Walking & Hiking
Samos is without a doubt one of the most perfect Greek islands for walking, hiking and botanising. There are hundreds of kilometres of enchanting forest trails and cobbled paths crossing through a beautiful countryside, by impressive ridges and gorges to villages, caves, monasteries and mountain tops. Hiking trails for all experience levels can be found around the island, promising breathtaking views and versatile landscapes.
The morphology on Samos varies widely and has general mountainous features. The west of Samos is dominated by Mount Kerkis (or Kerketevs) with the Vigla peak at 1433m. The Ambelos or Karvounis mountain range extends from the centre to the east, with the Profet Elias peak at 1153m.
Marked hiking trails on Samos
The island offers many hiking routes, of which over forty – with a total length of 260 km – have been well marked by Samos Hikes. You can also check the routes around Kokkari village, mapped by Martin Lipka. You can get a hiking guidebook here.
Hikes with Caves
Samos is home to numerous natural and manmade caves and an ancient mine. There are more than 70 discovered caves on the island, with many more still thought to exist. Some shallow caves on the mountainside can be visited “on foot” and are often found to have small chapels inside.
Best time to hike
The best months for hiking on Samos are April – June and September – mid-November, when the weather is mild and the breeze cools you down.
If you want to hike in the hottest months, July- mid-September, you should start very early in the morning. Avoid hiking between 12 noon and 4pm and make sure you get back before sunset.
December, January and February account for short days with frequent rain falls, and icy cold up in the mountains. Only for determined and experienced hikers!
DIY or Guided Hikes
You can explore the trails and caves on your own, or with a guide. Guided hiking tours are offered by Samos Outdoors. In any case, it is important to take necessary precautions and follow safety guidelines.
Preparations
- Avoid hiking alone.
- Bring a small backpack for your gear
- Bring water, some food and some first aid items.
- Bring sunscreen and a hat.
- Bring a fully charged cellular phone.
- Bring a torch and a good hiking map
- Avoid hiking alone.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes or boots.
- Wear long, comfortable trousers if you want to protect your legs.
Code of Conduct for hikers
- Don't litter and pick up any litter you'll find.
- Stay on marked trails at all times.
- Don't do damage to the fauna or make unnecessary noise.
- Respect the wildlife and enjoy nature responsibly.
- No smoking in the forest.
- It is strictly forbidden to light fires anywhere in the forest. Report any fire or smoke in the forest immediately to the Samos Fire Brigade +30 22730 22199.
