Syros hiking tour: Apano Meria with swimming and picnic

Ancient rock inscriptions, a marble quarry, and a swim in the Aegean on one morning

A guided hiking tour of Apano Meria, the northernmost region of Syros, starting from the settlement of Kambos and following old Cycladic paths past an abandoned marble quarry to Grammata, where you swim among ancient inscriptions carved into rocks and share a picnic with local products. The tour includes snorkelling equipment and a five-hour itinerary with 360-degree views across the Aegean and surrounding islands. A moderate level of fitness is needed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hiking and exploring Apano Meria

• Begin hike in Kambos settlement
• Enjoy 360-degree sea and island views
• Pass abandoned marble quarry
• Visit Grammata area and swim
• Have picnic with local products

The experience

The hike begins in Kambos, a small settlement in Apano Meria, and follows characteristic Cycladic paths that mark the landscape of an earlier era. You'll pass an abandoned marble quarry with visible traces of historical extraction, then continue to Grammata, a coastal area named for the ancient inscriptions carved directly into the rocks. These marks (wishes, prayers, and sailors' names) date from the 3rd century BC to the 4th century AD and sit just above the waterline where you'll swim in clear water. After the swim, a picnic with fresh local products waits on the shore.

The entire Apano Meria region is protected under the Natura 2000 program, a Europe-wide network of conservation areas established to safeguard endangered species and their habitats. The 804-hectare protected zone means the landscape you walk through has been deliberately preserved, and the views from the northern side sweep across the full Aegean. You'll see Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Delos, Gyaros, Kea, Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos, Antiparos, Paros, and Naxos on a clear day. The hike takes five hours total and requires a moderate level of physical fitness. Snorkelling equipment is provided for the swim at Grammata.

A live guide leads the tour in English or Greek. Hotel pickup is available as an add-on option. If you arrange your own transport to Kambos, the tour price remains the same.

What’s included

• A live guide in English or Greek.
• snorkelling equipment for the swim at Grammata.
• a picnic with fresh local products.
• liability insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Thursday and SundayDeparts at 16:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (7 to 75 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Greek

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by TREKKING HELLAS

Is this one for you?The five-hour morning departure suits travelers with a free morning who want to combine hiking, history, and swimming without committing to a full day. Hotel pickup is optional, so you can book just the tour if you're already exploring the north of the island.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Greek.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Grammata inscriptions and why are they carved into the rocks?

Grammata is a coastal area where ancient inscriptions (wishes, prayers, and the names of sailors) are carved directly into the rocks. These marks date from the 3rd century BC to the 4th century AD and were left by people passing through the area, likely seafarers leaving their mark on the stone as a form of remembrance or prayer.

How much of the hike involves swimming, and is snorkelling equipment included?

The tour includes a swim at Grammata in the Aegean, and snorkelling equipment is provided as part of the package. The swim is built into the five-hour itinerary, with time for both swimming and the picnic that follows.

What is Apano Meria and why is it protected?

Apano Meria is the northernmost region of Syros, spanning 804 hectares and designated as part of Natura 2000, a Europe-wide network of protected areas created by the European Union to conserve endangered plant and animal species and their habitats. The protection means the landscape and its biodiversity are actively preserved.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the starting point, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup is available as an optional add-on at checkout. If you choose it, the driver will collect you from your accommodation and bring you to Kambos, where the hike begins. Without the pickup option, you'll need to arrange your own transport to the settlement.

What level of fitness do I need for this hike?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The five-hour itinerary includes walking along Cycladic paths and a swim, so you should be comfortable with sustained walking and basic swimming ability.