Wakacje Chios - holidays and trips

Chios – chillout in Greek style Volcanic north and green south, covered with green olive and mastic trees, the blue Aegean Sea and magnificent sandy beaches - Chios is a dream come true for a wonderful Greek holiday! The island's trademark are the famous stone windmills. The charming small stone houses of the local villages invite you to admire their beauty during long walks. You can quickly enter the lazy rhythm of the Greek day, enjoy the sea, the sun and long, warm evenings. The wild beaches and local taverns can give you the best idea of what the Greek "siga-siga" is.

Island smelling with mastic.

Chios is the world centre of mastic, i. e. aromatic resin obtained from mastic trees, or rather Pistacia lentiscus. Called “Chios Tears”, mastic has been produced here for centuries, and in the Middle Ages it was valued valued on an equal footing with gold. It is used for the production of medicines, cosmetics, toothpaste, but also jams, confectionery and local alcohols - ouzo and Mastichato liqueur coloured with mastic. Everything that is made from these extraordinary resin pieces is so popular on Chios that the island smells of mastic. You can feel it in drinks, meals and also in the air, passing by mastic trees.

In the summer, even ice-cream with mastic flavor, kaimaki, is produced here. It is said that it was the cessation of deliveries of mastic to Turkey that led to the Turkish attack on Chios in 1822.

Mastic villages More than 20 beautiful small villages with stone buildings in the south of the island are mastichochorias, that is mastic villages. They were created by the largest fields of mastic trees, and the work on extracting valuable resin was the main activity of the inhabitants. Mastichochorias are also original architecture and unique decorative elements. The most beautiful of the villages is Pyrgia, where all the walls of the houses are covered with ksista - geometric patterns made of black volcanic sand, formed by scratching the layer of white plaster. Small tomatoes and peppers are beautifully reddened on the walls of black and white buildings, drying in the Greek sun. Mesta is distinguished by the tight stone houses with thick walls, which make the village an unobtainable fortress. Mesta was designed in the shape of a labyrinth and can only be reached by one gateway. The middle of the village is marked by a tower, from which narrow streets spread. In the past this was supposed to protect inhabitants from pirates who came to Chios to rob inhabitants of their "gold", i.e. mastic. Today, the village is distinguished not only by its characteristic architecture, but also by local wine - mestoutsiko.

Beaches for everyone.

Chios has clean and beautiful beaches. The golden sand and calm waters of the Aegean Sea made the Karfas beach a popular destination both for visitors and the locals. We can find numerous bars and restaurants here, and we can reach the center of the city, which is the nightlife center of Chios, with the frequent bus service. In addition to the beach in Karfas, you must visit Mavra Volia, the most beautiful beach on the island - calm, long and rocky, of volcanic origin. Komi beach in Kalamoti is also popular - long, sandy, well organized, with numerous bars and restaurants - great for families with children. The beaches of Megas Limnionas and Agia Ermoni are also famous. The beach in Deskalopetra is also popular, and it is not just about sunbathing in the Greek sun. There is a stone there on which, according to legend, Homer sat and wrote his poems.

Canoeing, boat and bicycle

The Chios coastline is excellent for windsurfing and sailing, and you can rent kayaks and water bikes on larger beaches. Chios is also a paradise for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts - the clarity of the water allows you to fully enjoy the beauty of the sea. The island is also a great place for hikers and climbers. There are many interesting trails and climbing walls of varying degrees of difficulty here.

Magnificent monuments Chios impresses with numerous monuments. It is worth visiting the Byzantine monastery of Nea Moni included on the UNESCO list. The eleventh century building hides magnificent mosaics and a museum in its walls. It is worth visiting the ruins of the Byzantine village of Anavatos on a steep, granite rock with a medieval castle at the top of the mountain and an amphitheater at the bottom of the gorge. When in Chios, you should also see a Byzantine museum with a 19th century mosque, a stone courtyard and a collection of sculptures from the time of the Venetian occupation, the ruins of the Apollo temple in Kato Fana and the town of Volissos at the foot of the fortress with unique historical buildings.

Did you know that...?

• Mastic was used as the first chewing gum and breath freshener.
• Mavra Volia beach means "black pebbles" and owes its name to the lava pieces that covered it after the eruption of the nearby volcano Psaronas.
• Chios is so close to the Turkish coast that it takes just over half an hour to travel by ferry to Cesme.
• When the Dutch yachtsmen were passing Chios, they saw beautiful tulips that were so enchanting with their beauty that they took them to their own country.

The villages of Chios — a trip to the south of the island, to the villages famous for their interesting architecture typical of the island of Chios. The first stop is in Armolia village famous for local production of ceramics. Next, Pyrgi village known for its original decorative style. Black and white patterns cover the exterior walls of the houses, giving them an impressive appearance. Along the way, the landscape is diversified by mastic trees. Mastic is known as "Chios Tears". A visit to the Museum of Mastic. Next, a trip to Mesta village, an excellent example of a fortress building from the Middle Ages. Lunch break. A stop on the way back at the port of Emborios. Free time for swimming and sunbathing on the volcanic beach of Mavra Volia - one of the most famous beaches with black pebbles. Day trip. Price - approx. 45 EUR (the price does not include lunch and the entry ticket to the Museum of Mastic - approx. 3 EUR/person).

In the footsteps of the Middle Ages — a trip to the central part of the island. Visit to the Byzantine monastery of Nea Moni, known for its beautiful mosaics and Byzantine architecture. Then, the program includes visiting the abandoned medieval village of Anavatos, called the “ghost village”. Built on top of the cliff, it blends perfectly into the landscape. Next, the medieval village of Avgonima, a settlement consisting of 2-storey stone houses with flat roofs and small windows. A coffee break in one of the villages is planned during the trip. Half-day trip. Price - approx. 40 EUR.

Izmir — a chance to see Izmir in the picturesque Aegean Turkey! Transfer to the port of Chios and a ferry to Cesme in Turkey (approx. 8.30 a.m.), drive to Izmir. Visiting the most important monuments and places of the region's capital. Free time for shopping at the Turkish marketplace. Return to Chios (approx. 6.00 p.m.). Day trip. Price - approx. 65 EUR (does not include lunch).

Cruise to Oinousses — cruise from Lagkada harbor to Oinousses Island. A stop at one of the beautiful beaches, time to relax and swim, as well as an excellent opportunity to visit the Maritime Museum of Oinousses, which has in its possession a collection of models of ships from the Napoleonic wars. Next, a visit to the picturesque fishing village of Lagkada on the north-eastern coast of the Chios island. Price - approx. 40 EUR (does not include entry tickets to the museum - approx. 2 EUR/person, and lunch).

North-western Chios — the trip begins with a visit to the medieval Moni Moundon Church, beautifully decorated with frescoes. Then, a stop in the center of the Volissos village with a break for coffee and local donuts. Next, the Agio Galas cave, where you can admire stalactites and a charming church built on a rock. Lunch break. Passage through Amani mountains, deserted places and villages such as Palia Potomia. A travel to the Ariousios winery and wine tasting. The last stop in the medieval village of Pityos. Return to hotel. Day trip. Price - approx. 50 EUR (does not include lunch and wine tasting).

Local excursions are organized by local travel agencies under the conditions fixed by them. It's possible to disorganize trips due to low number of applicants.