Mega Nero, Megalo Chorafi, Psili Rachi and Geladias

This medium-difficulty circuit on Alonissos links Mega Nero, Megalo Chorafi, Psili Rachi and Geladias through a mix of pine forest, old rural ground, rocky open slopes and sea-facing hillsides. At around 11 km / 6.8 miles with roughly 300 m / 985 ft of ascent, it suits hikers who are comfortable with a half-day outing on uneven terrain and who do not mind a few steeper, rougher stretches. The route sits within the island’s inland hill country above the coast, where older footpaths connect springs, fields, threshing-floor country and small upland clearings. The trail network in this part of Alonissos is generally well marked, with older direction signs, numbered yellow markers and newer red waymarks reported on several linked sections. (topoguide.gr)

The most practical trailhead reference is the Mega Nero area above Votsi and Patitiri on Alonissos, rather than a formal street address. Mega Nero is known as a spring and path junction on the island’s central-northern slopes, reached from the settled area around Votsi and the main road running inland toward the higher parts of the island. Psili Rachi and Megalo Chorafi are both established named waypoints on the island’s signed hiking network, with Psili Rachi sitting near a dirt-road end and viewpoint area at about 347 m elevation. (topoguide.gr)

What the route feels like

Expect the walk to unfold in distinct stages. The lower and middle sections are typically more enclosed, with pine cover and Mediterranean scrub, while the higher ground around Psili Rachi and Megalo Chorafi becomes more open and stonier. On the northern side of Alonissos, the pine woods are notable for ivy and smilax climbing through the trees, giving some stretches a dense, almost tangled character. Other linked sections in the same zone pass through olive-growing ground, cistus scrub and evergreen oak habitat, so the overall feel is varied rather than monotonous. (topoguide.gr)

Because the hike combines named segments of the island’s path system, the gradients are usually moderate overall but can change quickly. A reasonable expectation is a steady climb away from the Mega Nero side, a more open traverse around Megalo Chorafi and Psili Rachi, then a return through quieter hillside terrain toward Geladias and back into the forested network. The 11 km / 6.8 mile distance is not especially long, but the footing can slow progress: loose stones, worn bedrock, short rocky ramps and rough rural track are more important here than raw mileage. The estimated 300 m / 985 ft of ascent is manageable for regular walkers, though it is enough to feel warm and exposed in sunny weather.

Landmarks and points of interest

Mega Nero is one of the route’s most useful reference points because it marks a traditional water source and a junction in the island’s inland trail web. From there, the route climbs into the hill country that forms the backbone of central Alonissos. (topoguide.gr)

Megalo Chorafi, whose name means “Large Field,” is associated with a broader, more open upland landscape. Nearby route descriptions mention valley ground with olive trees and herb-rich vegetation before the pine forest takes over again, so hikers should expect a transition zone between cultivated land and wilder slopes. (alonnisosatyourfeet.gr)

Psili Rachi is one of the clearest landmarks on the hike. It is a recognized signed endpoint/startpoint on the local network, and nearby descriptions mention abandoned rural landscape and threshing floors. That gives this section a strong cultural feel: not just a hilltop crossing, but a reminder of the island’s older agricultural life. The terrain here is described as open and rocky at first, then lined with taller evergreen oak and maquis where grazing pressure is lighter. (alonnisosatyourfeet.gr)

Geladias adds a quieter, less built-up feel to the loop. While it is less prominently described than Psili Rachi or Megalo Chorafi in the available route listings, it belongs to the same inland path system that threads through forest, ravines and old field country on this side of Aloniss