Vourkotí - Profítis Ilías - Arni - Katákilos - Káto Katákilos - Batsí

Evaluation: This hike is one of the longest you can make on the island of Andros; it traverses the entire island by following the highest short-cut. Hike [9], traversing the island from Ano Aprovátou via Pitrofós to Strapouriés and definitely the hike from Stavropéda to Messariá follow routes that are situated quite a bit lower. This is really a great way to explore the higher interior of Andros and enjoy the views from the mountain side of the Profítis Ilías. The mountain village of Arni and many of the trajectories of the trail are absolutely worthwhile. Therefore, the hike deserves the maximum evaluation of ****.
[Update by Raymond on April 30^th , 2015 and on April 23^rd , 2019.]
[The translation of this walk was made with some help of Google translate - so, please, do not mind the mistakes...]

[Pay attention: during several years, until 2014, the first few minutes of the path starting from the tavern O Vráchos were difficult, if not impassable as the path was completely obstructed by vegetation. Since 2015, the passage is possible again; if in the future, there would be problems again, you could start a little further: one should therefore follow the asphalt road for 1 kilometer, and a few hundred meters beyond the sharp left turn and the road to Achla (road sign), there is a small rocky gravel road that goes up to the left. You have to take this road, you pass under a power line and a little later, after a total of 2 minutes, you will see on the right the trailhead [12] - see below at the point (0h15).]

Estimated time: This  hike - with a total distance of 15,4 km - falls apart in a few pieces: to get from Vourkotí to the Profítis Ilías is a climb of about 1 hour. It will then take you 1h20 to the church of Arni, 1h05 until the church of Agii Anárgyri in Katákilos and after 25 more minutes you will get to the square of Káto Katákilos. Finally, it will cost you 1h10 to the beach of Batsí. This means that the total actual walking time is 5 hours– we hiked from 10am to 7pm.

Route description: [To start this hike, you better take a car or motor bike to the village of Vourkotí. You can then park close to the tavern O Vráchos. Once or twice a week there is also an early bus.
In theory, it is possible to first make the hike from Chóra to Vourkotí, but this means that for the entire trajectory you should count on an extra 2h20 actual walking time. This would then really become a very tough, even impossibly long, hike!]

(0h00) To the left of the tavern 0 Vráchos, there is a white-painted staircase that goes up – there is a hiking sign [12] Profítis Ilías 4 km / Agii Saránta 7,4 km / Arní 7,1 km. The concrete or rocky steps climb fast; after 2 minutes, there is a wooden gate and then you follow a rocky trail that continues more or less flat. The trail veers right and after 4 minutes, there is a gate in reinforcing steel.
Soon, the narrow path is sometimes narrow because of ferns, you still veer to the right [12] and after 8 minutes you go down into a small valley with again a wooden gate, made of pallets. A rocky little road goes up (hiking picket [12]) and further, you arrive at a stony gravel road that continues to the left of the old rocky path [12]. You still continue 2 minutes, then you discover a trail that climbs to the left, just before a power line – there is on the left side an obvious arrow and a [12] which clearly mark the path.

(0h15) You thus are going up to the left following goat paths, but after 2 minutes, you come against a wall [12]. You follow it for about 6 minutes on goat paths that sometimes deflect from it for a while, and after 9 minutes, you reach a false flat, where you keep to the right [12] in the direction of a gravel road that goes up.

(0h24) You thus move away from the wall and so you head more to the middle of the ridge (hiking picket [12]). You climb gradually and so you pass to the right of a striking rock, which consists of two parts that are detached (see photo); in a depression, you see the old path coming from the left and you continue to climb.

(0h36) The ridge becomes wider again [12] and you go up gradually passing some heights; the road turns left and right and eventually you reach the first height, with to the right the first geodesic pole, indicating a height of 949 meters.

(0h51) The road goes down, then goes up again on a steep slope to the next hill; halfway, after 2 minutes, a picket sends you obliquely to the right, and so you pass on a path below the height of 972 meters (marked by a small square post).
When sitting on the rocks at the hill top you have a magnificent view of the northern half of Andros, with on the right the bay of Achla and on the left the coast and the little islands in front of the harbour of Gávrio. In that direction, so to the northwest, you can also see the enormous boulder with the little chapel of Profítis Ilías. In front of you there is the round top of the Profítis Ilías; 997 meters high; you go first towards the slight depression and the road, but 70 meters before reaching this road, you have to go obliquely to the RIGHT, near a rock (with a red mark).

[It is of course tempting to keep following the hill ridge, first to the Profítis Ilías, the highest point of the island, then further on the hill crest of the Kouvára to the little chapel of Agii Saránta (990 m), but today there is not enough time for such an excursion. See the hike Vourkotí – Profítis Ilías – Agii Saránta.]

(1h01) The trail is sometimes steep, but obvious - it is well marked with [12] and red marks. After 4-5 minutes, you begin to climb a little, but after a few minutes, you descend again slowly, on a grassy slope and strewn with stones, towards the base of the double rock. Near a rock [12], you veer to the right and you descend now fast towards the base of the big rock.
You arrive in this way after 17 minutes next to the base of the rock and near the simple chapel of Profítis Ilías (hiking sign [12] Vourkotí 4 km / Arní 3,1 km). In front of you there is a deep valley with the church of Arni and you have a truly amazing view on the route you are about to follow and on the gulf of Gávrio beyond.

(1h18) You take the gravel road leaving from the base of the rock and going to the left. This road describes a large curve above the valley of Arní. After some 13 minutes the descending road passes deep underneath the large boulder where you were just a few minutes ago. About 7 minutes further down you have to watch out: when you get to a few large rocks on your left you notice a narrow trail going into the valley on the left, between 2 rocks (hiking picket [12]).

(1h38) You descend quickly now, first straight towards the red church of Arni and the stony path is very obvious. The trail then curves more to the right and it first runs less steep, then horizontally, between the vegetation. After 10-11 minutes, it curves to the left again, on a small and green plateau and more in the direction of the dispersed houses of Arni – which, all of a sudden, seems much closer as well. After some very difficult minutes on a steep and stony path, you get to a side-trail.

(1h56) You take a left here, you cross a little valley and finally you go down, sharply to the right and to an asphalt road.

(2h00) You take a left again [12] and when it gets to a dead end, you descend the concrete staircase (hiking sign Arní 0,95 km) and you thus reach a well and a small pond (date 1955). On the well you see the inscription "Syllogos Arnis Evangelistria 2001".

(2h04) You proceed to the left of the pond on the trail that continues straight. After 2 minutes, you go up a staircase while keeping to the left and you continue on a flat trail. A little further you go down alongside a house and you cross a little bridge, keeping to the left and midst the vegetation. You walk in this way on the left of a few large rocks and then you describe a large curve above the village, by walking on a concrete path or on steps – the village is actually hidden between the green. Halfway, you still cross a small concrete bridge - there is water everywhere, an idyllic picture if there wasn’t so much plastic in the valleys...
After 9-10 minutes you keep to the left on a side-trail [12]; you pass another well and then you have to watch out again: at the large house, you continue to the left of it and go straight on the dirt path [12] which further veers left - but afterwards, in a valley with a lot of water, it goes to the far right and passes on a small bridge. Later, you descend a concrete staircase, to the right of an old house, and so you get to the asphalt road, where you take a left. This road ends near the church and a small school - a staircase goes down to the side of the school, where there is a table and a bench - a nice place to picnic ...

Beside the church, you see an information panel [11] and [12], and above the school there is a hiking sign [11] Pigí Mazáni - Katákilos 3,6 km / Ano Katákilos 4,5 km / Batsí 7,5 km - from here onwards, the hike is marked with signs [11 ].

(2h20) You thus continue straight on the gravel road ([11] on a pole), then you descend a staircase on the right (hiking picket [13] and [11]). You arrive at a grassy path and then descend another staircase to a small little road, which becomes concrete behind a gate [11]. You pass by a house, then between some buildings [11]; you veer right and down on a staircase next to a rocky bed - the source Mazáni is on the other side.

(2h25) You continue to descend under a beautiful plane tree, you cross the water and, after another gate in reinforcing steel, you continue on a grassy trail [11]. After 2 minutes, near a small building, you keep to the right [11] and shortly after, you descend to the right again [11]. You descend to the right and the left, you pass through a gate in reinforcing steel and  a little further again through a gate. You arrive in this way underneath the chapel of Agios Módestos, where you go RIGHT UNDER the stairs ([11] on a picket).

(2h30) You arrive immediately between two other small chapels, where the hike [13] goes right (sign Léfka 8,3 km) - you continue straight (sign Ano Katákilos 2,9 km and Agii Anárgyri / Katákilos 4 km). You thus go straight on, to the left of the church, and you descend now on a pleasant forest path; a little further, you keep to the left [11], you go up and down, you descend to the right [11] and you still pass by a gate.

(2h35) You will now go around the deep valley to the church you already see in front of you. You descend quickly, you pass after 2 minutes through another gate. Further on, you arrive by steps in the deep valley, where you cross the water on a small wooden bridge, in the middle of a real chaos of big rocks and under plane trees.

(2h39) You go up again on a beautiful forest path and you arrive between a wall and some trees. After 2 minutes, you first take a left at a junction, and you arrive via a paved staircase between 2 chapels - on the right at the bottom there are picnic tables.

[In the inscription on the lower chapel of Agios Ioannis and Agia Irini, you can read that the place is called Politéï, a village that was founded in the late 1000s; the church dates from the 11th century and was restored towards the end of the 18th century and again in 2013.]

(2h42) You return to the main path and continue to the left; you keep to the right at the fork (a [11] further on), but a little later, you go to the left again [11]. You veer right, with a splendid view over the wooded valley and with to the right and above always the village of Arní. You go down again, sometimes on steps, and you thus arrive in the very rocky bed of a second lateral valley.

(2h47) You turn right, but keep to the left a little later at a bifurcation [11] you go up quickly and you cross a third bed with a lot of water and even a few small waterfalls on the right. A little further up, you turn right again [11] and finally follow a beautiful path on the left slope of the valley: at first, you climb slowly for 4-5 minutes, then you go down gradually – and after 2 minutes, you arrive first along a fence in reinforcing steel and then next to a new house with an old reservoir of water, but eventually you go down to a dirt road that ends here [11].

(3h01) You will now follow this road for 22 minutes: it rises slightly most of the time, but it is quite pleasant because of the magnificent view over the wide valley. After a while you see below the sharp tower of Evangelístria, a hamlet of Rémata - this is where the hike [13] to Léfka begins.

(3h23) At the end of the road (hiking sign Arní 3,4 km), there is a crossroads where you continue straight on the asphalt, toward s the chapel that you see in front of you [11]. In the following bend - where you could go up to the right towards the chapel of Agii Anárgyri - you follow for a few meters the small dirt road that continues straight [11], but you take almost immediately the path on the left (sign square Katákilos 1,1 km / Batsí 5,1 km).

(3h24) The rocky path descends quickly between walls and becomes after 4 minutes a nice path, to the left of a large field with flowers. You wind to the left and to the right, until down in a valley, and there you continue to the left [11]. You continue your descent and you follow the valley while winding, then you arrive between walls. You pass between a few houses and farther, you go sharply to the left on a cross-trail - and you descend on a staircase to an asphalt road.

(3h36) Just opposite, you continue down on a nice path; after a few turns, you arrive near a small metal gate, where you turn sharply to the right on a cross-path (a [11] only much further). You arrive on concrete steps, you meander left and right [11], just beside the road, and you descend again on a ruined staircase.

(3h44) After a long and difficult descent, you arrive again on a nice path between walls and below holm oaks. Near a chapel, you cross a gate in reinforcing steel and you get to a small asphalt road which descends quickly until a wider road (hiking sign [11] school Arní 4,5 km).

(3h49) You go to the left (hiking sign [11] Batsí 4 km) and you arrive at the square of Káto Katákilos.

[Before the bridge, there is on the left a spring with drinking water, and after the bridge, on the square,  there were once two taverns, O Grégos and To Stéki - but they disappeared.]

(3h50) You go for a few moments to the right, but immediately you take the concrete road that climbs quickly to the right of the old tavern To Stéki (road sign 10%). The concrete becomes asphalt, after 4 minutes you continue straight and after a little more than 5 minutes, you get to another asphalt road, where you go LEFT (hiking picket [11]).
After a little less than 2 minutes, you climb the first dirt road to the right, the Odós Olandoú ([11] on a pole and traffic mirror). You go up quickly, to the right of some houses.

(4h02) After 12 minutes since Katákilos, you keep of course to the right [11] and shortly after, you arrive at the top; the road goes down a little, you see a big bend to the left [11], you go up and down a little, and then, suddenly, there is a path that goes up to the RIGHT (hiking picket [11]).

(4h10) You climb quickly, for 13 minutes, sometimes along a wall - and you arrive in this way at the top, near the chapel of Agia Anna. There is a dirt road that follows the ridge (hiking picket [11]).

(4h23) You take the other road, obliquely to the left / opposite (hiking picket), you cross a wide gate in reinforcing steel and then, suddenly, you discover the sea and Batsí in the distance in front of you! You continue straight and after 2 minutes, the road becomes a path; another 2 minutes later, there is still a gate in reinforcing steel.

(4h29) Still 2 minutes later, you continue between walls, while keeping to the left [11]; after another 3 minutes, there is a fork, where you still keep to the left [11].

(4h34) You reach the crossroads of the paths [11] and [11a], where you descend to the right on a paved path (hiking sign [11] Arní 6,9 km / [11a] Ano Aprovátou - walk [9] 3,4 km). You take a left on a cross-trail, you descend diagonally to the right [11] near a small stable, after a beautiful flat stretch you go again to the right [11] and close to a gate, you veer to left, right and left, sometimes on large slabs.

(4h44) You thus arrive at a gravel road: you go there to the right for a few moments, but immediately, you go left on a path [11]; this path turns right to a dirt road, you go again to the left and after 10 meters, right and down [11] – and now you go down for a long time, still on the remains of an old paved path.

(4h50) You arrive in the bend of a gravel road, but there is a path that continues just opposite, to the right of a wall [11]. After a nice paved stretch, you go down to the asphalt road (hiking sign Batsí 800 m / Katákilos 3,1 km / Arní 7,7 km).
You go to the left, but – pay attention – after 2 minutes and just before the sign Batsí, you descend to the right (hiking picket); you pass a gate, you cross a small road and you still cross a gate. Below, you continue to descend to the left; the grassy path turns left and finally meanders down to the main road that bypasses Batsí (hiking sign).
Just opposite, there is a cemented alley that goes down; you go to the left in a cross-street [11] and after 6 minutes, near a pole, you go down to the right to the sea. Still to the right and to the left, and you reach the beach. The center and the bus station are to the left. (5h00)