Off the Beaten Track hiking tour

Level of difficulty: 2 / 5
Duration*: 3 hours
Distance: 6.2 km (3,85 miles)
Price per person: 45€**

This circular walking tour is crafted for those who want to explore and deeply experience the authentic, unspoiled Mykonos, who really appreciate the rugged countryside and who need stress-free yet active holidays.

Away from the bustle of Mykonos’ famous beaches and crowded town, you can encounter an extraordinary serenity and memorable beauty; this guided walk will take you both inland at the golden prairies of Ano Mera with its whitewashed cubic houses and to the wild coastal scenery of the North. The breath-taking natural topographies promise a delightful hike through changing landscapes, with your walking guide interpreting Mykonos’ culture and offering a mosaic of local stories, traditions, culinary habits and interesting facts on the island’s rural life.

This circular hiking tour starts from the farming region of Maou and winds its way gently through vehicle-free, traditional donkey paths, following the footsteps of the rural community of the past. We then continue on a low traffic road, until we reach Merchia Bay with its stunning vista. We enjoy the splendid view while unwinding under the shade of trees, and, weather permitting, a dive in the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea and underwater photo shooting. After enjoying our beach activities and a small picnic with homemade lemonade and a traditional dessert, we start our gentle climb through the hills with Merchia Beach at the background. The path leads past isolated fields and dry-stone walls back to the fertile valley of Ano Mera and the historic vineyard of Maou.

It's now time to shake off the dust and fatigue at the end of this hiking tour by relaxing among the vines and, optionally for the foodies, enjoying some wine and selected Cycladic products.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
A taste of the real Greece...

• We start our hiking trips at our organic vineyard and farm “Mykonos Vioma”.
• Dimitra's dad has run the farm for 30 years, he took it on as a ruin and has created the only biodynamic vineyard on Mykonos.
• We are local hiking guides, sharing our love for Mykonos and enthusiasm for outdoor activities with our guests.
• We'll provide or fill your water bottles before heading off.
• On the way we will stop at a small church for a ~10 minutes interpretative talk on our religious traditions and share local stories during the whole hike.
• At the beach we will have enough time for swimming & underwater photo shooting (weather permitting) OR discovering a neighboring beach, before refreshing with homemade organic lemonade & a snack.
• When we return, you might be hungry and, if you have time, you can have a meze-lunch with selected products of the Cycladic gastronomy, as well as taste our wines (not included in the bike tour fee), and take in the beautiful view.

NOTE:
The tour features also an optional visit to a neighboring beach.

Route facts:
Total distance: 6.2km (3.9mi), Elevation gain: 131 m (430 ft), Max elevation: 90 m (295 ft).

* Total duration including preparation - hiking tour - beach break - relaxation/stretching.
** Homemade lemonade, bottles of water and a snack will also be offered. Additionally all photos or videos will be sent free of charge after the tour.