Hike to the uninhabited village Gera on Tilos

The hike to the uninhabited village of Gera is fairly easy, if you ignore the killer slope that starts at the port of Agios Stefanos and ends at the chapel of Agios Ioannis. That hill takes a toll, I can promise. If you're lazy, you can ride a moped up the killer slope, I usually do. But I have also gone up several times.

The hike starts in Livadia (unless you drive to Agios Stefanos). Follow the road along the beach promenade to the opposite side of Livadia Bay where Marina beach Hotel and Taverna Faros are located. After passing Taverna Faros, you will reach Agios Stefanos where, as I said, the killer slope begins. The slope ends at the small chapel of Agios Ioannis. Here you can rest for a while after the hard slope.

View of Livadia from the port of Agios Stefanos.

From the small chapel of Agios Ioannis, it is 2.6 milometers to Gera.

If you can't bear, or don't want, to go further, you can stay at Agios Ioannis with a clear conscience. Many people do that. Here you can sit as long as you like and enjoy the meditative silence and the beautiful view. I tend to spend the mornings outside Agios Ioannis watching birds. Agios Ioannis is my Happy Place on Tilos.

Agios Ioannis is my Happy Place on Tilos.

When you have finished resting, you continue the path after Agios Ioannis. From here the path goes slowly upwards, but not for long distances like the killer hill, and after a while the path flattens out and it becomes like a walk in the park.

After Agios Ioannis the path continues slowly upwards.

Now you have come a long way on the path to Gera. Agios Ioannis is under the red arrow.

You are treated to fantastic views during this part of the hike.

When you see a lush stream ravine in the mountains, you can choose to turn right, or continue the path (it makes a sharp left turn) to the abandoned village of Gera. If you turn right, the hike continues over the mountains and you will then come to one of the most beautiful views of all of Tilos. But that is another hike.

Turn left at the stream ravine to get to Gera.

After the stream ravine, the rest of the hike is like a walk in the park.

Just before you get to Gera, you are treated to this dizzying view.

I'm afraid of heights and wouldn't dare stand where Camilla is standing.

Finally arrived in the uninhabited village of Gera, where a long-awaited picnic awaits.

To get back to Livadia again, you go the way you came, or you go up the stream ravine mentioned above, and follow the path up into the mountains. After a while the path ends and a dirt road takes over. Then follow the dirt road until you see Livadia from above, and from there you take a paved road down to Livadia, where a swim and a cold beer await.

Turn left if you want to go a different way home, or turn right if you want to go the same way back.

If you hike the other way home, you will be greeted by this view of Livadia.

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