If anyone has walked the trails around Chalki, Filoti, Apirathos, Koronos areas and can recommend a hotel that would serve as a good base, I could use a recommendation. Thanks!
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3317 posts
I've stayed on Naxos 13 times since '99... and have never heard of a hotel in the hill villages... there may be rooms available in private homes, or new-built "villas" for luxury clients somewhere up there ... but hotels? (Frankly, I hope it doesn't happen ... let the villagers keep their own "home bases" and live their lives).
Posted by
OP
40 posts
Janet: agreed! I used "hotel" more as a generic term. As an avid traveler in the 60s & 70s my preference was always home-stays.
Posted by
France Southwest
1795 posts
Posted by
NH (USA)
1157 posts
Airbnb is always a good option if you want something less touristy and in more out of the way areas and maybe isn't available on most third party websites.
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1366 posts
Why not just stay in Naxos town and take the local bus.
There is a direct bus route that connects Chalik, Filoti and Aparanthos.
There are lovely hikes around Chalki Vivlos area.
Here are some images.
Chalki and Vivlos villages https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720299950915
Posted by
OP
40 posts
Beautiful images, stan, and good advice. Have booked a place in Naxos town, will check bus schedule, at least for Chalki, and see if it will allow a drop off and return, same day, with ample walking time.
Posted by
OP
40 posts
Any recommendation for a good book on walking that's available in Naxos?
Posted by
France Southwest
1795 posts
You can find Naxos hiking maps in bookstores in Naxos Town.
The bookstore "To Palió Bibliopoleío" (The Old Bookstore) has some of them.
Otherwise you will find descriptions of hikes on Naxos here:
http://www.cycladen.be/NaxosEng.htm
I believe there are GPX files with it.
A great hike to do is from Filoti to Mount Zas, the highest point in the Cyclades. It's about 4 hours round trip. It's pretty well marked. You still need good shoes (rocky slopes)
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1366 posts
As I recall the bus tickets are one way so you need to purchase two tickets for return trip. There are several buses daily to Chalki so not a problem to plan your day.
We also get the business card of a Taxi driver at the taxi place at the harbour. On occasion we have taken the bus up into the mountains and then called the radio taxi to come and pick us up when the return bus time was not convenient.