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Hiking on Tilos

Many travels to Tilos only for hiking. It's a lovely hiking island blessed with a beautiful, and largely untouched, landscape. Almost the entire island is barren, so do not expect to hike in a jungle. Several of the old donkey trails is intact, the bird life is exciting and brighten up the hikes. There are many easy hiking trails so you do not need to be an experienced hiker.

Hiking map of Tilos in Greece.

Tilos is a small island and the distances are short.

My favorite hikes are: Livadia to Lethra beach, Livadia to Gera via Agios Antonios, Livadia to Mikro Chorio, Megalo Chorio to Skafi beach, the hike that starts in Livadia and goes in a circle around southeast Tilos and the hike to Tholos beach. We start with the easiest hike, namely the one to Lethra beach.

The hike to Lethra starts above the Ilidi Rock Hotel in Livadia.

The hike to Lethra beach is easy and it is impossible to get lost.

Hike to Lethra beach on Tilos in Greece.

The path goes a bit above the coast. You can see the path in the middle of the picture.

The hike to Lethra beach takes about 45 minutes.

Lethra is the best beach on Tilos.

Soon on the beach in Lethra where a cooling dip awaits.

Read about Lethra beach here »

From Lethra beach, you can choose between walking the same way back to Livadia, or walk the stream gorge up to Mikro Chorio and then continue to Livadia. That hike is much harder than the one along the coast.

The hike from Lethra beach to Mikro Chorio goes through a lush stream gorge.

The hike from Lethra beach to Mikro Chorio goes via this stream gorge.

Here begins the short hike to Mikro Chorio.

Read about Mikro Chorio here »

The nicest hike, in my opinion, goes in a circle around the southeast of Tilos. The hike takes you through a hilly and attractive landscape with spectacular views out over the sea. The hike starts and ends on the seafront promenade in Livadia and is easy to follow. You can not go the wrong way. You can choose to walk the entire hike or continue to the uninhabited village of Gera, and then walk back.

Hike from Livadia to the Church of Agios Ioannas on Tilos.

The killer slope starts at number 1 and ends at number 2, where Agios Ioannas church is located.

Just follow the road along the port promenade to the opposite side of the bay of Livadia, where Marina Beach Hotel and Taverna Faros is. Once you have passed Faros, a long and steep killer slope starts and it ends at a small chapel called Agios Ioannis. Here you can rest for a while after the gruelling climb up the hill. If you are not able, or do not want to, walk further, you can with a clear conscience stop at Agios Ioannis. There are many who do so. You can sit here forever and enjoy the meditative silence and the beautiful view.

If you hike to the Ghera in Tilos you will pass Agios Ioannis.

The chapel of Agios Ioannis where two hikes begin.

When you have finished resting, continue the path after Agios Ioannis. When you see a lush ravine in the mountains to the right, you can choose to turn right, or continue the path (it makes a sharp turn to the left) to the abandoned village of Ghera. If you choose to walk to Ghera (which I recommend), simply walk until the path ends. Then you are in Ghera. On the way to Gera, you can stop and take a swim at Despoti Nero beach.

Hike to unknown beaches on Tilos.

After Agios Ioannis the path continues slowly upwards.

There are many easy hiking trails on Tilos so you don't need to be an experienced hiker.

This part of the hike is very easy walking.

The hike to Gera goes via a lush stream gorge.

The path to the left of the stream ravine leads to Gera, but we continue straight ahead.

When hiking on Tilos, you will see many birds of prey, such as Eleonoras falcon, Bonelli's Eagle, Booted Eagle and Peregrine falcon.

Now it is not far to the most beautiful view of Tilos. There are many birds of prey here.

View of Livadia Bay on Tilos.

View of the beautiful Livadia Bay

Many people travel to Tilos to hike in the beautiful landscape.

This is what it looks like when you have done half the hike. :-)

Panagia Politissa church near Livadia on Tilos.

From here it goes downhill to Livadia. Panagia Politissa church lower right.

Read about Livadia here »

Hike to Gera on Tilos.

If you turn left in the stream ravine, you will soon reach Gera.

The hiking trail to the uninhabited village of Gera on Tilos.

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

The today uninhabited village of Gera, earlier revived during the summer months when about 300 people lived here to take care of their cultivations and animals. Only a few people stayed over winter. Today there is not much left of Ghera, but the village is still worth a visit, not at least for the beautiful hike there.