Chora to Kalovoulos Peak

Starting from Chora on Alonissos, this is a short but rewarding hill walk to one of the island’s best natural viewpoints, climbing to Kalovoulos Peak in roughly 4 km / 2.5 miles round trip, with about 100 m / 330 ft of elevation gain based on your figures. The route is generally considered medium because, although it is not especially long, it includes a steady uphill pull, rocky ground near the top, and exposed sections where footing deserves attention. Kalovoulos rises immediately above the old village, and the summit area looks out across the Alonissos–Skopelos strait, the west coast beaches, and the pine-covered slopes below. (topoguide.gr)

The walk begins near the main square and bus-stop area of Chora, also known as Palia Alonissos or Old Alonissos, the island’s historic hilltop settlement. From there, small village lanes lead out toward the cemetery on the northwestern side of the village, where the signed route branches onto a dirt track and then onto the main footpath. Sources describing the route place the start at Chora’s main square or the bus stop at the entrance to the village, so the most practical trailhead landmark is the bus stop at the entrance to Chora / Old Alonissos, near Papavasilis Square and the village center. (topoguide.gr)

What the route is like

The first part of the hike is straightforward and easy to follow. The path is well marked, with direction signs at the trailhead and additional signposts higher up, and the tread is described as clear and well maintained. After leaving the village edge, the route climbs the eastern and southern side of Kalovoulos on a consistently uphill path. Expect a mix of old access tracks, compact earth, stone underfoot, and sections through pine shade before the terrain becomes rockier near the summit shoulder. (topoguide.gr)

Approximate route breakdown is useful for pacing. From the Chora bus stop, it is about 280 m / 0.17 mi to the cemetery, then another 230 m / 0.14 mi to the next junction, and roughly 70 m / 0.04 mi farther to the start of the uphill footpath. From there, the main climb runs for about 900 m / 0.56 mi to a flatter area with an abandoned sheepfold, followed by about 100 m / 0.06 mi to the summit area. Even though some published route descriptions list the ascent itself at around 1.6 km / 1 mile one way, your 4 km / 2.5 mile figure works well as a planning distance for the full outing with village approach and return. (travel.gr)

Near the top, the character changes. The path becomes more open and rocky, and there is a wooden gazebo just below the summit with a particularly fine view westward toward Skopelos and the strait. The actual summit has a trig point and broad 360-degree views. On clear days, this is the kind of short hike that feels much bigger than its mileage because the sea is visible in multiple directions and the mountain drops sharply toward the coast. (topoguide.gr)

Landmarks, scenery, and what to look for

One of the most distinctive features of this walk is how quickly it transitions from village architecture to wild hillside. Chora itself is one of the island’s most atmospheric places, and the route leaves behind stone houses and lanes for pine woodland, terraces, and open viewpoints. Kalovoulos overlooks remote beaches including Mikros Mourtias, Megalos Mourtias, and Vrysitsa, so even on a short outing you get a strong sense of Alonissos’s rugged coastal geography. (topoguide.gr)

The vegetation around Chora and on the surrounding slopes includes Aleppo pine, kermes oak, heather, spiny shrubs, cistus, and strawberry-tree