Some tourists dare to take the hike from Aegiali to Chora, or the other way around. The trail, numbered 1, is well-marked. You’ll experience beautiful mountain scenery and are guaranteed to encounter bleating goats — reportedly, there are 25,000 of them on the island. You might even meet a solitary shepherd on a donkey. And as elsewhere in Greece, you'll pass small chapels along the way, inviting a visit. In these chapels, you can step inside, light a candle, and send warm thoughts to someone you know, or someone who has passed away.
The hike is challenging, and you should be in reasonably good physical shape. It’s important to wear sturdy footwear. Parts of the trail are rather uneven with small stones. The distance is about 20 kilometers and, according to the signs, should take four and a half hours. We, being used to long hikes, took six hours and were completely exhausted when we arrived in Chora. The Fitbit showed 30,000 steps. However, we realized we hadn’t taken the easiest route, which ends at the Hozoviotissa Monastery. Instead, we went around the Profitis Iliah mountain on the western side of the island. This way, we arrived directly in Chora, avoiding the steep road up from the monastery to the town. But it was still a detour.

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