Onithe Archaeological Footpath

Onithe Archaeological Footpath

 

In September 2019, we inaugurated the Onithe Archaeological Footpath, the best way to visit the archaeological site of Onithe in Goulediana village, Rethymnon, Crete. The footpath meanders through the mysterious archaeological site of Onithe, only scarcely explored by archaeologists. Walking the footpath, one can visit the most important sites of Onithe, like the Early Christian Basilica, the Archaic Houses, the Acropolis, the church of Kera as well as harvested lands and viewpoints, in a land that is for millennia now still under constant exploitation.

The cultural/touristic route of Onithe develops in reference to the ruins of an important ancient city, Onithe, which flourished during the Archaic period (7th-6th century BC). The site has been also in use at later times as it is documented by the preserved ruins of Hellenistic, early Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman and modern buildings and structures.

Apart from the historic significance of the area, the path highlights the natural features that comprise this particular land such as the unique flora, the farming traditions and installations as well as aspects and areas of geological and paleontological interest.

Paths of Greece has developed these trails for the Goulediana Cultural Association “ONYTHE”. The trails have been sign-posted with compliance to all international standards. The map of the trail and area has been designed by Staridas Geography. For further information, please click here.

Paths of Peace

Paths of Peace

 

In summer 2019, we implemented a multi-day hiking trail and a cycling route called Paths of Peace. It is located in the area of Florina, Western Macedonia, Greece. The trail is divided into 4 hiking days, and it starts and ends at Lehovo village. It crosses the most important natural and cultural places of the area: the settlements of Lehovo, Asprogeia, Nymfaio, Agrapidies, Sklithro and Limnochori, the Wolf sactuary, the lakes Zazari and Cheimaditida, as well as dense forests. For more information, click here.

Ithaca Trails

Ithaca Trails

 

Ithaca Trails, the official network of hiking trails of Ithaca island is now a fact. Together with the Municipality of Ithaca, Paths of Greece has implemented the first set of routes – 50km, 7 trails. These trails have been cleared and sign-posted, and will soon be presented through a website and an App for smartphones. For the moment, you can get a Map of Ithaca Trails here. For further information regarding this project on Ithaca, press here.

Tinos Trails

Tinos Trails

 

Tinos Trails, the official hiking network of Tinos island is a fact! 152 km of trails, planned according to the hiker needs, invite you to discover the nature and culture of this beautiful island of the Cyclades.

Tinos Trails is a project of the Municipality of Tinos, in co-operation with Paths of Greece, as well as the local population and tourism businesses.

The trails network aims at strengthening the tourism season before and after the summer months, bringing quality visitors, revealing the rich nature and geology of Tinos as well as its cultural assets, through old footpaths.

12 thematic routes invite the visitor to live a unique experience. The trails pass through all the picturesque villages of Tinos, they are looping, are interconnected and cover most of Tinos island.

The work that Paths of Greece undertook was related to the Tinos Trails planning, the way-marking and sign-posting, as well as the clearing of the routes. In addition, Paths of Greece created a website, leaflets, maps and performed promotional actions.

The first hikers have already appreciated much these trails! Tinos Trails will keep developing and in the following months it will have some surprises for all those who will decide to discover Tinos on foot!

For more information: www.tinostrails.gr

8 years Paths of Greece

8 years Paths of Greece

At its 8th birthday, Paths of Greece has been presented to the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Frank Walter Steinmeier during his visit in Greece

Last October, Paths of Greece became 8 years old. When it all started, it seemed an impossible attempt. During the crisis years, the birth of a financially sustainable enterprise that would work on the development of hiking trails seemed irrational to many. Often, when I had to say what my work was, I used to be replied: “And what is your main job?”. Answering “this is my main job”, to hear again: “Well, and what do you live off? Who walks today? We have cars. Why don’t you get a serious job?”

Yes, I live off that and I am happy every single day. This work fulfills me with experiences. It gives me the opportunity to meet people and places all over Greece. Together, through the trails, we develop the opportunities for financial and social amelioration as well as environmental protection. Let aside that hiking is health…

The first years passed, and what I was doing with external partners became in November 2016 the Social Co-operative Enterprise Paths of Greece, with Sotiris, Christina and Spiros acquiring specific roles within our project. Throughout these years we did work with many external partners too. With some of them, partnership became exclusive.

From our very first project, Kythera Hiking, that is being renewed this year, we never stopped getting better and learning from our mistakes. We keep doing mistakes of course, but we try not to repeat them.

What we do is to find the old mule trails in different localities working together with the locals. We then organize them in a network, based on the preferences of modern hikers, to then clear them, waymark them and promote them in Greece and abroad. It is an A to Z approach that makes sure that these trails will be “operational” for a long time. Projects like Sifnos, Serifos, Prespa Lakes, Fiscardo, Drama, Paggaio, Monemvasia followed this philosophy.

Meanwhile, we have also created and launched the Hikers Friendly Hotels certification, that recognizes hotels that offer services and facilities adapted to the hikers. Thus, the hiking experience starts from the place of accommodation, before one reaches a trail.

Our next projects, being prepared during this period, will only be announced when totally completed. We believe that they will offer an excellent realm for hiking holidays for the visitors of Greece.

Our vision is to make Greece one of the Top 10 hiking destinations in the World.

To conclude, and without forgetting the way people looked at me 8 years ago when I was talking about my “job”: On Friday October 12, 2018, I happily accepted the invitation to present Paths of Greece to the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Mr. Frank Walter Steinmeier and to the President of Greece Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, during the official visit of the former to Greece.

Fivos Tsaravopoulos

Miyagi Olle opening ceremony (Japan)

Miyagi Olle opening ceremony (Japan)

Miyagi Olle trail: walking towards the path of financial recovery.

The beginning of October saw the grand opening of the trail network Miyagi Olle in Miyagi prefecture of North-Eastern Honshu in Japan. Paths of Greece were invited to the opening ceremony and our representative, Sotiris Dimos, went there. As part of the opening ceremony, we hiked two of the trails and saw a sample of the beauty of Miyagi. The trails are relatively easy and go through deep vegetation of pine and bamboo, rice paddies but also the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. These are magical landscapes and very different from what we are used to here in the Mediterranean.

Despite its beauty, Miyagi prefecture has been on the news for other reasons. On the 11th of March 2011, a massive earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean 130 km East of Sendai – the capital of Miyagi – and it was recorded as a 9~9.1 magnitude on the Richter scale. The earthquake lasted 6 whole minutes. As a result, a destructive tsunami hit the Eastern coast of Japan, wreaking havoc up to 20 km inland. More than 15.000 people died, with 2.500 having been left missing. Coupled with the tragic incident at neighbouring Fukushima, the tsunami impacted the economy of Miyagi. In order to change this and bring Miyagi into a path of financial recovery, the region’s officials have invested into hiking tourism. The population of Miyagi has embraced this, as was evident by the large numbers of people who were present at the opening ceremony, which included representatives from South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, Turkey and Greece.

Miyagi Olle is a trail network that was designed following the Olle Foundation criteria. The Olle Foundation is stationed in Jeju, South Korea in which the famous Jeju Olle trail network is located. For more information, visit the network’s webpage.

Apollo Trails

Apollo Trails

We have just inaugurated the Apollo Trails, a small but wonderful trail network on Mountainous Messinia (Peloponnese). The trails start at the village of Abeliona, and link the neighbouring settlements of Neda, Petra, Agios Sostis, Skliros, to the UNESCO Temple of Apollo Epicurius, the Temple of Pan, the springs of Neda, numerous stone-built thresholds, churches, stone bridges etc. Despite its relatively short length, it presents important changes in environment passing by chestnut tree forests, creeks with plane trees, old fields, vineyards, tall oaks and mountain peaks with great views.

Our work was to find the old footpaths that were “sleeping”under vegetation, to clear them, to sign-post them, and to help in their promotion. In our efforts we found great assistance by the hotel Abeliona Retreat, as well as from the inhabitants of Abeliona and the other villages. These trails are unexpectedly beautiful and are awaiting to unveil to the hikers the secrets of this mystic area.

Paths of Greece has developed these trails for the Hikers Friendly hotel Abeliona Retreat. To find out more about this project, click on our portfolio page here.

7th World Trails Conference

7th World Trails Conference

Paths of Greece has participated at the 7th World Trails Conference, that took place from September 26th – 29th, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. During the Conference, we have presented the Hikers Friendly Certification, made a lot of contacts, and worked on the creation of a World Trails Network – Mediterranean Hub! It is the 4 World Trails Conference that Paths of Greece has participated at, following our strong will to have Greece always at the forefront of the trails world. The 7th World Trails Conference has been organised by the World Trails Network, where Mr. Fivos Tsaravopoulos is Treasurer of the Board.

New waymarking in Monemvasia

New waymarking in Monemvasia

 

We have recently installed new trailhead signs in Monemvasia, from durable, 10-year guarantee boards. We have also way-marked a short trail that links to the Central Gate of the Lower City. The project has been completed with the collaboration of the Association Friends of the Castle of Monemvasia. For more information about this trail you can click here. For a map of the trail, you can click here.

The Hikers’ Friendly certification has been launched!

The hotel certification standard has been launched!

“Hikers’ Friendly” is a certification for services related to hiking activities. It is currently available only for hotels, but it will soon be open for other sectors. It has been developed by the Social Co-operative Paths of Greece, in collaboration with Green Evolution. Its aim is to enhance the hiking experience by upgrading the services offered to the hikers.

The adjustment of the “Hikers’ Friendly Hotels” Certification was conducted in the Greek island of Sifnos, where now the trial period is completed and from the 1st of August 2017 the Certification is available for all areas in Greece. All hoteliers who are interested in upgrading their services and in increasing the tourist flows toward the accommodation and each destination, mostly during the off-season period, are more than welcome to apply.

It is important that to promote Greece as a top hiking destination, 5% of the certification fee will be returned to each municipality for trails maintenance or promotional action. This applies for municipalities where the number of the certified accommodations is above five.

Find more information on the “Hikers’ Friendly” website and of course you can follow “Hikers’ Friendly” social media to stay always updated!

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