AMONGST THE TOP TRAVELLING DESTINATIONS…
WHY NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT!
Dear friend
In an edition of ‘The Sunday Times’ last month, the complex of Sifnos and Milos ranked 2nd out of 50 alternative travelling destinations in Greece for 2017!
This is not a surprise. The West Cyclades is one of our favourites holiday regions as it combines an inexhaustible variety of beautiful hiking trails, picturesque villages and harbors, stunning beaches, unique archeological sites, rare endemic wildlife and delicious food!
That’s why we’ve been organising walking and sailing holidays around Milos and Sifnos for the last 12 years.
Check below our 10-day walking holiday in the West Cyclades…
VOLCANIC MILOS WILL FASCINATE YOU!
Milos is the most interesting geologically island in the Cyclades with dramatically eroded volcanic rocks… the whole island actually looks like a geology or mining museum! The vast mineral deposits continue to be the wealth of Milos and tourism has been slow to take hold.
Volcanic Milos will enchant you with its diversity, coastal morphology and rare geological formations… with its 75 beaches, crystal, deep blue waters, picturesque harbors and colorful volcanic rocks…
Milos highlights!
- Picturesque white washed villages and harbors,
- An inexhaustible variety of beautiful hiking trails & “geo” walks,
- Unique endemic wildlife you cannot meet anywhere else,
- Unique archeological sites including: the discovery site of the world famous “Venus (Aphrodite) de Milo”,
- an important Late Bronze Age coastal settlement,
- a Roman theatre,
- the largest Roman catacombs outside Rome, a Venetian castle…
As if the above are not enough… Milos beaches are truly unbelievable! If the volcanic geological forms of Milos are interesting, the variety and colors of its beaches are impressive: they may be white, or black, with sand, small stones or ground shells. Their waters are always clear and may be emerald, green, pale blue or deep blue.
Milos is also known for its unique fauna with endemic species such as the Milos Wall lizard, the extremely rare Milos Grass Snake, Milos Green Lizard and Milos Viper, one of the most interesting and rare animals in Europe.
Due to the volcanic nature of Milos there are several places around the island where there are hot springs. The most well known are the mineral baths in Adamas called ‘Ta Loutra tou Lakkou’, which were mentioned by Herodotus as a cure for skin diseases.
WALK WITH US AROUND THE CYCLADIC ISLAND OF SIFNOS AND DISCOVER “AUTHENTIC” GREECE
Traditional villages of snow-white houses with traditional chimneys made of potter’s clay, 365 small churches with blue domes, a Venetian castle, ancient ruins, an inexhaustible variety of beautiful hiking trails which lead to tranquil sandy beaches, delicious local food and wine…
This is Sifnos, the gem of Cyclades.
Based at the picturesque village of Ano Petali, you will walk on ancient paths and trails, enjoy astonishing coastal sceneries and landscapes with abandoned terraces, ruined pigeon houses, bridges, steep rocky cliffs, springs and small gorges… you’ll get familiar with wild herbs and flowers… come across endemic wildlife… and reach remote virgin beaches with crystal clear waters.
Sifnos highlights
- Explore “hidden” Greece & traditional island lifestyle,
- Picturesque villages with traditional taverns and ‘kafenia’,
- An inexhaustible well preserved network of hiking trails,
- Solitary beaches that can only be reached by foot,
- Natural Protected Areas “Natura 2000”,
- Delicious local food as it’s the homeland of the great cook Nikos Tselemendes,
- 365 small churches and monasteries with blue domes,
- A Mycenaean citadel,
- •A Venetian castle settlement…
Due to its rare natural beauty, an important area of Sifnos, covering 20km2 approximately, which stretches from the Profitis Ilias mountain, is integrated into the European Network of Natural Protected Areas “Natura 2000”. There are at least 19 important species of animals and plants, many of them rare and endemic to the area. Rare for an island in the Cyclades, there are whole forests with a rare species of cedar, carob trees, wild olive trees, aromatic plants and much more.
Some 40 species of birds have been documented, with 16 of these considered as protected species. Sifnos is a good passage for the migratory birds, such as herons, water loving birds, orioles, bee-eaters, turtle doves and many more water birds. Of course, there are birds that come to Sifnos and stay for the summer such as woodchat shrikes, swifts e.t.c. There are also predatory birds such as Eurasian hobbies, Cory’s shearwaters, Bonelli’s eagles, Peregrine falcons, Eleonora’s falcons e.t.c.
Join us for 7 days (check our itinerary below) and learn all about the island’s history, culture, archaeology, wildlife, herbs and their uses…
Our guides will introduce to the local flora and fauna with presentations and observations, provide useful historical information… and of course introduce you to the local traditions (i.e. food, feasts “paniyiria”) and culture.
For many of our guests this is the best aspect of the holiday!
Sifnos is the homeland of the great cook Nikos Tselemendes and it has a delicious cuisine with many traditional dishes! The wining and dining are superb. We eat mainly in family-run village taverns where the food is home cooked and locally produced.
Please have a look at our sample itinerary that will show you what you will experience while walking with us around the islands of Milos and Sifnos…
If you wish to discuss the above or any other matter please don’t hesitate to contact us either by phone at +30 6976 761492 or email at info@nofootprint.gr
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Nofootprint team