Mount Ochi, this mythical mountain located in the south South of the island of Evia, would be the place of the first love of Zeus and Hera. It is dominated by two peaks, Giouda and Boublia, separated by the Dimossari Gorge. It is in this grandiose environment that you will be able to make superb excursions. We we suggest three of them.
1. The Dimossari Gorge
The hiking trail of about ten kilometers is a beautiful walk of about four hours. This walk starts in the village of Petrokanalo and then follows a paved and shaded path along a wild river. Small natural pools allow for swimming. It finally ends at the beach of Kalaniou on the east coast.
You will need to arrange for a car to pick you up at the finish line as the walk is not a loop. Some agencies offer this service, such as South Evia Travel for example. If you are with young children, you can go to the village of Lenosei, through the majestic road of Agious Dimitriou (be careful with the dirt road at the end of the route), and reach the most beautiful part of the gorge by walking only 2km to 3km.
2. The Drakospita
This site located at the top of Mount Ochi is extraordinary because it presents houses made of huge boulders, dating from the 7th century BC. They would have served as a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hera. At 1400m of altitude, it is difficult to imagine how such constructions could be born.
The path to the summit takes about four hours and starts in the village of Myli. It crosses splendid forests of chestnut trees. A night in a refuge at an altitude of 1000m allows you to shorten the walk and to enjoy the sunrise in this magical landscape. For those who do not wish to make such a long hike, it is possible to access the site through the village of Styra. Here again, ask a specialized agency for information.
Dimarossi © Georgios Liakopoulos-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr
Castello © Sophie B.
3. Castello Rosso
It is accessible from the village of Karystos or Myli. This castle built in 1030 was occupied by the Venetians in 1210. Today only the ramparts of the castle remain, but its location perched on a rock makes it an entertaining and accessible walk for children. It is also a great viewpoint of Karystos Bay on one side and Mount Ochi on the other.
From Myli, it takes about 30 minutes of climbing. Be careful if you go for a walk with children because there is no protection against falls. Keep an eye out.
Sophie B.
