Kea: Ioulida-Messaria-Profitis Ilias-Astra-Ellinika-Agios Simeoon-Karthea

In most publications on Tzia, this hike, which is signposted all the way by means of the trail marker [3], is considered as the most beautiful of the island. The trajectory along the Profítis Ilías, which runs through a unique oak forest, and the part from Agios Simeoón to Karthéa are magnificent, indeed. It is a pity, though, that a few parts of the original road between Karthéa and Ioulída (two of the four ancient big cities of the island, the so-called "tetrapolis") have disappeared when the modern road was constructed – as a result, you have to walk a couple of kilometres on the asphalt road.
From Karthéa you have to walk back to Agios Simeoón or Stavroudáki (to reach the asphalt road) – which makes for another hour. So, all together, this turns into a hike of 5 hours actual walking time; this is thus a very long hike, maybe even a little too long. We divided hikes [3] + [6] in two, and in this way you can avoid a large part of the asphalt road: a first time until you have passed the Profítis Ilías, and a second time from Elliníká to Karthéa, with the return route to Stavroudáki.
See also www.cycladen.be