Ierissos

Bus from Thessaloniki to Ierissos mid-day

Directions to Accommodation Gkeea Hotel

Mt Athos

It is a good idea to call ahead to double check current times and rates. The new Chalkidiki

station is located quite a ways from the Thessaloniki city center, so the taxi to get there from

the center will cost nearly as much as the bus itself and will take about 15 minutes from the

center at that early hour. There is also a city bus that runs from the town center area to the

Chalkidiki Station. It is the number 45 and it departs from the Makedonia Bus Station every

20 minutes beginning at 4:40am, arriving at the center of town 10-15 minutes later. It makes

stops at only 3 of the regular central stops on Egnatia Street: Kolumvou, Aristotelous Square,

and the Kamara (Arch of Galerius). From the central city area it should take 15-20 minutes

to arrive at the Chalkidiki KTEL Station in the early morning. For bus 45

schedule: www.oasth.gr, click on itineraries button (icon of bus, top right) enter bus route

number (45) in search window; or dial 185 from any phone in Greece. Tickets may be

purchased at a discount one day ahead of use from most Thessaloniki street kiosks. On the

bus, if you don't have the exact coins, the ticket machine will not give change.

These buses depart Thessaloniki from the Chalkidiki (Halkidiki) Station (Greek: Praktorio

Halkidikis). KTEL Chakidikis Contact Information

Phone: 2310 316555; 2310 316575. Email: info@ktel-chalkidikis.gr.

web site: www.in-ktel.gr (web-site languages: Greek or English).

Click the Routes tab, then click on Ierissos or Ouranoupoli in the list to view departure times

Vatopedi Wednesday

Arrival Taxi from Oranopolis to Ierissos at 7:00

Mt Athos

Map of Pantocratoros

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Stavronikita Thursday

Directions from Vatopedi to Pantokrator

Mt Athos

Description of Route:

Walk (m) And then . . .

0 Leave Vatopedi Monastery entrance and turn L along paved road.

50 At fork with covered well on L, bear L along walled K (signed Karyes).

100 Where wall turns L, turn L following K (signed Karyes).

150 At crossroads, KSO up road.

100 At junction, bear L along road. Ignore tracks to R.

70 At major junction at top of small rise, bear R, uphill on main road (not L,

downhill).

300

As road bears L, fork R onto FP, signed Karyes and Pantokrator.

Note: In wet weather the FP may be slippery. It may be preferable to stay on the

main road, which is less steep, and to rejoin the route at below.

1000 FP emerges at track. Turn L along track.

50 At T-junction of track with road, KSO on FP which continues across road.

1300 FP climbs steeply up to road with installation with solar panels on R. KSO on FP

which continues across road.

160 FP emerges at main road. For Pantokrator, turn hard L, downhill along road

(Karyes is to R).

110 Turn R, through white pole gate onto forest road, downhill.

(Approx time to this point: 1 hours.)

750 After bend to L, turn R onto level grassy track (signed).

(Straight on leads to Pantokrator by road, rejoining at below.)

250 Track becomes FP. Pass stone fountain (dry) on R.

700 KSO, ignoring small FP down to L (may be blocked). FP continues on level

through trees before beginning to decend.

1800 KSO, ignoring faint level track to L. KSO downhill on remains of K. Fine views to

Pantokrator, Stavronikita, Mount Athos and the coast.

700 FP emerges from trees and continues to descend across rocky hillside.

350

FP descends steeply onto main road with Pantokrator ahead (care needed) and

turn L along road.

Note: The traditional route goes straight ahead here. To follow it, cross road and

scramble down very steep bank to reach open area. Cross open area to pick up K

track on further side and continue in direction of the Monastery, ignoring paths or

tracks joining from L or R.

270 Ignore road joining from L. (This is the road from Vatopedi noted above.) KSO/R

on major road which curves round to R towards Monastery, passing aqueduct on L.

200 At fork in road bear R, following direction indicated by arrow.

170 At fork in road bear L. (R goes down to harbour.)

40 Pass kiosk to arrive at Pantokrator Monastery entrance.

0 Leave Pantokrator Monastery by lower gate by kiosk and follow zigzag FP (K) down to harbour.

KSO with boat house on L and past well house on R.

210 Cross bridge to reach rough crossroads (Straight on to Karyes, R to Profitis Ilias). Turn L, signed

Stavronikita and Iviron, going initially along shore, then up into trees.

1240 Ignore track down to L (Sign to Pantokrator back along FP). Shortly after this FP starts to follow a

wall on L and Stavronikita is visible to L.

80 Old buildings to L. Ignore FP uphill to R and KSO.

725 Path levels out and emerges with Monastery in front (sign back along FP to Pantokrator and other

monasteries). Bear L under arches of aqueduct.

125 Arrive at entrance to Stavronikita Monastery.

Distance: 8.6 km Journey Time: 2 - 3 hours

Thursday

Directions from Pantokrator to Stavronikita

Mt Athos

0 Leave Pantokrator Monastery by lower gate by kiosk and follow zigzag FP (K)

down to harbour. KSO with boat house on L and past well house on R.

210

Cross bridge to reach rough crossroads (Straight on to Karyes, R to Profitis Ilias).

Turn L, signed Stavronikita and Iviron, going initially along shore, then up into

trees.

1240 Ignore track down to L (Sign to Pantokrator back along FP). Shortly after this FP

starts to follow a wall on L and Stavronikita is visible to L.

80 Old buildings to L. Ignore FP uphill to R and KSO.

725 Path levels out and emerges with Monastery in front (sign back along FP to

Pantokrator and other monasteries). Bear L under arches of aqueduct.

125 Arrive at entrance to Stavronikita Monastery.

Abbreviations: L = Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;

FP = Footpath; K = Kalderimi (stone-paved FP or mule track)

Distance: 2.6 km Journey Time: - 1 hour Version 1.0

This is a pleasant short walk roughly following the line of the coast. Although few signs remain

of any kalderimi paving, the path is generally good and is well frequented. Although mostly

through trees, there are some good views, initially back to Pantokrator and, later, ahead to

Stavronikita.

Karyes Friday

Directions From Stavronikita

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Walk (m) And then . . .

0 Turn R out of Stavronikita Monastery gate and proceed with aqueduct on R.

130 With large open area to L, KSO, past fountain on R up steps onto FP which soon

emerges at concrete road. Turn R along road, uphill.

400 Where road flattens out and bends R, fork L onto FP (K).

450 About 50m after passing kellion under construction (in 2010) to L, turn L off FP

towards open area in front of kellion (continuation of FP becomes overgrown).

30 Turn R along access track away from kellion.

200 Track emerges at main road. Turn L along road (here joining the route from

Pantokrator). Ignore turning to R signed to Skete of Profitis Ilias.

200 Road bends around to R. KSO (L off road) along track that soon becomes K (signs

here to Pantokrator and Profitis Ilias but not to Karyes).

570 K emerges onto road near major road junction. Turn L along road then immediately

R at T-junction. Cross bridge.

180 Ignore track to R. 20m later, take FP uphill to R (signed Karyes). FP becomes K

after a few metres.

250

At T-junction, turn R (signed Karyes one way, Pantokrator, Iviron and Stavronikita

the other). Bear R along wall past Skete of Bourazeri on L. Ignore new paved road

which leads into the Skete.

70 At fork, KSO along K. Water pipe on R.

670

FP crosses track at staggered junction: turn L along track then R back onto K

(signed back to Pantokrator, but not on to Karyes). FP becomes stony path then K

again.

160 Join track at T-junction. Turn R, then after 20m turn L along FP signed to Karyes.

50 Ignore FP off to R. Follow sign to Karyes.

50 Ignore track on L. Kiosk is on R. Descend to Karyes.

180 Arrive at T-junction with road. Turn R along road then immediately L at next T-

junction onto road into Karyes.

20 Arrive at Karyes Main Square.

Abbreviations: L = Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;

FP = Footpath; K = Kalderimi (stone-paved FP or mule track)

Karyes Friday

Map

Mt Athos

Friday

Directions from Karyes

Mt Athos

Abbreviations: L = Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;

FP = Footpath; K = Kalderimi (stone-paved FP or mule track)

Description of Route:

Walk (m) And then . . .

0 From the Main Square in Karyes, follow the main street, passing the fountain, bar,

Epistasia and Protaton on the R. Bear R following main street.

210 Ignore lane/K up R; KSO/L past bakery, down out of town.

170 Pass through gate into the grounds of Koutloumousiou Monastery. KSO through

second gate.

310 Entrance to Koutloumousiou Monastery on R, KSO.

100 Pass through gate to leave monastery grounds and KSO downhill along concrete road.

200 Ignore track to R just before buildings. (This is an alternate shorter route to Kellion

Panagouda to that noted below but is less straightforward.)

100 Turn hard R onto FP (kalderimi) signed Iviron (before ford)

750 Cross stream and KSO with river on L. Ignore FP on R.

250

Note second FP on R, signed Panagouda.

To visit Kellion Panagouda, former home of Fr Paisios, turn R along well-signed FP

for 300m. Then retrace steps.

Otherwise, KSO along K.

220 Cross bridge over stream and bear L, now uphill.

950 Pass fountain on R as path turns L.

150 Cross bridge over river; path continues with river now on R.

600 Pass chapel on R.

350 Cross track; KSO, signed Iviron. Valley soon widens with Iviron visible ahead.

800 At fork at approach to Monastery, bear R past kiosk (on L).

40 Arrive at entrance to Iviron Monastery.

Distance: 4.9 km Journey Time: 1 - 2 hours Version 1.0

(5.5 km with detour to Kellion Panagouda)

This route descends from 350m to sea level. Apart from a possible detour, almost the entire route is

along a fine, broad kalderimi path which for much of the way follows the course of a river, initially on

the right bank, latterly on the left bank. The route is through trees until the valley broadens to give

views of Mount Athos, Iviron and the sea. It is possible to make a short detour to visit Kellion

Panagouda, the former home of Fr Paisios.

Iviron

Friday

Map

Mt Athos

Lakkou

Saturday

Directions From Iviron to Karakalou in the direction of Mega Lavra

Mt Athos

Prodromou

Sunday

Directions from Lakkou Skete then hike to Prodromou Skete

Mt Athos

Skiti Annas Monday

Directions

Mt Athos

Tuesday

Directions an hour hike from Ag Pavlou

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Dionysiou Tuesday

Map

Mt Athos

Mt Athos

Boat from Daphni to Ouranopoli

Boat from Dionysiou to Ouranopoli

Or should I hike to Simonopetra?

Directions from Dionysiou

Confirmation number

77060 12:10 7.5 Euro

Agia anna 10:00 13:45 Speed Boat 16 Euro