Hike· Kea (Tzia)· Greece — Cyclades
Kea Trail Network
37° 38.4′ N · 24° 20.5′ E · approximate
Twelve numbered, signposted trails totalling about 81 km, mostly on old stone-slab mule paths, link Ioulida with the anchorages at Otzias, Korissia, Spathi, Orkos, Pisses and Karthaia. Few Cycladic islands are this easy to hike from the boat.
Practical
Trails (Destination Kea): 1 Leon, Ioulida-Otzias 5.1 km; 2 Elixos, Ioulida-Korissia 3.1 km; 3 Aristaios, Ioulida-Karthaia 11.85 km; 4 Drys, Episkopi monastery-Sykamia beach 4.45 km through oak forest; 5-7 Karthaia approaches, 3.15/2.3/1.7 km; 8 Seirios, Ellinika-Agios Filippos 4.3 km; 9 Artemis, Ioulida-Panagia Loutriani 5.5 km; 10 Hydroussa, Veniamin spring-Spathi beach 4.8 km down a shaded gorge; 11 Orkos, Profitis Ilias-Orkos beach 4.2 km; 12 Poiiessa, Sklavonikola-Pisses beach 5.5 km via the Agia Marina tower. Each trail has wooden information boards and small metal number plates. Durations and grades are not published, so allow about 2 km/h on the rocky descents and carry water. Combine a downhill trail with a dinghy pickup: Trail 1 to Otzias, 10 to Spathi, 11 to Orkos, 12 to Pisses, 6/7 to Poles. The coordinate is Ioulida, the hub of the network, so it is approximate.
Best for
Hiking days linked to anchorages
Season
Best Mar-Jun and Sep-Nov; hot and exposed in Jul-Aug