Mega Nero, Agalou Laka and Paliokalyva

This medium-difficulty walk covers about 10 km / 6.2 miles with roughly 400 m / 1,312 ft of ascent, linking the Mega Nero area with Agalou Laka and Paliokalyva on the hills of Alonissos. The route sits in the island’s interior-and-coast transition zone, where old agricultural terraces, pine woodland, rough limestone slopes and sea-facing clearings alternate frequently, so the character of the walk changes several times over the day. The trail is reported as well marked, with older direction signs from Alonissos’ historic walking network and newer red waymarks in places. (topoguide.gr)

The start is best understood as being near the Mega Nero area above the east side of Alonissos, reached from the road network between Patitiri, Votsi and the Old Village. Mega Nero itself is known as a natural well and walkers’ rest point, and it is one of the better-known landmarks on this side of the island. If you are converting a vague trailhead reference into a practical starting landmark, the nearest widely recognized access point is the road approach from the Old Village of Alonissos (Chora) toward Mega Nero, or alternatively the road from Patitiri toward Votsi and onward to the Mega Nero turnoff. (alonnisostravel.gr)

Getting to the start

By car, the simplest approach is to drive from Patitiri, the island’s port, up toward the Old Village (Chora) and continue toward the Mega Nero access roads and tracks. Roads on Alonissos are narrow and winding, so allow extra time even for short distances. Parking is usually informal rather than a large dedicated trailhead setup, so it is worth arriving early and keeping the road margins clear for local traffic. The Old Village is the most useful navigation target before switching to local signs for Mega Nero. (alonissos.gr)

By public transport, the most practical option is to use the municipal bus between Patitiri and the Old Village (Chora), then continue on foot toward Mega Nero. The municipality operates bus services on Alonissos, and official route information confirms service between Patitiri and the Old Village. The municipality’s nature-tourism guidance specifically identifies the Old Village bus station as the starting point for the walk toward Mega Nero. Check the current timetable before setting out, especially outside the main summer season. For navigation on the ground, use HiiKER alongside local waymarks. (bus.alonissos.gov.gr)

What the route feels like

The opening section around Mega Nero tends to ease hikers into the day through a landscape of terraces, olive groves, rough fields and rocky slopes before the route pushes farther into the hill country. This is not usually a relentlessly steep mountain hike, but the accumulated climbing and repeated changes between tracks, paths and uneven ground justify the medium rating. Expect a mix of dirt roads, narrower footpaths and occasional rougher sections where footing needs more attention, especially on stony descents or where the trail narrows through woodland. (alonnisosatyourfeet.gr)

As you move toward Agalou Laka, the scenery becomes more secluded and more strongly Mediterranean in character. Valleys hold olive trees and seasonal grasses, while the surrounding slopes transition into pine forest and scrub. The route network in this part of Alonissos passes through terrain that feels older and less developed than the island’s busier coastal areas, with a strong sense of abandoned cultivation, old field boundaries and long views toward the sea. (alonnisosatyourfeet.gr)

Paliokalyva adds another layer of interest because the name is associated with old rural sheltering places and farm structures, which fits the broader character of this side of Alonissos: a working landscape shaped by farming, grazing and seasonal movement rather than modern resort development. On walks in this area, old farmhouses, chapels, terraces and traces of former land use are part of the appeal as much as the sea views. (topoguide.gr)

Landmarks, nature and wildlife

Mega Nero is one of the standout landmarks early on, both as a named place and