation
Walking vacation in Croatia's beautiful national parks.
Montenegro hiking vacations, self guided
Self-guided pleasure walking in the beautiful Bay of Kotor.
Great Wall of China walking vacation
Trek along various contrasting sections of the wall
Small group walking vacation in Croatia
Idyllic walks through some of Europe's finest scenery
Hiking the Inca trail vacation
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
Kilimanjaro climb, Machame route
Amazing Private Or Group Kilimanjaro Climb: Machame Route
Dolomites walking vacation in Italy
Sandwiched between the spectacular peaks of the Dolomites
You can hike and admire the flora throughout the mainland and the islands, but Karpathos must rank among the best places for walking and botany vacations in Greece. The north of the island, land and sea, forms a Regional Marine Park and Natura 2000 protected zone that is home to many endemic and endangered plant species as well as numerous species of bird, and a population of Mediterranean monk seals on the coast. Karpathos has some 18 separate habitats, from Turkish pine forests to flowering shrubberies on limestone cliffs, rivers, elevated plateaus, terraced hillsides and coastal marshy areas where plants thrive in the wind and salt spray. Many species are found nowhere else in the world, while others are limited to nearby Kasos or Crete. All of this is accessible through the island’s network of well-marked walking trails, manageable for anyone in reasonable fitness.
Walks are guided by a local botany expert, able not only to identify unusual plants for you and explain any uses they may serve, but also fauna, ranging from the Pelophylax Cerigensis, a tiny, critically endangered frog endemic to Greece, to the migrating Eleanora’s falcon. Crucially, they will be flexible with itineraries to take into account changes in the weather, tiredness, or the chances of seeing a rare flower that has recently appeared in one part of the island. And naturally they will also be able to discuss Karpathos’ unique cultural heritage. Because this island is not only renowned for its historic walking trails and beautiful coastline, with dozens of beaches strung along it between peaceful fishing harbours and villages that tightly hug the hills. It also offers fascinating traditional ways of life to immerse yourself in, from impromptu musical performances at open air weddings and religious feasts, to charming age-old rituals of bread and pasta making.
Our top Greece walking Vacation
Archaeology vacation in Greece
A small-group archaeology tour of Greece
2021: 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct
What do walking & botany vacations in Greece involve?
It’s no secret that Greece’s economy has been in difficulties for some time now and the country places a lot of reliance on tourism. Small-scale responsible vacations such as this are fantastic not only for bringing you closer to local communities, but also vital in providing income for everyone from restaurateurs to farmers and craftspeople to winemakers, helping to keep the traditional ways of life that make Karpathos so special alive.
“We loved this vacation! ... Everything was relaxed and easy-going, even when we did some longer hikes. We learned so much about the island and the way of life as led by the people of northern Karpathos. Their self-sufficiency is amazing! The feeling of hospitality and generosity of the people will stay with us forever. Be prepared to be flexible on the itinerary. We were early in the season, and so Evangelia had to move a few things around, but for us it was perfect. Take good hiking boots, long trousers, and a sun hat.” – Janis Colville on a walking & botanical vacation on Karpathos