You will be collected from a central location near your hotel and taken directly to the scenic Gyroula green valley. There, you will have the opportunity to visit the marble Temple dedicated to Goddess Demeter which is considered one of the most significant ancient landmarks on the island.
Afterwards, you will proceed to the small village of Damalas. At a restored olive press museum, you will learn about the traditional methods of olive oil production. Following that, you will visit a traditional workshop run by a third-generation potter, where you can discover the ancient secrets of his craft dating back to ancient Greece.
Our journey will then take us to Halki village, an ancient hub of commerce renowned for its beautiful Venetian architecture. Optionally, you can also visit a local kitron distillery where you will gain insights into liquor production and have the opportunity to sample some of their products.
Next on the itinerary is the village of Apiranthos, nestled at the base of Fanari mountain. You will be captivated by the stunning sights of Venetian Towers, marble-lined alleys, cozy tavernas, inviting verandas and traditional small shops offering local goods. Take a leisurely stroll through the village while learning about its history and traditions.
Leaving Apiranthos, you will pass by Koronos village and the renowned emery mines before reaching Apollonas. At Apiranthos you will have free time to purchase lunch. To conclude the tour, we will visit the famous "Kouros," an unfinished marble statue measuring 11 meters which has remained in the same location for over 2500 years.
The drive along the enchanting west coast, will offer breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea.
They will eventually return you to your original pickup point, completing the tour.
Naxos Bus Transfer Office
Naxos, Chora Naxos, Cyclades, 84300,
Greece
Pick up from a central location or near your hotel
Gyroula village
Visit the marble Temple dedicated to Goddess Demeter, an important ancient monument on the island
Damalas village
Explore the restored olive press museum and learn about the old procedures of olive oil production
Chalki village
Known for its beautiful Venetian architecture and the Distillery of Kitron
Apiranthos village
Admire the stunning views, Venetian Towers, marbled alleys, tavernas, verandas and traditional shops
Drive past Koronos
With the famous emery mines
Apollonas village
End the tour with a visit to the famous Kouros
Return to the pickup point, concluding the tour
Naxos is huge and can be quite difficult to get around (especially if you don't have a car, and even if you do driving can be stressful given the insane bends in very narrow roads), hence this tour was perfect because you get to see so much of the island, and you visit a great variety of places from ancient temples to colourful pottery workshops to gorgeous quaint mountain villages and beaches. Our tour guide Alex was AMAZING - she had such a good sense of humour and was so funny while keeping us very well engaged throughout the tour. She was so informative and really brought the sights to life with her excellent explanations of ancient Greek mythology, the stories behind the sites we visited and so many fun little facts as we went on about the day.
The roads in Naxos are absolutely insane, especially as you head towards the mountain villages (countless tight narrow bends and turns), and our driver Spyros was absolutely incredible and maneuvered the roads so safely and we felt absolutely no discomfort while going around the many bends. He was an absolute pro and so kind and friendly too. The bus was also new and very comfortable. The views of the sea from the ride back down the mountain as you head back to Chora were absolutely incredible! (hint: sit on the right hand side of the bus for the best view)
This tour is an absolute must do if you're in Naxos, and it's such a well-spent day cos you truly see so much without feeling tired or overwhelmed. And the fact that it costs just €30, the value for money you get here is above and beyond! I absolutely 100% recommend this tour to anyone cos it was so fun and educative (especially if you get Alex as your tour guide).
The tour was well organized as far as time was concerned. Got to see many places of the inner island which are diificult to reach if you don't have your own vehicle. The guide Thanos and our driver Spyros were amazing. Thanos was very proffesional, friendly, eager to help and funny as well. He made our visit an unforgettable experience. Would definitely recommend.
Having book only a small amount of time on the island we didn't realize quite how big it is! This was a great way to explore most of the island. The bus was very comfortable and the guide extremely informative and friendly. You can't beat the value for money for this tour if you're tight on time!!