Léfkes - Agios Ioánnis Kaparós - Agios
Geórgios - Aneratzá - Kamári - Alykí
Evaluation:
This rather long hike is especially interesting, because it takes you through
the solitary interior of the island of Páros, with among others the little known
monopáti between Agios Geórgios and Kamári, passing by Aneratzá. The walk starts
from the beautiful village of Léfkes and arrives in Alykí, where you can have a
swim. Deserves the appreciation ***.
[Update by Raymond on June
the 2nd, 2021.]
[The translation of this
walk was made with some help of Google translate - so, please, do not mind the
mistakes...]
Estimated time:
The
actual walking time (AWT) until Agios Geórgios is 1h45. The part that follows,
until Aneratzá, is quite nice and takes about 45 minutes, then it takes a little
more than 40 minutes to reach Kamári. Finally, you have to follow the asphalt
road for another 45 minutes to get to Alykí. The total distance is 12,58 km,
while the actual walking time amounts to a total of 4h - but the walk requires
as total time (TWT) about 6-7 hours, with for example a picnic break near Agios
Geórgios.
Route description:
[From Parikiá there are quite regular buses to Léfkes, Pródromos, Márpissa and
Dryós. If you arrive by a rented car or motorbike, you have when approaching
Léfkes to take the asphalt road down to the left, in the direction of the
center. Near the bus stop, where the road continues to the left towards Márpissa,
you can park your car ...]
(0h00)
Near the bus stop, where the road turns left towards Márpissa, you continue
straight on the cobbled street (Léfkes sign). You pass the dimarchío (town hall)
and the school and after 4 minutes or 300 meters, where the street describes a
left turn, you see on the left a pretty square with trees and the war memorial.
Three walks start here:
- at the start of the bend, just after the school, a paved street goes up to the
right; this is the start of your walk [4] of today
- a few houses further to the left in the bend, a paved street climbs steeply to
the right; this is the start of walk [2] and there is a hiking sign Langáda 1h15
/ Dryós 2h40 / Aspro Chorió 2h25
- you can also follow the street beyond the left turn (sign "dead end" and sign
"Byzantine road" + [1] on a pole): this is the start of the popular hike [1]
towards Pródromos , the Byzantine route.
(0h04)
So you go up the paved street to the right just after the school and to the
right of the Méli bar and you take the stairs in front of you ([4] and hiking
sign Agios Ioánnis Kaparós 35 '/ Aneratzá 2h15 / Kamári 2:45 / Agkairiá 3:25).
You cross a narrow concrete road [4] and you continue to climb an older
staircase, with on your right a nice pine forest. You thus get to the concrete
road, which you follow to the left. A few minutes later, you have a beautiful
view of the village of Léfkes, with its large church; beyond, you see the sea
and the island of Náxos. You pass to the right of a chapel with a blue roof and
continue to follow the main road - so you do NOT go left towards Agia Kyriakí.
(0h12) About 150 meters after the
chapel, you see in a bend still one [4] and you continue to follow the road. It
is only after 15 minutes, where the concrete turns into gravel, that there is a
clear path that goes obliquely to the left between walls [4]. After another 5
minutes, the path becomes a small concrete road [4], which you will now follow
for 8 minutes, between walls and always straight. The old pavement is still
visible here and there and further on there is still an old stretch, then more
gravel - and after 6 minutes you get again to the main road.
(0h29)
The concrete or gravel path continues opposite ([4] and sign to A. Ioánnis
Kaparós 15 minutes). After 7 minutes you continue again on gravel and keep to
the right - you can already see the blue dome of the monastery. After a total of
12 minutes, you go right again, while the Agi Pántes massif appears in front of
you in an impressive way. You thus arrive near a large oak tree with behind the
simple building of the small monastery of Agios Ioánnis Kaparós. You can
continue to a small courtyard, with a beautiful walnut tree, but the monastery
itself is closed.
(0h45)
On the left, you notice the beginning of a narrow road (red arrow and [4] + sign
Léfkes 35’ / Kamári 2h15 / Agkairiá 2h50), which rather quickly rises above the
hidden monastery; after 5 minutes you still have a nice view of the monastery.
The path climbs steeply, but after 8 minutes since the monastery you have to pay
attention: where the path continues flatter and veers to the left, a narrow and
vague path goes RIGHT; soon, it becomes clearer, it goes along a wall (2 X
cairns) and after 2 minutes it gets to a small gravel road, where you naturally
go to the left. This road is very stony and veers right after another 2 minutes
- and here you see the first mark [4]. You then veer to the left again, pass
under a house, then you meander up to the main road.
(1h07) You go right ([4] and small
sign Léfkes 50 ’/ Agkairiá 2h).
(1h15)
After 7-8 minutes the very wide road veers to the right, towards Agi Pántes, but
you continue straight ahead, on the gravel road - you do NOT take the narrow
left lane. You now follow, as happens quite often on the island of Páros, a long
stretch of a gravel road. Quite soon, you see your next goal in the distance,
the small church of Agios Geórgios, with its blue roof. You can also distinguish
the island of Antíparos, straight ahead. After a few long bends, you descend to
the church, after following the gravel road for 32 minutes.
(1h47)
Behind and next to the church, you see a monument in the shape of a pyramid, in
commemoration of the birthplace of the war hero Nikólaos Iak. Stellas
(1921-1944). There is a stone bench and a table, so the place is quite charming
to take a little rest or to have a picnic.
Behind the church you see the start of a path ([4] and sign Léfkes 1h50 /
Aneratzá 30 ’/ Agkairiá 1h40). At first the trail is difficult, but after 3
minutes there is a small gate and the trail gets better. The descent remains
quite difficult and the path is mostly stony or rocky. After 21 minutes the
trail continues in a gorge, but after a few minutes you can continue on the
right bank. Further on, you notice a few houses in the distance. It is clear
that this trail is only very rarely used, but the monopáti remains very
practicable all this time.
(2h31)
After 44 minutes, you get to a narrow gravel road, where you go left. But
already after less than a minute, after a few stables, you go left again to take
another path (sign Léfkes 2h15 / Agkairiá 1h10). This path descends into a river
bed, then continues between walls in a southerly direction.
This unknown monopáti is also easy to follow. About 7 minutes later, you veer to
the left, while climbing on more rocky ground. The trail becomes wider, almost a
gravel road. In front of you, you see a fertile plain, with the coast and the
village of Alykí further on - to the right you also see the tip of the island of
Antíparos.
You descend quickly and after following the gravel road for 10 minutes, you come
to concrete, next to a few houses. Further on, the road becomes gravel again,
while describing a wide bend to the right. You pass a few alleys and a concrete
road, but you always go straight. You thus reach a large rocky crossroads, where
you go left, continuing between walls.
(3h01)
You now descend, you arrive on concrete and you reach the houses of Kamári. Just
after a nice spring, you get to the main road.
(3h03)
You go to the right and the rest of your walk will necessarily follow asphalt
roads, for almost 45 minutes! You first follow a lonely road for a little over
21 minutes; it describes a few bends, then it continues straight towards the
sea. You thus get to the main road, where you go left.
Gpx-files: