Walking on the Greek Islands - the Cyclades

Book excerpt: This guidebook offers 35 day walks across the four Cycladic islands of Paros, Naxos, Amorgos and Santorini. Best explored in spring and autumn, each island offers a unique walking experience and the walks range from easy 4km town tours to 16km hikes visiting remote peaks in wild interiors. This is the first guide to feature the new 50km Naxos Strada, which is introduced as a series of five day walks. The walks often follow traditional paved paths which have been used by locals for centuries and the guide offers a wealth of insights into the history, geology and wildlife of the areas travelled through. Dotted amongst rugged mountains and working farmland are historic sites dating back to the height of Ancient Greece and impressive rural monasteries. On the coast, white sand bays and dramatic cliffs frame the expansive blue Aegean sea. For each walk, this guide includes detailed route description and Anavasi mapping to aid navigation. It also contains information about getting to the Cyclades and island hopping, along with an English-Greek glossary of key words and phrases and an appendix full of useful contacts.