Chora Alonnisos to Megalos Mourtias

Starting near the main square in Chora, the old village of Alonnisos, this short descent to Megalos Mourtias covers about 3 km / 1.9 miles with roughly 200 m / 656 ft of elevation loss overall, even though there can be a few brief undulations along the way. It is best thought of as a medium walk because the route threads through village lanes, joins sections of road, and then drops more steeply toward the coast, where footing can feel loose or polished in places. The start is most closely associated with Chora (Old Alonnisos / Kyparissia), near the village bus stop and main square, while the finish is at Megalos Mourtias Beach, the nearest well-known beach below the old settlement. (visitthessaly.gr)

The route begins among the cobbled alleys of Chora, passing traditional houses and the church of Evangelistria, with an old communal cistern nearby. This opening section is the part that tends to require the most attention: although the trail itself is popular, the line through the settlement is not always obvious, and there are only limited markings once you leave the main signposted points. If using a navigation aid, it is worth checking the route carefully on HiiKER before setting out, especially through the village lanes where several turns can look equally plausible. (topoguide.gr)

What the walk feels like

After leaving the heart of Chora, the route transitions from paved alleys to road and then to a more natural track. Expect a steady downhill trend toward the sea, with open views developing as you descend. One commonly described line leaves the village just before the guesthouse Fantasia, continues through the lower part of Chora, then reaches the road to Megalos Mourtias before branching again onto a path at a sharp bend for the final descent to the beach. Some walkers simply stay on the road longer, but the path option is more scenic and feels more like a true hike. (visitthessaly.gr)

Distance-wise, the direct Chora-to-beach section is around 3 km / 1.9 miles, while longer linked walks that continue onward to Patitiri are recorded at about 5.3 km / 3.3 miles total. For most hikers, the Chora-to-Megalos-Mourtias portion is a relatively short outing, often taking around 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on pace, stops, and how easily the route is found through the village. That makes it a good option for a half-day outing, a beach walk, or a shorter hike in warm weather. (alonnisosatyourfeet.gr)

Terrain, landmarks, and what to watch for

The most memorable landmark at the start is Chora itself, one of the island’s historic focal points and still locally signposted as the Old Village. The settlement has deep historical roots, and modern accounts describe Palaia Chora as a village dating back to around the 10th century. The island itself was known in antiquity as Ikos, linking the walk not just to a beach excursion but to a landscape shaped by centuries of settlement, agriculture, and seafaring life in the Northern Sporades. (en.wikipedia.org)

As you descend, the vegetation shifts into classic Mediterranean scrub and pine. Around Chora and on the slopes toward the coast, you may see Aleppo pine, olive groves, cistus, and other drought-adapted shrubs. On Alonnisos, some pine trunks still show old resin-collection containers or traces of that practice, reminders of an activity that once had real economic importance on the island. In spring and early summer, the route can be especially attractive for wildflowers and aromatic herbs. (alonnisosatyourfeet.gr)

Birdlife is one of the area’s quiet highlights. The broader Chora and Kalovoulos area is noted for falcons and kestrels, and Eleonora’s falcon is also associated with the island during the warmer season. Closer to the ground, reptiles such as the European copper skink may be present in shaded, slightly damper patches among leaf litter and pine needles, though they are easy to miss. (alonnisosatyourfeet.gr)

Nearer the coast, the route approaches habitat of particular ecological value. The wider Chorio–Megalos Mourtias–Patitiri route includes steep rocky coastal sections recognized as protected habitat at national and European level, with species such as sea fennel and several localized plants associated with these cliffs and maritime slopes. Even on a short walk to the beach, it is worth staying on the established line and avoiding trampling vegetation on the coastal margins.