Agios Ioannis Cave – Cyclops’ Cave Get ready to explore the biggest and most beautiful cave of the Cyclades! This is the most demanding yet the most beautiful of the activities we organize. The trail starts from the village of Panagia and meanders uphill towards the mountain. During the hike we will talk about the nature, history, myths, and traditions of Iraklia. We will meet goats that graze freely in the mountains, and birds of prey. Then we reach the Agios Ioannis Cave and the famous Cave of the Cyclops from Homer’s Odyssey, where there will be a short break before the main part of the tour. We put on gear and enter the cave. Following the safety advice of the tour guide and respecting space restrictions, we will explore the chambers of the cave. A maze of geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites embellish the cave and will dazzle us with their beauty!

Mountaintop Papas Conquer the summit of Iraklia! Sometimes you have to see things from above! The trail starts from the village of Panagia. The first part of the trail is the most challenging because of the steep slopes. We will occasionally pause to rest and take photos. When we reach the top of the mountain however, we will enjoy the rewarding, breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea featuring the nearby islands! During the hike we will talk about the nature, history, myths and traditions of Iraklia. If we are lucky we will meet goats that graze freely in the mountains, as well as rare vultures and birds of prey.On our way back, we will walk past the old church of Profitis Ilias and follow the stone trail that leads to the village.

Merichas Bay The path starts from Panagia village. After a 10-minute uphill walk we can admire the view of ‘Chora’ from above. The perimetric hike of the bay offers a panoramic view of the cliffs and the Small Cyclades. The hillside in the shadow of the mountain is fragrant with thyme and wild oregano! We pause at the southernmost point of the island, where, if lucky, we may spot vultures and eagles.

Castle – Merichas cliff The path starts shortly after Panagia village. The route to the cliff is easy and not long, accessible to all. During the hike we will discuss about nature, the history, myths, customs and traditions of Iraklia. We might encounter goats living free on the mountains as well as an eagle’s couple. We take a rest to admire the breathtaking view at the edge of the cliff! The second part of the route includes a visit to the ruins of the Hellenistic castle.