and 2008
Walking, hiking and trekking on the SMALL
CYCLADES
WALKS
(last update on March the 13th of February 2010)
1. The southeast coast of Páno Koufoníssi ***
3. Schinoússa: the beaches of the south
4. Schinoússa: the beaches of the north
5. To the cave of Agios Ioánnis on Irakliá
6. Walking around
Donoússa ***
WALKS OF ERIC TREMBLAIS
Between
Náxos and Amorgós, the most eastern island of the Cyclades, there is a
group of small islands, called the Small Cyclades or Little Cyclades or
Lesser Cyclades - the Mikrés Anatolikés Kykládes. These islands consist
of four inhabited islands, namely Irakliá, Schinoússa, Páno Koufoníssi
and Donoússa and a couple of uninhabited islands such as Kéros, Káto
Koufoníssi and Ano and Káto Andikéri.
Most of these are situated at only a few kilometres south and south-east
of the southern tip of Náxos; only Donoússa lies a little more isolated
to the east.
The largest islands are Irakliá (18 km²) and Donoússa (16 km²) – they
are rather mountainous with the Pápas (419m) as the highest summit on
Iraklía. The population numbers about 100 - 200 inhabitants in each case,
with the exception of Páno Koufoníssi (260 inhabitants for only 3,8 km²).
Until recently,
these islands were very isolated and hardly developed on the level of
tourism. These days, even the important boat line connecting the Piraeus
with Amorgos, via Páros and Náxos, stops at the Small Cyclades (usually
at Irakliá, Schinoússa and Koufoníssi, and sometimes at Donoússa as
well). However, the most faithful visitor of these islands is definitely
the Express Skopelítis; leaving from the harbour of Katápola on Amorgós,
this boast takes care of the almost daily connection with Náxos via the
Small Cyclades.
Nevertheless, the
Small Cyclades remain a small heaven of peace, definitely off season. But
recently, because of their reputation of quiet and authenticity, these
islands have become an attractive holiday resort for backpackers, mostly
in the months of July and August. This is a result of the wild and rocky
coast and of the beautiful little bays and beaches, for instance on Schinoússa
and on Páno Koufoníssi. The less developed island of Irakliá possesses
a special attraction, a relatively famous cave, the so-called "cave
of the Cyclops" or of Agios Ioánnis. On the uninhabited island of Kéros
you can find remains of habitation dating from the Cycladic civilisation.
With regard to hiking, Irakliá and Donoússa are the most interesting – one of the charms being that you can walk around the entire island in one single day. In order to do so, you should take an early boat, leaving from Katápola or Egiáli on Amorgós; you will then arrive at the Small Cyclades fairly early, which means that you will have time enough to finish your hike before the return of the Skopelítis. Another possibility, especially for those really in favour of peace and tranquillity, is to stay on the islands themselves.
A nice hiking map of the Small Cyclades was published in spring 2009, within the Skaï series (Terrain Maps); on the back of the map you find 9 suggested hikes on Irakliá and Koufoníssi.
On
March 25th 2010 visitor n° 100 000 was on this site!
Since then, this page of the Small Cyclades got
visitors.
The cave of Agios Ioánnis on Irakliá
The typical
monopáti to Agios Athanásios on Irakliá
Towards the bay of Porí on Páno Koufoníssi
The little harbour of Parianós
The beach of Livádi on Donoússa
The monopáti to Messariá on Donoússa