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The Best Walking & Hiking Tours in Greece

Discover the idyllic Greek Islands and ancient mainland on an affordable walking holiday

Greece is home to some of the most best hiking trails that will make you want to return for another rewarding walking holiday as soon as possible. From spectacular beaches, islands and ancient ruins to stone villages, rugged peaks and lush canyons, Greece is a rich and varied playground for all keen hikers.

Whether you want to explore the beautiful islands of Crete, Naxos, Santorini, or Andros ; hike Mount Olympus for impressive views; or journey into the heart of Greece to discover ancient wonders in Athens and Meteora; there is a fantastic walking holiday for you.

These Greek walking trips allow you to explore Greece on an affordable self guided or guided small group holiday.

 

  1. Exploring Crete: Self Guided Hike

  2. The stunning coastline of Crete Island features fine sandy beaches and tranquil blue water

    The biggest and most versatile of the Greek islands, Crete is rich in natural splendour and ample reminders of its ancient and oft-turbulent past. In addition to elegant Venetian ports, it mixes wild dramatic peaks and spectacular gorges with fishing villages that can only by accessed by boat or on foot. 

    Focusing on the western part of the island, highlights of the Exploring Crete walking trip include the magnificent plateau of Omalos and the 11-mile long Samaria Gorge, the longest in Europe! This is an 8 day self guided hike of moderate grade.

  3. Zagoria: Secret Villages Walking Tour

  4. Trekking in Zagoria

     

    There is more to Greece than its world famous islands: little known by international visitors, the traditional complex of the Zagoria Villages, in the northwestern corner of the country, covers an unspoilt, remote region of the Pindos mountains. Treasures of vernacular architecture, many of these historic, late 18th century stone-built villages are within what is today a designated conservation area. Immerse yourself in nature in a landscape that brims with dramatic wilderness of striking peaks, deep chasms and extensive natural forests. 

    The Zagoria: Secret Villages trip includes a traverse of the virtually virgin Vikos Gorge, which has been listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the deepest canyon in the world (in proportion to its width). Note this is an 8 day self guided walk.

  5. Santorini and Naxos on Foot Self Guided Walking Tour

  6. Hiking the trails on Santorini in the Greek Islands |  <i>Hetty Schuppert</i>

     

    Known for their bright, whitewashed cube-shaped houses, Santorini and Naxos are two of the most beautiful Greek islands, offering numerous walking opportunities. Exploring two islands with distincly contrasting landscapes is one of the key attractions of the trip.

    Having one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, Santorini is famous for its postcard perfect sunsets and the archaeological site of Akrotiri, the so-called ‘Greek Pompeii’; while Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades, is home to fertile valleys, immaculate sandy beaches and a lively harbour, as well as the colossal marble doorway of Portara, a landmark that dates back more than 2,500 years. The Santorini and Naxos on Foot tour is an 8 day self guided walking holiday that is graded as introductory to moderate.

  7. Andros Trail Self Guided Walk

  8. Andros Island makes for an enjoyable walking holiday in Greece |  <i>Sarah Baxter</i>

     

    Andros has become the first island in Europe to be recognised by the European Ramblers Association thanks to ‘Andros Routes’, a sustainable tourism project that has been restoring and maintaining an ancient network of hiking paths. Long before motorised transport, footpaths used to be the only way of travelling from village to village on mountainous Andros, the northernmost island of the Cyclades archipelago. 

    In the recent years, a group of passionate volunteers set about reviving this ancient network of paths and, as a result, today you can walk along the Andros Trail, a well-signposted route, where stonework and monuments are a testament to their historic legacy. Take in sweeping coastal scenery, visit unspoilt beaches, explore quaint villages and feast on Greek cuisine at local tavernas.

     

  9. Mount Olympus Guided Walk

  10. Pausing to admire the view on the Mt Olympus walk

    As the highest mountain in the country – and the legendary home of the ancient Greek gods! – the Mount Olympus National Park, the country’s first ever National Park, is a landscape of mighty plateaus, ridges and gorges, with its lower flanks protected as a World Biosphere Reserve. Expect spectacular vistas as you trek to various peaks – there are 52 in total – and depending on weather conditions you may even make it to Mytikas (‘nose’), the mountain’s highest peak at 2,918 metres.

    The Mount Olympus Guided Walk is just a 4 day tour, perfect for those looking for a short break to Greece. Accompanying you on this trip is an experienced local guide.

  11. Ancient Greece on Foot Holiday

  12. Approaching Varlaam monastery in Meteora |  <i>Hetty Schuppert</i>

    A week of ‘live’ Greek history lessons that will have you ticking off some of the country’s most famous must-sees. Joining in Athens, the so-called’ cradle of Western Civilisation’, your trip continues to the Oracle of Delphi, before spending two nights under the virtually inaccessible peaks of Meteora.

    One of the highlights of the Ancient Greece on Foot tour is visiting the Acropolis Museum. Opened in 2009, the emblematic museum houses findings of the nearby archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens.

  13. Crete: Mountains and Coast Guided Walk

  14. Walking through Samaria Gorge in Crete |  <i>Jaclyn Lofts</i>

    Packed with highlights including an ascent of Mount Gingilos (2080m), scenic walks through numerous gorges including the longest in Europe, the Samaria Gorge, and sightings of the wild goats (Kri-kri) and griffon vultures on the Omalos plateau, the Crete Mountains and Coast Guided Walk will appeal to lovers of coastal landscapes, history and traditional Greek culture.

    Whilst the focus is on walking, there is ample time to swim at unspoilt beaches, explore coastal villages and soak up the hospitality during stays at a selection of handpicked hotels.

 



 

>> Browse our full range of walking tours in Greece. 

>> View all of UTracks' walking tours in Europe.

>> Join UTracks' Active Travel Community.

 

 



 

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