A Mykonos hiking tour leaves the town lanes for country tracks, dry-stone walls, chapels and quiet bays across the island’s interior. Other trips across the Cyclades are listed on the Greece Tours homepage.
The sections below cover the routes, the sights along the way, how hard the hike is, the formats on sale, what to bring, the season and wind, and how a hike differs from a town walk.
What is a Mykonos hiking tour?
A Mykonos hiking tour is a guided walk on footpaths, donkey paths and country tracks across the island’s interior and coast. A local guide leads the group past farms, chapels and quiet beaches, well away from Mykonos Town.
Mykonos is an island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea. It lies about 150 kilometres east of Athens, between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island covers 85.5 square kilometres. Its ground is granite, and the terrain is rocky.
On GetYourGuide, one Mykonos hiking tour is sold as “Mykonos: Hiking Tour with 5.1 or 9.8 km Routes”. Its other name is the Hiking Adventure in Mykonos. Guests pick the short 5.1 km route or the long 9.8 km route when they book. Both routes run through the countryside, not the town.
Mykonos Town, also called Chora, is the main town of the island. Away from it, the island holds ten villages, farmland, meadows and granite hills. The hikes use this rural side, where farm tracks and footpaths take the place of streets.
The interior has its own landmarks. Ano Mera, in the centre of the island, is home to the Panagia Tourliani Monastery. The monastery is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. At Fanari, about 6.5 km from Chora, the Armenistis Lighthouse is still in service. Fanari means “lantern” in Greek.
Which routes does a Mykonos hiking tour follow?
A Mykonos hiking tour follows farm tracks from Ano Mera through the valley of Maou to the coast. The GetYourGuide routes run 5.1 km to Mersini Beach or 9.8 km to the Elm shipyards. Other routes reach Merchia Beach and Fokos Beach.
The two GetYourGuide routes begin at a farm in Ano Mera, the inland village where the group collects its gear. A short drive leads to the farm at Maou, the island’s farming area. From there, the walk crosses Maou to a viewpoint above a dam lake.
- Short route, 5.1 km: Ano Mera, the Maou farm, the dam viewpoint and a swim at Mersini Beach.
- Long route, 9.8 km: the short route, then The Wind viewpoint, a horse farm, a small blue chapel and the Elm shipyards.
- Circular route, about 6 km: Maou, a traditional Mykonian church, Merchia Beach and the valley of Ano Mera.
- One-way route, about 5 km: Ano Mera to Fokos Beach, across the sparsely inhabited interior.
Mersini is a small sandy beach with turquoise water. Past Mersini, the long Mykonos hiking tour adds three legs. The first runs about 1 km to The Wind viewpoint. The second runs 1.2 km past a horse farm and climbs to the blue chapel. The last 2.5 km ends at the Elm shipyards, where amateur fishermen keep small boats.
The circular route starts and ends at a vineyard and organic farm. It follows donkey paths that are closed to cars, through meadows and farmland. After a swim at Merchia Beach, a gentle climb through the hills leads back into the fertile valley of Ano Mera.
The Fokos route is sold as a shore excursion for cruise guests. It starts in the quiet village of Ano Mera and ends at Fokos Beach, a remote stretch of sand.
What do you see on a Mykonos hiking tour away from the town?
A Mykonos hiking tour shows the farm side of the island: dry-stone walls, isolated fields, farms, chapels and granite hills. The island’s highest point is 341 metres. The long route adds sea views across the Aegean to Tinos, Ikaria and Samos.
On the circular Mykonos hiking tour, dry-stone walls line the isolated fields of the Ano Mera valley. Farms sit along the way, from the Maou farm with its fresh produce to the horse farm on the long route. Bougainvillea grows near the horse farm, and meadows border the donkey paths.
Small churches are part of the countryside on a Mykonos hiking tour. Islanders once had to build a church on their land before they built a house. That custom explains the island’s high count of churches. The routes pass a small blue chapel and a traditional Mykonian church.
Dovecotes are farm towers found across the Cyclades. The Venetians brought the breeding of doves for meat and fertiliser to the islands. Builders set the towers on slopes sheltered from the north wind. On Mykonos, decorated dovecotes stand in old gardens in the Vrysi area.
Mykonos has no rivers, only seasonal streams, and two of them were dammed into reservoirs. The dam viewpoint looks over one of these lakes. On the Fokos route, water birds gather at a dam and people fish from it. From the GetYourGuide routes, holes from granite mines are visible on a hill.
How hard is a Mykonos hiking tour?
A Mykonos hiking tour is easy to moderate. The GetYourGuide hike offers 5.1 km or 9.8 km routes, and listed trips last three to six hours. Short routes welcome beginners, but the long route asks for hiking experience.
Distance sets the main gap between the walks on offer. The long GetYourGuide route covers 9.8 km and fills about six hours, door to door. The short route takes about five hours with transfers and a swim. A private afternoon hike from Ano Mera keeps the trail to about one hour.
The ground on a Mykonos hiking tour is rough underfoot. Wikipedia notes that the island is made largely of granite and is very rocky. Walks follow old donkey paths, meadow trails and narrow village lanes between farm estates. The long route adds a hill climb, and a booking site rates it as sporty in places.
Fitness demands stay modest. Yummy Pedals pitches its gentle walks at part-time hikers. It rates its picnic hike 3 out of 5 and its other two walks 2 out of 5. Mykonos Excursions opens its short route to everybody. The private Europe Express hike is not suitable for travellers with limited mobility.
No listing states a minimum age. Children walk the same paths as adults, so match the route length to their stamina.
Which Mykonos hiking tour formats can you book?
A Mykonos hiking tour comes as a shared group hike or a private hike. Hike-and-swim trips end at a beach. Other walks pair the hike with a farm visit, a picnic or a wine tasting.
The shared GetYourGuide Mykonos hiking tour is run by Mykonos Excursions. Guests pick the 5.1 km or the 9.8 km route when they book. Guests get a short farm tour before the walk. An English-speaking guide leads the walk.
- Shared group hike: a 5.1 km or 9.8 km route with a beach swim.
- Private hike and swim: about four hours, with a one-hour trail from Ano Mera to a secluded beach. Morning and afternoon versions run.
- Private hike and picnic: a 4.5-hour walk through rural Mykonos, then a beach picnic with Aegean products and a swim.
- Private hike and wine tour: a six-hour day through the meadows of the Maou valley, with a private vineyard tour.
- Off the Beaten Track hike: a three-hour circular walk on donkey paths through meadows.
Yummy Pedals starts and ends its walks at an organic farm with its own wine tasting. Its picnics include homemade lemonade and a traditional dessert. Hikes can finish with a visit to the historic vineyard of Ano Mera. The pace stays relaxed, with time for photos and stories.
A private Mykonos hiking tour changes the group size. The Europe Express hike caps each party at six people and includes a private escort. Yummy Pedals tailors its full-day walk to each guest’s wishes and fitness level. Private formats do not mix your party with strangers.
What do you wear and bring on a Mykonos hiking tour?
For a Mykonos hiking tour, wear hiking shoes with good grip and comfortable clothes. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sun cream and water. Pack swimwear and a towel when the route ends with a beach swim, and add a light wind layer.
Grip matters on rocky granite ground. Mykonos Excursions asks for hiking shoes, comfortable clothing and sunglasses. Europe Express asks for comfortable walking shoes and a hat. Both operators list sunscreen. Sandals and smooth soles give little grip on rocky paths.
A light wind layer earns its place in the pack. Wikipedia notes that strong winds have eroded large parts of the rocky island. A thin windproof top weighs little and helps on open, exposed ground. It also suits the private afternoon hike, which starts around 4pm.
Each Mykonos hiking tour supplies different kit. Mykonos Excursions gives every guest a backpack with bottled water, snacks and a walking stick. Europe Express asks guests to bring enough water, and its tour excludes meals and drinks. Both operators ask for a towel and swimwear.
Transfers also depend on the operator. The shared hike collects guests from their hotel or the port. The private afternoon hike includes hotel pick-up and drop-off.
When is the season for a Mykonos hiking tour, and what about the wind?
The listed Mykonos hiking tour starts with hotel pickup at about 8:30, and transfers return at 12:30 or 14:00. July and August are the hottest months, and the meltemi wind blows from late spring to mid-September.
The walk ends in time for the ride back to your hotel or the port. Guests can add a traditional Mykonian meal before the return. The tour runs in English. One booking calendar still shows open dates in October.
Mykonos has a hot semi-arid climate. July has an average daily high of 27.8 °C, and August follows at 27.6 °C. These two months are also the driest, with almost no rain. The island gets 312.1 mm of rain a year. The morning start of a Mykonos hiking tour puts the walk ahead of the afternoon wind.
The meltemi is the seasonal wind of the Aegean Sea. In the central Aegean, where Mykonos lies, it blows from the north. Its gusts climb to force 7 or 8 on the Beaufort scale, strongest in the afternoon and weaker at night. On Mykonos, it keeps summer days fairly cool, dry and sunny.
Spring and autumn bring milder air. April has an average high of 18.8 °C, and October reaches 22.0 °C. April comes before the meltemi season, and October comes after it. The rainy season runs from October to March. Even so, April gets 18.7 mm of rain and October 24.3 mm, against 66.1 mm in January.
How does a Mykonos hiking tour differ from a Mykonos walking tour?
A Mykonos hiking tour follows countryside paths for 5.1 or 9.8 km over about half a day. A town walking tour stays in the lanes of Mykonos Town, past the windmills and Little Venice, and lasts about two hours.
A hike starts outside the town, so a transfer takes the group to the start point and back. A guide leads the group the whole way. The paths are old donkey tracks through meadows, not paved lanes. The group walks through farmland in the island’s interior, far from the bars and shops of the port.
A town walk stays inside Mykonos Town from start to finish. Stops include the windmills, Little Venice and Paraportiani Church. The walk pauses for photos at the windmills. The windmills are a defining feature of the island’s landscape. Little Venice has old waterfront houses with balconies over the sea. GetYourGuide lists guided town walks that last two hours.
The two outings fit different days. A town walk fills a short gap in a busy day in town. A Mykonos hiking tour takes the whole morning, from pickup to drop-off. A visitor with two free days can book both, one in town and one in the countryside. Our Mykonos walking tour page covers the town option in full.
For another way to spend time outdoors in the countryside, look at Mykonos horse riding.
Which questions do travellers ask about a Mykonos hiking tour?
How long does a Mykonos hiking tour last?
The Mykonos Excursions hike lasts about 5.5 hours from pickup to drop-off. GetYourGuide shows 4 to 5 hours for its listing. Other listings show 5 hours for the 5.1 km route and 6 hours for the 9.8 km route. Yummy Pedals runs shorter and longer options, from a 3-hour circular hike to a 6-hour private day with a vineyard visit.
Does a Mykonos hiking tour include hotel pickup?
Yes, the Mykonos Excursions hike includes pickup from your hotel or the port. You give your location when you book. Pickups from outlying beaches such as Elia, Agrari and Kalafatis carry an extra charge paid on the day. Yummy Pedals hikes start and end at Vioma Organic Farm, with transfers as a paid extra.
Can children join a Mykonos hiking tour?
Yes. The GetYourGuide listing sets a child ticket for ages 4 to 12 and an infant ticket for ages 3 and under. The adult ticket starts at age 13. The 5.1 km route welcomes everybody, while the 9.8 km route asks for hiking experience. Yummy Pedals calls its hikes family-friendly. Parents of younger children can pick the 5.1 km route.
Do you need to book a Mykonos hiking tour in advance?
Yes, book ahead, because the pickup plan depends on the location you give at booking. Yummy Pedals also needs transfers arranged before the day. One listing refunds half the fee for cancellations made up to 48 hours before the start. If bad weather stops the hike, another listing offers free rescheduling or a refund.