Zakynthos - Walking the Flower of the East
$1331.00
Walks & Treks
7 nights in Zakynthos
What to expect
Four Fully Guided Walks
Enjoy specially curated hikes that reveal the island’s hidden trails, breathtaking coastal views, and lush landscapes.
Private Boat Trip
Cruise across sparkling turquoise waters on our exclusive boat trip to Marathonisi Island, home to nesting sea turtles.
Exclusive Property
Stay in a charming property reserved exclusively for Solos guests with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Solos Walking
Discover the joy of walking with Solos, designed to create camaraderie, lasting friendships, and cherished memories
About this trip...
About the trip
The Venetians called this southern most Ionian island Fiore di Levante, the Flower of the East. Its nobility and fertility made this delightful island a jewel of their empire. Join us on a week's exclusive fully guided walking holiday to explore and discover why the Venetians held this island in such high esteem. Grade - Easy to Medium
What's included?
Transfers
Private Room
Breakfast daily-
1 x Lunch
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3 x Taverna evening dinners
Welcome drink
Four exclusive fully Guided Walks-
1 x Private Boat Trip - Marathanosi Island
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
What's extra:
- International flights are not included
- Travel insurance
- Tips & drinks
- Meals not included in the itinerary
- Activities not included in the itinerary
- Climate Crisis Resilience Fee payable locally €2.00 per night
- Air conditioning - €7.50 per day, payable locally
- Lunches except where stated
Itinerary
- Arrive in Zakynthos
- Olive Grove & Vineyards
- Top 3 Walks of Zakynthos- Giri, Agia Marina & Kalamaki
- Day At Leisure
- Loucha Valley, Views & Cooking with the locals
- Cliffs, Coves & Turtle Island
- Day At Leisure
- Departure Day
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrive in Zakynthos
- No Meals Included
Day Two: Olive Grove & Vineyards
- Distance: 7.5 miles
- Ascent: 2,182 ft (25% until 492 ft)
- Descent: 2,182 ft (50%)
- Plateau: 25%
- Walking Time 4hrs
- Breakfast & Dinner Included
Day Three: Walks of Zakynthos - Giri, Agia Marina
After breakfast, we set off for our two hikes of the day. Zakynthos offers fantastic scenery - the mountains and fertile plains. The first stop is the hamlet of Giri - the highest village on the island, tucked away in the hills. The route runs through rugged terrain where we suddenly discover amazing views over the entire island. We continue through forests of tall cypress trees and fields with wild flowers. Our next hike starts in the traditional village of Agia Marina. Our route zigzags through olive groves, descending along paths only used during harvest time. Here we experience the heart of the island, a complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of the islands coastal resorts.
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Giri walking distance: 2.5 miles
- Ascent: 240 ft (30%)
- Descent: 240 ft (30%)
- Plateau: ~40%
- Walking time: ~75 minutes
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Agia Marina – Galaro walking distance: 4.3 miles
- Ascent: 325 ft (15%)
- Descent: 807 ft (65%)
- Plateau: ~20%
- Walking time: ~2 hours
- Breakfast Included
Day Four: Day At Leisure
Perhaps relax by the pool with your favourite book or take a stroll to the nearby beach. Or if you are feeling active, try out kayaking on a Sea Kayak Tour (Approx €60 pp payable locally). Alternatively, visit Smugglers Cove & the Blue Caves (minimum 8 clients approx €50pp payable locally). Make sure you build up an appetite for the included evening meal at a local taverna.
- Breakfast & Dinner Included
Day Five: Loucha Valley, Views & Cooking with the locals
After breakfast, we’ll be picked up by our coach and taken to the hidden valley of Loucha. Firstly we will stroll through fields of wildflowers with the scent of thyme, oregano and aniseed dominating the air. Taking unpaved paths through a forest of tall cypress trees, we’ll leave civilisation behind us with only the silence as a companion. A descending trail, with spectacular views over the entire island, ends at the ancient central road, now overgrown and forgotten. The route runs in between the ruins of a hidden village, where time has stood still since being abandoned after an earthquake. The buildings are covered with moss and nature has taken over, giving a fairytale feel of serene beauty.
- Walking Time 4 hours
- Walking distance: 8 miles
- Walking time: ~4 hours
- Plateau: 25%
- Descent: 70%
- Ascent: 5%
- Breakfast & Lunch Included
Day Six: Cliffs, Coves & Turtle Island
Today this spectacular walk begins on the west coast edge of the island where the dramatic high limestone cliffs drop down into the dark blue waters of the Ionian Sea. Those with a feel for heights can have a peek over the edge of the bluff and take some fantastic clifftop photographs. We then follow the traditional goat herder trail that meanders upwards, where just after the summit of Mt Skopos, suddenly a spectacular panorama greets us, spanning over the south side of the island with the bay of Laganas. Via a walk along the coast line of Marathia we’ll finish in the small harbour of the village of Limni Keri. Here we rest and have lunch (not included).
- Walking Distance 6.2 miles
- Ascent 15 %
- Descent 60 %
- Plateau 25 %
- Walking Time 3 ½ hrs
- Breakfast Included
Day Seven: Day At Leisure
Take the opportunity to catch the local bus or a taxi and visit Zante Town and discover a selection of museums, churches and perhaps a spot of shopping. Make sure you are back in time for our last night, farewell Taverna dinner.
- Breakfast & Dinner Included
Day Eight: Departure Day
It's time to say "Ya Sou"! After transferring to the airport, we will board our flight home.
- Breakfast Included
Accommodation
The Angela Studios
Facilities include
Room includes
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
Walking Program Overview
Four guided walks are included in the program. Your walking guide will confirm the daily schedule once on-site. The program is graded Easy to Medium, and you can expect to walk between 6 and 9 miles per day, with some ascents/descents, uneven terrain, and higher altitudes involved.
Below are the approximate distances and elevation details for each walk. Please note these may vary depending on local conditions.
Walk Details
Olive Groves & Vineyards
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Distance: ~7.5 miles
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Ascent: 2,182 ft (25% until 492 ft)
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Descent: 2,182 ft (50%)
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Plateau: 25%
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Walking Time: ~4 hours
Top 3 Walks of Zakynthos – Giri, Agia Marina & Kalamaki
Giri
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Distance: ~2.5 miles
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Ascent: 240 ft (30%)
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Descent: 240 ft (30%)
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Plateau: ~40%
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Walking Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Agia Marina – Loucha
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Distance: ~4.3 miles
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Ascent: 325 ft (15%)
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Descent: 807 ft (65%)
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Plateau: ~20%
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Walking Time: ~2 hours
Kalamaki
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Distance: ~1.9 miles
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Ascent: 0 ft
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Descent: 33 ft (2%)
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Plateau: 98%
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Walking Time: ~45 minutes
Loucha Valley & Views & Cooking with the Locals
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Distance: ~8 miles
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Ascent: 5%
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Descent: 70%
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Plateau: 25%
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Walking Time: ~4 hours
Cliffs, Coves & Turtle Island
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Distance: ~6.2 miles
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Ascent: 15%
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Descent: 60%
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Plateau: 25%
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Walking Time: ~3.5 hours
Do you want me to add short, enticing descriptions for each walk (e.g., "wander through olive groves to panoramic vineyard vistas")? Or keep it factual like this?
- Walking boots with good ankle support
- Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
- Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
- Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
- Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
- Walking socks – several pairs
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Hat & gloves
- Daysack/rucksack for walking
- Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
- Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
- Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
- Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.
- Climate Crisis Resilience Fee payable locally €2.00 per night
We recommend that you check passport and visa requirements for the country you are visiting at the State Department if you have a U.S. Passport. Most countries require that your passport have at least six months validity when traveling internationally, and many require that you have one to two blank visa pages for either an entry stamp or visa. As a general rule, please check that your passport has six months validity beyond your planned trip, and if not, please renew your passport with plenty of time to provide Solos with your updated passport information by the final payment due date.
Not sure what travel documents you need? Our trusted partner, sherpa°, makes it easy to check visa and entry requirements based on your destination and passport. One quick check now means smooth sailing later. Click here to learn more.
