Self-Launched: Walking the Mountains & Villages of Evia
8 days · Evia (Euboea), Greece
Exodus Adventure Travels charges £1,600
No-markup version: ~£560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of Exodus's 8-day walking week on southern Evia — Greece's quiet, mountainous second-largest island. Base yourself in the seaside town of Karystos, reach it by cheap KTEL bus from Athens to Rafina and the ferry across the strait, and walk the same ravines, Venetian castles, Roman marble quarries and the summit of Mount Ohi (1,392 m) with its mysterious Dragon House. Trails are waymarked and easily followed with a map and offline GPS app (Wikiloc/Komoot). Rather than a group transfer and guide, you use public buses, local taxis and your own two feet, self-cater breakfasts and eat in the same family tavernas. Expect roughly £500-600 all-in versus £1,600+ with the operator — and you get to choose your own dates and pace. Costs are approximate estimates only.
Day-by-day
Athens to Karystos, Evia
Athens → Rafina → Marmari → Karystos
Fly or arrive into Athens, then take the Athens suburban bus or metro to Rafina port (~€4-6, or ~€45 taxi if you land late). Catch the Rafina–Marmari ferry (about 1hr, €10-13 one way; book on the Avlemon/Evia Ferries site or buy at the port). From Marmari take the local KTEL Evia bus south to Karystos (~30-40 min, €3-4) or share a taxi (~€25 split). Check into a seafront guesthouse in Karystos — several small family-run hotels and studios face the fishing harbour for €35-55 a double (€20-28 a dorm bed at the area's hostels). Evening: wander the harbour, have a first dinner of grilled sardines and horta at a waterfront taverna (~€12-15), and pick up a hiking map or download Komoot/Wikiloc trails for the week before dark.
🚌Athens airport → Rafina bus/metro ~€5; Rafina–Marmari ferry ~€12; Marmari → Karystos bus ~€3.50
🛏Family-run seafront guesthouse/hotel in Karystos (~£25-30 per person per night in a double; cheaper dorms available)
- →Ferry across the Kafireas strait to Evia
- →Evening harbour walk in Karystos
- →Download offline hiking maps (Komoot/Wikiloc) for southern Evia
Gourna villages, Roman aqueduct & Castello Rosso
Karystos & Mili Valley
A warm-up loop straight from your door: walk east through the Gourna cluster of villages (Aetos-side farmland, old stone houses and orange groves) and follow the lane to the Roman aqueduct of 160 BCE, which once carried water to Karystos. Continue up to the Venetian Castello Rosso above Mili for a panoramic lunch spot — pack bread, tomatoes, feta and olives from the town bakery and minimarket (~€6). Drop down into the Mili valley's ruined watermills, a green oasis of plane trees and springs. Back in town, dinner at a village taverna (€12-15). Total walking ~10-12 km, 450 m ascent, 4-5 hrs.
🚌All on foot from Karystos
🛏Family-run seafront guesthouse in Karystos
- →Self-guided walk through the Gourna villages
- →Roman aqueduct (160 BCE)
- →Castello Rosso castle and Venetian walls
- →Mili valley watermills and springs
Platanistos ravine, Panohori & Marmara beach
Cape Kafireas (Cavo Doro) side of south Evia
Take the early KTEL bus from Karystos towards Platanistos (roughly 45 min, €3-4; check times at the kiosk the day before as services are sparse) or split a local taxi (~€35-40 each way; try to pair up with other walkers via your guesthouse). Walk the shaded Platanistos ravine with its springs and plane trees, climb to the old villages of Panohori and Mourtia with views out to Cape Kafireas, then descend to Marmara beach for a swim if the season allows. Return by the same bus or pre-arranged taxi. Walking ~11-13 km, 5-6 hrs. Evening back in Karystos, taverna dinner €12-15.
🚌KTEL Evia bus Karystos–Platanistos ~€3.50 each way (or shared taxi ~€20 per person)
🛏Family-run seafront guesthouse in Karystos
- →Platanistos ravine walk
- →Panohori and Mourtia villages
- →Swim at Marmara beach (seasonal)
Mount Kliosi & the Acropolis of Styra
Styra & Kliosi massif
Bus or taxi north along the coast to Styra (~30 min, €3-4), then take the waymarked path up the Kliosi massif to the hilltop acropolis of ancient Styra — superb views over the Styra valley and out to the Petalioi islands. Detour to the Cave of St Nicolas and the medieval Castro Armeno ruins, and follow the old marble track past the Roman quarry faces on the descent. Explore the Styra valley villages for lunch (€8) before returning to Karystos for a late-afternoon swim and dinner. Walking ~10-12 km, 600 m ascent.
🚌KTEL bus or shared taxi Karystos–Styra ~€3.50 each way
🛏Family-run seafront guesthouse in Karystos
- →Summit Mount Kliosi
- →Ancient acropolis ruins of Styra
- →Cave of St Nicolas
- →Castro Armeno ruins and Roman marble quarries
Coastal day: Marmari fishing hamlet & bay walk
Bay of Marmari
A gentler recovery day. Walk the coast north from Karystos around the bay to the little fishing hamlet of Marmari (about 8-9 km one way, flat), or hop the bus if you'd rather save your legs. Lunch on whatever the boats brought in at a Marmari psarotaverna (~€12), then swim off the long sandy beach. Return mid-afternoon, potter round Karystos: the Venetian Bourtzi fortress on the breakwater, the archaeological museum (€3), and an ice cream on the square. This is the day to do laundry, restock and plan the big Ohi day. Dinner €12-15.
🚌On foot, or KTEL bus Karystos–Marmari ~€2 each way
🛏Family-run seafront guesthouse in Karystos
- →Coastal walk around the Bay of Marmari
- →Marmari fishing hamlet and beach
- →Bourtzi fortress and Karystos archaeological museum
Mount Ohi and the Dragon House
Mount Ohi (Ochi), 1,392 m
The big one — an early start. Take a pre-booked local taxi up the rough road towards the Agios Dimitrios/Argastaras trailhead (~€25-30 per car; arrange the night before through your hotel and ask the driver to collect you in the afternoon) to save the dull road walk. Hike up through the springs of St Theodore and the lower/upper Aetos villages to the summit plateau of Mount Ohi, where the mysterious megalithic 'Dragon House' (draghospito) sits among alpine meadows — bring a windproof layer, it's exposed at the top. Pass the Roman cipollino-marble quarries on the descent and finish at a coastal cove for a swim. ~12-14 km, 700-800 m ascent, 7 hrs. Taxi back to Karystos; big dinner €14-16.
🚌Pre-booked local taxi to/from the Ohi trailhead ~€25-30 per car (~£12-15 per person if shared)
🛏Family-run seafront guesthouse in Karystos
- →Climb Mount Ohi
- →Dragon House megalithic temple
- →Aetos villages and Springs of St Theodore
- →Roman cipollino marble quarries
- →Swim at a coastal cove
Ohi gorge and the remote east coast
Mount Ohi gorge – east coast coves
A second day on the mountain, this time following the old gorge path that drops down towards the island's wild east coast. From the trailhead above Karystos, follow the waymarked canyon route between rock walls and river pools to a remote beach where you can swim in clear Aegean water before climbing back (or arrange a taxi pick-up at the coast road, ~€25). ~10-12 km, 5-6 hrs. Final evening in Karystos: splurge on a proper taverna spread — lamb kleftiko, local honey, Karystos wine — around €18-22. Optional earlier-in-week stop: a local beekeeper near Karystos who sells and explains Evia's thyme and pine honey (€5-10).
🚌Walk from town to trailhead; optional taxi pick-up ~€25 per car
🛏Family-run seafront guesthouse in Karystos
- →Ancient gorge path on Mount Ohi
- →Remote east-coast beach swim
- →Canyon walk with river and cliff views
- →Visit a local beekeeper for Greek honey tasting
Karystos back to Athens
Karystos → Marmari → Rafina → Athens
Morning swim and a bakery breakfast, then bus to Marmari (€3.50) and the ferry back to Rafina (~€12). From Rafina, bus or metro into Athens (~€5) — if your flight isn't until evening, drop bags at a locker and do a quick Acropolis or Plaka wander. Factor ~3.5-4 hrs door to door to the airport. If you're on a tight budget, the journey the other way (KTEL bus Karystos–Athens via Chalkida) is an alternative but slower.
🚌Karystos → Marmari bus ~€3.50; Marmari–Rafina ferry ~€12; Rafina → Athens/airport ~€5
🛏None — onward travel
- →Last morning swim in Karystos
- →Optional Athens city stopover en route home
Self-launched vs. Exodus Adventure Travels
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus Adventure Travels | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£560 | £1,600 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,040 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus Adventure Travels-style trips? Check them out here.~£560
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched: Walking the Mountains & Villages of Evia cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £560 per person for 8 days in Evia (Euboea), Greece. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus Adventure Travels?+
Yes — Exodus Adventure Travels charges around £1,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £560 — a saving of roughly £1,040 (65%) per person.
How long is the Evia (Euboea), Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Evia (Euboea), Greece.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, culture trip through Evia (Euboea), Greece, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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