Hiking vacations in Greece

South-east of mainland Greece and renowned for their beaches and archaeological sites, the Cyclades islands offer immense potential for walking vacations. Naxos is the largest, greenest island in the group and relatively unknown. Walking here is delightful, with a sprawling network of paths linking ruins, including temples to Apollo and Dionysus. The islands of Andros and Tinos are equally appealing, tranquil and wild landscapes criss-crossed with 300km of trails leading to traditional villages where you can recharge with strong coffee and ‘spoon sweets’, and secluded beaches. Ask your guide to explain the significance of the many old pigeon houses that you’ll see.

Corfu’s beautiful coastline has been tarnished by a proliferation of resorts catering for the package vacation crowd. But head inland on walking vacations and you can still find the soul of this Ionian island that captivated Gerald Durrell. Many Corfu walking vacations will follow a stretch of the well-marked 220km-long Corfu Trail, but if you join a small group trip, you won’t need a map. Another reason to choose this option is that guides are often drawn from a volunteer Corfu walking club. As well as helping to maintain the trails, they offer a superb introduction to the island’s history, culture and nature.

One of the things we love most about walking vacations in Greece is that they lend themselves so well to combining with other activities – you’re not just sunning yourself on a beach (although you can have plenty of that too). Explore the magnificent Cyclades islands by boat on a walking and sailing vacation, for instance, or stretch your creative muscles as well as your leg muscles with a walking and painting vacation in Crete. Walking in Greece can also be combined with other interests, from mountain biking and yoga to botany studies.