Category Archives: Greece

Hiking in Greece: Herode’s villa at Loukou and the ancient Thyrea

Approximately a 2-hours drive from Athens, lies the small town of Astros. It is a seaside resort, especially for Athenians and folks from nearby landlocked cities. This trend isn’t new; even back in the Hellenistic era, wealthy Athenians knew a good thing when they saw it. They’d escape here to build their summer retreats and relish in the pleasant climate. Now, let’s uncover yet another of the charms of my hometown!

Hiking in Greece: The many gorges of Samothraki

Last summer, I had the most amazing summer vacation experience: no electricity, no water, no cash, no internet, no mobile phone and wildfires. But who needs all these when you are free camping at the lush green Samothraki?

Hiking in Greece: Hermes playground at Mt Ziria

The Ziria mountain range is home to the second tallest peak of the Peloponnese. Taygetus is first, Ziria (or Cyllene or Kyllini) is close second. The Pleiad nymph Taygete resides in Taygetus, the Pleiad nymph Maia resides in Ziria. A few more peaks around the Peloponnese and you will master the entire Greek mythology.  

Hiking in Greece: The legendary Agrafa

For the past few weeks, I’ve made it a ritual to dedicate each Sunday to the hiking gods. Recently, I stumbled upon a delightful bunch of hiking folk, and together, we embarked on a weekend full of amazing – yet blurry – memories. Join me as we venture to the ‘unwritten’ realms of the Agrafa mountains (did anyone write anything about this already? Fingers crossed I’m the trailblazer here).

Hiking in Greece: The funnels of Mt Parnitha

The metropolis of Athens is surrounded by four mountains: Parnitha, Pentelicus, Hymettus, and Aigaleo. Out of these four, Mount Parnitha stands out as the only one that truly qualifies as a mountain rather than a hill (sic) due to its elevation well above 1000 meters. So, let’s explore two different routes across this magnificent mountain.