Evaluation: We give this hike gets a favourable evaluation, namely ***; indeed, together with the hikes to Agios Stéfanos and to Agios Ioánnis, it shows us the most beautiful parts of the interior of Kýthnos.

Estimated time: You have to allow for 4-5 hours to complete this hike, including some breaks.

Route description: In order to reach Chóra it is best to take the bus from Mérichas – this bus leaves from the port. It is a good idea not to leave too late for this hike, around 9 o’clock.

In Chóra you walk to the eastern edge of the village, for example by taking the route as described in the hike to Dryopída.

At the house with number 130, the road bears to the right; at first it goes down for about 40 m as an old paved road, then another 50 m with some concrete parts. In this way you walk in a southern direction and you reach a small church. At this point, you see a monopáti going to the right (to Dryopída). You pass the little church and you take a concrete path going up on the left hand side. This path goes in the direction of the large square structure of a fairly big church.  After a stroll of about 10 minutes we thus reach this beautiful building of the Panagía tou Níkous.

The Panagía Níkous, close to Chóra.

On the left hand side of the monastery we follow the nice monopáti, which descends into the valley, straight in the direction of the Profítis Ilías. After 5 minutes there is a path on the left, but we go straight, going down some stairs into the valley. A little further, at the bottom, you see a trail going right – taking this trail could bring you to the church of Pródromos. You go straight/left into the valley, though; on the left hand side you pass a field with olive trees. After 20 m you DO NOT follow the obvious bed of a stream, but you take the monopati on the right in the direction of a chapel. After another 100 m you go left and up, taking a rocky path until you reach the chapel – you then walk on the left hand side of this chapel.

During the next 10-15 minutes the rocky trail goes up between walls, it traverses one hill after another in southerly direction and you see the Profítis Ilías on the left. After about 15 minutes you get to the top with some stables on the right. A path goes to the right, but we take a left, finally straight in the direction of our final destination. The trail now meanders further over the hills.

The monopáti in the direction of the Profítis Ilías

After another 10 minutes, just before a small valley, you pass a path on the left (this path goes to a burning rubbish dump and you will take this path on the way back) and a little further there is another path on the right (this one goes to the peninsula and a little church). In both cases you continue straight while you can enjoy the wonderful view over the surrounding landscape.

After 5 minutes, our trail passes a hill on the right hand side and goes down, leaving a deep valley on the right. Fortunately, our path stays on the side of the hill and after another 5 minutes we reach a little depth. At this point it looks as if the trail goes up and fades away into a field. You continue however, until you get over the top of the hill in front of us, where the trail comes to an end on a gate!

You go through the gate and behind you do NO LONGER go straight following the monopáti, but you take a gravel path on the left alongside a wall (this trail comes up from the church of Taxiárchis). You continue to the top, a rather difficult climb, while you still do not see anything from the monastery.

You pass a couple of ugly staples and the wreck of a green truck (for how long will this wreck still remain here?) and you approach the top of a hill. You walk around this top on the right side and you go through a hole in a wall, but still you do not see the monastery. Finally you have to climb over a second wall with a closed gate in order to reach another gravel road (10 minutes later).

You can now distinguish the monastery a little further up on another hilltop. To reach the monastery you have to open some closed railings, you then continue upwards, you climb over another wall and you open the wooden gate of the monastery – this has taken another 10 minutes.

The monastery on the Profítis Ilías.

To go back you leave from the entrance gate of the church and you go down along a wall (you pass a white pillar on the right). In this way you descend by following a barely visible path until you go through a wooden gate and you get to the road.

You continue this road going down, past the burning rubbish dump until you reach a small church with a blue arch – it is now 20 minutes since you have left the Profítis Ilías behind you. At this point you take a very nice monopáti and it looks as if this trail slopes all the way back by taking a straight left turn. You cross a valley on a beautifully tiled path, sometimes with steps and sometimes with rocks. After 15 minutes you have reached the top of the other hill and in this way you get to the trail you have taken on the way going to the monastery, again 15 minutes later.

[If you want to avoid the scramble over gates and walls when going to the monastery, you can also follow this trail when going up – both ways of this hike will thus be identical.]