Chios does not reveal itself at first glance. It asks you to walk it, to breathe it in, to listen to the silence and the pulse of its nature. For those who love hiking, it is a small paradise: trails that wind through forests, stone terraces, and salty thyme-scented shores, connecting past with present and offering travelers the island’s most authentic face.
The mapping of these paths was no coincidence. Giorgos Chalatsis, a physical education teacher from Macedonia, devoted 18 years of his life to recording and showcasing the trails of Chios. Through conversations with locals, study of books, and old maps, he rediscovered more than 140 forgotten paths spanning 400 kilometers. He passed away in the summer of 2025, leaving behind a legacy that gave new life to hiking tourism on the island. Thanks to him, today’s traveler can follow the very same routes that once connected Chians with their villages, fishing boats, and everyday lives.
We followed the path from Egrigoros to Agiasmata, in northwestern Chios. Descending along ancient cobblestone roads that vanish into pine forests, we passed monasteries that still breathe with the rhythm of centuries. Around us, springs, wildflowers, and a history that takes us back to the 19th century. After the massacre of Chios, the Ottomans were forced to construct commercial roads to ease the transport of goods—among them the precious mastic resin. This was the so-called “yol parasi” (road tax), through which 18 kilometers of stone roads were built under the direction of chief engineer James Aristarchis, descendant of a Samiot family educated in Zurich. Today, these paths stand as unique monuments of folk architecture and as living arteries of the island.
The route passes the Monastery of Evangelistria—well preserved yet abandoned by monks—its atmosphere steeped in mysticism. From there, the trail leads to the thermal springs at Agiasmata, where hot water bursts from the earth, reminding us that nature conceals both therapeutic and wondrous gifts. A swim at the beach and relaxation at the hydrotherapy center complete the day in the best possible way.
Hiking in Chios is not merely exercise or leisure. It is a multi-sensory experience: the crunch of leaves underfoot, the sunlight piercing through the canopy, cyclamens blooming in autumn, wild tulips and orchids appearing in spring. Hikers pause to take photos, to gather tsikouda—the small green nuts locals chew as a snack—or to drink fresh water from the springs. Every trail is a plunge into both nature and time.
Today, Chios boasts its own long-distance hiking route, stretching 92 kilometers: the island’s 14th (under certification) European hiking trail. A project that promises to attract alternative travelers from all over the world and place Chios firmly on the international hiking map.
We were fortunate to walk the island with Giorgos Misertzis, a man who knows Chios like few others. Owner of the stone-built guesthouses “Spitakia” in Avgonima and a key member of Chios Trails, he has dedicated himself to studying the island’s flora. He has recorded more than 110 species of orchids and generously shares his knowledge with nature lovers. In fact, in 2015 he organized an international orchid conference on Chios, bringing scientists and researchers from around the globe. Every spring, from March to May, he continues—through Chios Trails—to lead hikes, either for groups or for individual travelers.
