Long Trails

Alonnisos Great Traverse

×

Alonnisos
Alonnisos Great Traverse
Tourkoneri beach

Alonnisos Great Traverse is made of a combination of paths and roads, most of which made already part of other hikes. The interest in the creation of this long route is on the one hand that it crosses the entire island and on the other hand it connects with all the hiking routes of Alonissos.

Alonnisos Great Traverse starts from Chora, passes over Patitiri and Votsis and reaches Mega Nero spring.

From Mega Nero it follows the nice trail to Agii Anargyri and continues via Tourkoneri to Megali Ammos and Agalou Lakka.

From Agalou Lakka it goes up to the Megalo Chorafi and reaches Psili Rachi and then Agios Konstantinos chapel. It continues on the good path to Melegakia, where it meets the asphalt.

The route then follows the asphalt for 2.3 km and leaves it to enter the dirt road to Papi. From the end of the dirt road, continue on the edge of the rocks and finally descend towards the middle of Gerakas beach, the end of the route.

The way back could be made by prior agreement with a vehicle or taxi.

The route is almost 25 km long and can be done in 10 hours.

Text and photos by T. Adamakopoulos

Signage

Marking and signposting

Along all its length, Alonnisos Great Traverse follows paths that belong to other trails and thus benefits from their marking. However, it does not have its own distinctive markings, like the Long Pelion Trail or other long trails of the mainland.
On route, we encounter most of the direction signposts of the older hiking network of Alonissos, which, although worn, serve quite well the orientation of the hiker.
Along the more mountainous part of the trail, we will find several yellow numbered signs of the old hiking network (mostly from Routes 6 and 13), as well as many red signs.

Warnings and notifications

Food and water supply

Alonnisos Great Traverse is almost 25 km long and can be done in 10 hours.

Due to the length and distance from the main villages, it is necessary to consider Alonnisos Great Traverse under the logistic approach of autonomous tekking: start the trail with food and water supply for a 10-12 hour walking time, most of it exposed to the sun and winds the ridge.

Do not trust the water sources along the route (Mega Nero, other springs, wells in Agios Konstantinos, etc.). In the summer curry at least 2 liters of water.

There is mobile phone reception throughout the trail.

Water resources in Alonnisos

The wells of the mountains

Inland wells are constructed either in nodal locations, or in locations where even a tiny water source has been detected - either on the surface or at a shallow depth.

Wells built in strategic locations are opened near huts or plateaus, where farming facilities or livestock activities were already established, nearby main crossroads or chapels, in a location where eventualy an underwater stock could be present - ravines, old gully beds. Other wells are drilled in places where there is a gush, places where rain water enters the broken ovelying soil or places where the ground surface could shaped easily of plastred properly to guide rain water directly to the well.

There are two wells near Agios Konstandinos chapel. They have been opened in shale soil, which, although it has a fragile structure, is watertight. The water comes from the drainage of a small impervious surface of slightly shaped ground. Essentially, they are more likely underground cisterns than proper wells.

Orchids of Alonnisos

Orchis quadripunctata

Of the several species of orchids growing in Alonissos, the most abundant and presumably the most likely to be encountered by the hiker at the beginning of Spring, is the Four-spotted orchis (Orchis quadripunctata). This beautiful plant gets its name from the four dark spots on the deeply three-lobed lip of the flower. The inflorescence can be loose or denser and the color of the flowers varies from white to deep purple. Up to 6 basal leaves cover the base of the stem, usually bearing large black spots, while 2-4 small leaves can clasp the stem higher up.

A very common species throughout the low- and mid-elevation zone of Greece, it is easily found in all the Aegean islands and Crete, as well as in Alonissos, in phrygana, stony places and bright bushes, from the end of March until May. In a good location this orchid carpets the ground.

topoguide Greece

ALONNISOS TOPOGUIDE

A detailed description of the Alonnisos Great Traverse, along with interactive maps, photos and POIs, is included in the digital field guide Alonnisos topoguide.

The digital field guide Alonnisos topoguide is available for Android devices as an in-app purchase within the application topoguide Greece. Alonnisos topoguide is a member of the Greek Islands group.

The digital field guide Alonnisos topoguide is also available for iOS (iPhone and iPad) devices as an in-app purchase within the application Topoguide Greece. There also, Alonnisos topoguide is a member of the Greek Islands group.