At a glance
From the deck of the ship, Chios emerges before you: earthy, fragrant, and full of contrasts. Greece’s fifth-largest island is a place blessed with rare beauty and a unique identity, unlike anywhere else in the Aegean. Seafaring, mastic, and citrus fruits have sculpted it on its journey through time, shaping what Chios is today. Explore it and discover its rich nature, staggering history, and wonderful medieval villages, in a fascinating journey full of authenticity, culture, the scent of Chian mandarin, and the sea.
Route information
Distance
104 km
Estimated duration
2h23min
Difficulty level
Easy
Route type
Road
Route Category
Linear
When to go
Chios is a destination for every season. The summer offers cool dips in the sea at more than 90 beaches, along with festivals and exhibitions that frame its dynamic cultural life (Chios Music Festival, DEO, etc.). Autumn’s mild temperatures make it the best time to go hiking on its extensive network of trails. From September to early October, you also have the opportunity to see the mastic growers at work, collecting mastic in the fields. Winter offers delightful walks through the medieval villages, while in spring, nature presents a spectacle for all the senses, centred on the blossoming orchards of the fragrant Kampos.
Visit proposal
The route can be completed in anywhere from a few hours to a full day, depending on the number of stops and visits.
Did you know?
In the late 19th century, Chian citrus fruits from Kampos were individually wrapped in paper – sometimes even in gold-leaf prints – carefully stacked in special crates, and then sent off to the ends of the world as luxury products. Mastic trees start to "tear up" in July, when producers score their bark so the precious "tear" can emerge. Once the mastic is gathered, it is washed and then the cleaning begins. This is a laborious process that is traditionally a female task.
