| Name of the trail: |
Molyvos - Eftalou - Skala Sykamnias - Argenos - Katsilemonas Valley - Vafeios - Molyvos |
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| Distance: |
31.160 m
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| Minimum Altitude: |
3 m (Megala Therma) |
| Maximum Altitude: |
702 m (Argenos) |
| Height Difference: |
699 m |
| Kind of the trail: |
Circular |
| Difficulty Level: |
Easy-Moderate |
| Duration without long stops: |
(~10 km/h) : 3h and 30min |
| Category: |
Biking trail-excursion. |
| General Description: |
The trail starts form Molyvo. There is a lowland trail eastward for Eftalou and Thermes sources. Then, the trail ascends and descends to the beach and reaches to the area Megala Therma which is a geothermal field with gushing hot water into the sea. Thence, running along the coast heading east, it reaches Skala Sikamia after passing Saint Dimitrio Lepetimnou. Thence, it ascends to the traditional Sykamia housing, reaches and crosses the Argenou agricultural housing. Then, heading west, it enters the Katsilemona valley that ends to the Molyvo campsite.
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| Detailed Description: |
This trail is low to moderate difficulty, because it is mainly asphalt and grovel road, with relatively good accessibility, although there is a quite uphill from Sk. Sikamia to Sykamia. It is suitable for all seasons, apart from the extremely rainy days. The trail s about 31, 87Km and goes through phryganic vegetation, sparse oak forest, pastures, groves, scrub, low arboreal vegetation and riparian vegetation and valley with rocky formations. It runs through 5 housings, Sk. Sykamias, Sykamia, Lepetymnos, Argenos, which have traditional character and worth visiting, making stops at the churches, their folklore museums and the cafes at the squares.
The trail travels through areas which are distinguished due to the cultural and natural environment of the northern places of Lepetymnou Mountain and the traditional agricultural housing with the important architectural and building design (Sk. Sykamia, Sykamia, Lepetymnos, Argenos)
Considerable importance on the gravel road between Eftalous - Sk. Sikamia is the area “Therma Eftalous”, which has baths (Hamam) and the area Megala Therma, which is a geothermal field with gushing hot water into the sea near the coast where cyclists can relax their legs, as well as Saint Dimitrios Chapel, where there is a position for Christian facility. Sk. Sykamias is famous for Panagia the Mermaid and the plane tree of Myirivilis as well as its incredible catches.
Sycamia is a officially preserved as a traditional village where cars cannot enter and is ideal for exploration on foot or by bike. It has very interesting alleyways, squares with cafes,a church from the 17th-18th century, a folklore museum, the home of Stratis Myrivili etc.
On the way down Petri, there are the ruins of Tourkochori Achilleiopigadas where there is a peculiar geological formation resembling an upright petrified link. To this point, by the legend, 'Achilles tied the boat in the period of the Trojan War'. |
| Means of Transportation: |
Bike, merely mountain bike normal, (a very small part within Sikamia is proposed to walk dragging the bike to the side because the slopes are more than 35% -40%, and slides dangerously and can be icy. |
| Accessibility: |
Mostly asphalt road, in the area from Eftalou to Sk. Sikamia , there is a gravel road with good accessibility, in the area from the fork valley Katsilemona to Molyvos Campsite, there is a gravel road, from moderate to good accessibility. |
| Best Period: |
All the year round |
| Sites Visits: |
External and internal settlements |
| Starting Point: |
Starting Point: Molyvos, the 'Alonia' Alsyllio with pine (forest recreation area) or the intersection for Tsipouri near Camping (for visitors who stay at the hotels in Eftalou). |
| Track Termination: |
Return to Molyvos |
| Tourism Type: |
Cultural, Naturalist, Trekking |
| Marking: |
Yes |