Hiking on Naxos

Naxos is an ideal hiking island and it is visited by thousands of hiking enthusiasts every year. The range is wide, from simple beginner routes to quite advanced hiking routes for experienced hikers. Many routes starts out in Filoti, which is close to Mount Zas, Naxos' highest mountain (1,001 metres above sea level).

Experienced hikers like to go up to Mount Zas, which is Naxos' highest mountain.

I have not climbed Mount Zas, but I have gone up to Zas Cave. Always something.

On a hike to the Kouros near the village of Melanes.

On a hike to Fotodotis Monastery above the village of Danakos.

If you are going to hike on Naxos, I can recommend Anavasi's blue map (1:25,000) which describes many hiking routes on Naxos, easy to advanced. In addition you also get maps of the islands in the Small Cyclades. Terrain maps is another Greek cartographic company specialized in hiking maps. They have a map of Naxos with the scale 1:40,000 and it also contains many hiking routes. Both maps are available for purchase on Naxos.

Many hiking trails are well marked.

On a hike between the villages of Melanes and Kourounochori.

In the spring you can swim in waterfalls, like here below the village of Kororinida.

Best time to hike on Naxos is in the spring when nature is at its most beautiful.

Naxos offers a very beautiful landscape. Apiranthos to the left and Filoti in the middle.

Should I stay or should i hike?

I'm going to hike!

If you do not like to hike in the mountains, I can recommend an easy and very pleasant hike, where you are close to the sea all the way. Of course I am thinking of the hike between the beaches on the west coast of Naxos. :-D

You can walk along the water all the way from Agios Georgios down to Mikri Vigla, and even longer if you like. If you do want to make it easy for yourself, you start in Agios Prokopios and walk to Plaka, via Agia Anna. A "hike" that I have done many times, and I will do it many more times.

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