Walking the Cyclades

A special place

The Cyclades

The Cyclades complex includes about 220 islands in the centre of Greece, out of which 56 are inhabited. The islands are peaks of a submerged mountainous terrain scattered in the ‘big blue’ of the Aegean archipelago, and offer an amazing variety of scenic landscapes: gentle valleys, rolling hills and rugged mountains with boundless vistas. However, what is truly spectacular are the Cycladic seascapes: lace-like coastlines and golden-sanded beaches with turquoise waters paired with jagged cliffs and majestic rocky shores and islets.

Throughout the year, the quality of light and the colour of sky and clouds are unique in the Cyclades: the name, ancient as the place itself, denotes the circle of islands around sacred Delos island, the birthplace of Apollo, Greek god of illumination, divinity and music.

Serving as navigation bridges between mainland Greece and Asia Minor, the islands have been continuously inhabited since prehistory. The strikingly beautiful ‘Cycladic Culture’ figurines, carved out of translucent white marble 4000-5000 years ago, attest to human civilisation flourishing here since the beginning of time. Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian ruins tell stories of times bygone at every turn of the way.

The islands’ isolation until the later part of the 20th century, as well as a regime of controlled development thereafter, has helped preserve their natural, cultural and architectural heritage. Every island still retains a distinctive character, making it a ‘small world’ in itself, despite their recent development as tourist destinations.

Made by man and nature

Villages & Trails

Human settlements here are inspired by climate, landscape and necessity, growing organically through the ages. A perfect blend of the natural and the man-made, Cycladic villages are exercises in simplicity, with their white cubic houses, cobblestone streets, narrow vaulted alleys, pristine windmills, and ubiquitous blue domed churches and chapels.

Before the arrival of the automobile in the 1960s, settlements, farms and homesteads were connected with a network of ancient paths, the monopatia (footpaths) or moularodromoi (mule tracks). Sometimes paved in cobblestone, sometimes in dirt, or even hewn in rock, these were the primary routes of transportation and communication on the islands for centuries.

These trails still form the spine of the countryside and are the basis of the islands’ enormous hiking potential: hundreds of kilometers of walking paths with very interesting routes, mostly accessible to the average walker, just waiting to be revisited.

Hike into Greek landscape & history

Our Mission

We believe that the best way to experience what is special about the Cyclades is by exploring our monopatia. Walking Plus itineraries are unique in that you walk and traverse the islands, discovering chapters of their hidden story along the way: natural beauty, traditional settlements, archaeological monuments and sights. With us, you can get really immersed in Cycladic culture and landscape – you don’t just visit, you stay in scenic, white-washed villages in the mountains and experience local life from within. We want our guests to find the beauty beyond the tourist facade and enjoy the light, the landscape and the atmosphere of the Cyclades – the natural way: walking right in!