Route description: By supposing you will set off from Chóra, we start this hike on the bus square of this village.

[When you do leave by going on foot from Livádi to Chóra first, we refer to the route description of  the hike Livádi-Chóra-Livádi.]

(0h00) In between the shop of Michail Bofilios and the kafeníon I Mili (The Mills) there is a flight of steps going down steeply. These steps bend to the left immediately and after 10 metres you go further down on a concrete path off the right. This path descends steeply again to the left after some 20 metres (big red dot) and then finally turns into a paved street. A little further you will see a small red-and-white sign with the number 1 on a telephone pole – you will see this indication a couple of more times on this hike.
Some 5 minutes later you will leave the last houses behind you; the trail is now again covered with concrete. Another 20 metres further you DO NOT bend to the right - on a road leading to a cemetery and eventually back to Livádi…. Instead you take the rocky monopáti going straight, in the direction of a high aerial (red dot). When looking in the distance you will be able to discern the trail going over the next slope and going up to a chapel with a white arch – you will reach that spot later on!

A little further, you have to keep to the left at a vague bifurcation, alongside a kind of wall. The trail is clear and it descends to a stone bridge, painted in white. To the left of this bridge there is a watering place with a tap – on the balustrade of the bridge you will again see a sign with the number 1 and 2 big dots.

(0h11) The trail goes up again now, sometimes it even turns into a nice flight of stone steps, a kalderími. Almost on top, at the foundations of a stone building, there is a path to the right (to Livádi or Psili Ammos, see the hike Chóra - Psíli Ammos). Our trail, however, goes straight (there is also another sign with the number 1), in the direction of a chapel with a small arch. The views on Chóra behind you and on the bay of Livádi get the more and more beautiful – and in the valley on the right you see a large stone bridge, which you would have crossed had you taken a right just a moment ago. Ten minutes after the watering place you get to the top at the chapel. Now, the trail descends straight to a second valley with a bridge with an ugly metal balustrade. You reach this bridge after another 5 minutes and the valley is fairly green, even in Summer. This is the valley which is crossed by the large bridge we saw a on the right some time ago. In this valley there are some puddles with frogs, which you can reach on the hike to Psíli Ammos.

(0h25) Your next objective now is the chapel with the little blue arch and the house above it, which you see halfway to the top of the big hill on front of you, a hill with lots of aerials on top. The trail clearly continues in between walls, but after some minutes we get to a rocky field, with a little valley in the middle. There are two paths and you take the left path, to the left of the valley (red dots). 

A little further, you have to pay attention and you have to go up on the left in the direction of two stone walls (you will also see red dots and a sign with the number 1). These two walls go towards each other in a funnel-shape – still in the direction of those aerials.
Now, you walk between stone walls at first, then you go always straight and upwards towards the chapel with the blue arch. 

The chapel of Páno Stavrós, between Chóra and Kallítsos.

You reach this chapel after a climb of some 15 minutes of easy hiking.  Just before you reach the chapel, you get to a recent gravel road: you follow it to the left for one moment, and then you zigzag towards the chapel.
On the summit you have a wonderful view on Chóra, Livádi, the beach of Agios Ioánnis and the island of Sífnos. Therefore, this is the ideal spot to take a break; the chapel is closed, but the steps in the shade are very inviting to sit for a while and to drink something – hopefully you have the indispensable thermos flask taken with you! You have now left the junction to Psili Ammos 30 minutes behind you, some 40 minutes after your departure from Chóra.

(0h43) At this chapel a beautiful kalderími starts off and you will follow this one until Kallítsos. You go up gradually, in a rocky and very impressive landscape with great views on Agios Ioannis, Psili Ammos, Livadi, the little island of Vous, Sífnos and Chóra behind you.

The kalderími between Chóra and Kallítsos

Sometimes, there are nice curbstones, and after some 17 minutes, there is a stretch with a beautiful pavement. You might even wonder who has ever put all this work into this wonderful trail. After a climb of about 25 minutes you reach a pass on a protruding cape; you can now see Kallítsos and also the large road above it. Parallel to this road there is the trail you will follow later on, leading to a hamlet with some grey stables in the distance, and then even further to the Moní Taxiárchoon.

(1h05) You descend to Kallítsos for about 10 minutes and in the end the long, beautiful path reaches the asphalt road that was constructed in 2003. Some 100 metres in front of you, you can notice the first houses and there is also a large, red dot. You follow the road for a short while and when you get to the sign Kallítsos you go down the brick staircase on the right (note the large red dot) – this staircase gets to the old trajectory of hike no. [1]. You enter the village by taking a sharp left and you continue going down the staircase towards the ‘centre’; you pass some 2-3 streets off the right and by going straight you will finally get to a kind of square. Over there you will find a tap where you can freshen up and a wall where you can eat your sandwiches in the shadow – unfortunately there is no tavern or café. But still, this is a lovely spot, underneath some palm trees and pines, isolated and peaceful.

(1h22) After the break in Kallítsos, you leave the square by going straight, towards the east. Very soon though, you take some steps going up on the left and in this way you leave the village. Five minutes later you arrive at some stables and you will get a beautiful view on the bay of Kallítsos. On the other side of the bay you see the trail that leads from Kallítsos to Agios Ioánnis. About 8 minutes out of Kallítsos you pass a deserted hamlet – the concrete road off the left goes to the main road; you continue straight, gradually descending between little walls.
Another 3-4 minutes later it looks as if the trail comes to an end on a kind of cape: in front of you, you now see two small islands and on the left also the island of Kýthnos; to the left there is a road going towards the little poles of the main road, behind you, you can see the islands of Sífnos and Vous. However, you do go straight on this kind of pass (and NOT to the right), on a vague trail that soon becomes a nice monopáti; it passes under a tree and runs in the direction of a white-and-blue church.  

(1h39) Some 5 minutes later you arrive at this church with a blue dome. Deep underneath you can distinguish a very nice natural little port - it is Platýs Gialós. You get to a road that meanders downwards, but you follow this road upwards to the left.

[Twenty metres further you will see a monopáti off the right of the gravel road, but it is totally overgrown.]

You thus stay on the this gravel road that leads to the main road. You now have to follow the road for about 25 minutes and then you will reach the beautiful monastery. This monastery is built like a fortress, it is situated some 100 metres above the sea and it dates from the 16th century.

The Moní Taxiárchoon, close to Kallítsos.

You can enter the monastery through a very low door – if there are not too many tourists the only remaining monk will offer you some loukoúm and he will show you the church with its beautiful ikonostási, originating from 16th century Russia.

(2h06) After the visit you follow the road further to the right: after 3 minutes, you keep to the left at a bifurcation, and soon you reach a bus shed. Over there you take a modern flight of steps going down off the right towards the not yet visible village of Galaní. You descend about 90 steps and then you arrive at the village; you cross a concrete road and you continue down until you arrive at the church with next to it an enormous concrete cross. You can take a little break now, admiring the beautiful view on the bay of Sikamiá - you can have a picnic here.

(2h14) From the church onwards you go straight and you just follow the trail markers [6], in the direction south-southwest; you descend the staircase to the right [6] and another steep staircase, until you get to a side-street ([6] on a pole). To the right, you could go to the beach of Sikamiá - see the hike Pýrgos - Galaní - Sikamiá -, but you have to take a left here . At the outskirts of the village you follow the concrete road to the left, marked by means of a trail marker [6]. In front of you there are two valleys, with two chapels with a blue roof. You will now first follow the concrete road on the left-hand side of the left-hand valley. When you get to the final house you find a path off the right (twice the trail marker [6] and a red arrow to Pýrgos): in this way you easily descend into the valley, but after 4 minutes, you pass a path on your right side. You then go up again on a sometimes beautiful path - you keep to the right at a bifurcation.

You get to the gravel road, where you go to the left for some moments, and then you continue up to the right, BEFORE the palm tree (trail marker [6]). A little later on you walk next to a house, underneath eucalyptus trees, and you pass on the right-hand side of a small chapel with a blue roof. You thus climb until you get next to a house, and just past the house, you have to go up to the right on a rocky path [6]. A little further, you keep to the right (no mark), and you reach in this way a gravel road - there is a chapel further on to the right. 
The trail that continues straight ([6] on a stone) goes up to Pýrgos (see the hike Pýrgos - Galaní - Sikamiá and back).

(2h45) At this point you leave hike [6] and you go to the right on the fairly recent gravel road – this road had destroyed the ancient trail. You follow this road for about 11-12 minutes and then, without any difficulties, you arrive at a concrete road. This road comes from the cemetery of Panagiá.

(2h57) You DO NOT proceed straight ahead on a path going down, but you follow the road to the left for about 30 metres. You then take a rocky gravel road to the right. This road curves to the right and it describes a large bend around the valley, underneath the houses. After 6 minutes you find a steep and narrow trail on the left and 3 minutes later you arrive higher up in the village. Fortunately, the first house on the right is still the old café with a small shop, where you can drink something or even eat an omelette or a salad.

(3h06) After your break you continue straight until you reach the little square next to the beautiful Byzantine church of Panagiá, dating from the 10th century A.D.. This church is devoted to the Virgin Mary, with a huge celebration on the 15th of August. If this church is open you can visit some wall paintings from the 1300s; there is also a beautiful ikonostási.

The church of Panagiá.

The church still haves old columns.

The old fresco's are in a bad condition...

In the left-hand corner of the small square you continue by following hikes no. [4] and [5] – a hiking sign [5] and the trail markers 4-5 show you the road. You meander to the right, to the left and to the right again and at the following crossing hike no. [5] goes straight ahead, while hike no. [4] takes a left.

The beginning of the walk [5].  

You should now follow hike no. [4] for a short while. You go up the staircase and you continue up the meandering staircase straight ahead. At a certain point you see a large, white staircase on your left – you go up on the left and after 37 steps you arrive at the asphalt road. This is the end of hike no. [4]. You notice a really beautiful and paved trail straight ahead, without any trail markers. 

The path from Panagiá to Gýftika.

After about 3 minutes the path becomes uneven and stony. Some 6 minutes later you get to a dusty gravel road; you continue on the other side and you reach the asphalt road. Over there you go LEFT.

(3h20) You have to follow this road for quite a long time: after 20 minutes you arrive at a junction: the road on the left goes to Chóra, but you take a right first, in the direction of Méga Livádi. After another 6 minutes you get to a water tank and the sign post to the heliport (the hiking sign pointing to Chóra has disappeared, but there is a small trail marker [2]) – this is Gýftika. 

The beginning of walk [2] that returns to Chóra.

(3h46) You now take a left, you follow the asphalt road for about 5 minutes and where the road bends off towards the small airport, you take a path in front of you. This trail goes down gradually in the direction of an aiguille with a white chapel and a circle of walls. Guided by red dots you reach the chapel after some 15 minutes. From this point onwards you will gradually get a wonderful view on the other side of Chóra. After descending the trail for some more minutes you get to a marvelous kalderími. This kalderími is sometimes even completely paved and it has impressive walls – some real cyclopean work! 
 

The kalderími to Chóra

A nice view of Chóa in the evening sun...

While admiring the beautiful view on Chóra it will take you some 25 minutes to get down to the mills and the bus square. At this spot you can wait for the next bus, you can discover Chóra or you can return to Livádi by taking the ancient steps... (4h26)

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