An ideal way to see as much of the island of the winds as possible in a short amount of time as you will spend a day exploring every nook and cranny of the island in a tour that combines the highlights of Chora with select spots around Mykonos! With the windmills of Mykonos on the backdrop, you will start from Little Venice and Panagia Paraportiani in the capital before you move on to the iconic Armenistis Lighthouse and the settlement of Ano Mera with its 16th century Monastery of Panagia Tourliani. Short visits to gorgeous sandy beaches are sprinkled throughout the trip to round off your tour with all that Mykonos has to offer!
Daily upon request.
680 euro per group with a maximum capacity of 4 people in a group
Our tour begins in Chora, the capital of Mykonos and undoubtedly the heart of the island. We will walk around for some time, learning about Mykonian history as we stroll down narrow, white-washed alleys in the maze of taverns shops and galleries that is Chora. The iconic windmills of Mykonos will constantly occupy the background with their nonchalant, dignified air, lending a quixotic aroma to our walk. Among the many sites that we'll visit will be Little Venice, a charming neighborhood filled with colorful houses resting on the coast of Chora, caressed by the waves of the Aegean Sea. Right next to it we will find Panagia Paraportiani, a collection of churches built next to each other which now comprises a singular site. The earliest of the churches was built during the 1300s, with the rest following centuries later.
Afterwards we will hit the road and begin our exploration of the rest of Mykonos, starting with none other than the Armenistis Lighthouse. A proud testament to Mykonos' naval past, the lighthouse -or Faros as the locals call it- has been in operation since 1891 and although nowadays it is serves a largely traditional and cosmetic purpose, in its early life it saved the lives of many seafarers. In fact it came into existence because of the sinking of the British steamship Volta on the north coast of Mykonos, which claimed the lives of 11 people.
From the Northwest tip of the island we will head east, driving past the artificial lake of Marathi and visit our first beach for the day! On the west side of Panormos bay lies the beach of Agios Sostis, one of the more serene swim spots on the island. However, serenity epitomizes our next destination, Ftelia beach, on the base of the same bay. Ftelia is more famous because of the Ancient Ftelia Neolithic settlement which dates back to the 5th millennium BCE and is speculated to have been the place where Ajax the Locrian was laid to rest.
Continuing our journey we will head towards the center of Mykonos and the village of Ano Mera. A picturesque setting full of authentic local flavors, quaint shops and most importantly the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani. A visit to this 16th century monastery is highly recommended and you should give emphasis to its beautiful wooden altar and the elaborate icons and incense holders depicting various religious scenes. Optionally a stop at a nearby tavern for a traditional Cycladic meal can be included to your schedule.
Our journey started on the northwest edge in Armenistis and now we will reach the northeast corner of Mykonos with a visit to Fokos beach. Due to its remote location, Fokos is never crowded, even during high season. The shore is very white and laid with white sand, but keep in mind that it can also get quite choppy due to its exposure to the wind. Before we bid adieu to a day well spent we will head all the way to the south end of the island, traversing the entirety of Mykonos on the way. We will settle on Elia, one of the largest and most popular beaches in all of Mykonos. After a day touring some of the less-visited spots on the island, we will soak in Mykonos' cosmopolitan allure before heading back to your hotel.
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