The jeep safari takes a whole day. It is intended for people who want to see the agricultural roads of the island which reveal its beauty. You will drive through places where there are few or no tourists. Surprise yourself by discovering natural beauty, quiet roads and the hidden places of the island. Your guide will be happy to tell you all about the island. When you come back you will almost be a real Lesvos specialist.
We start our journey at 09.00 from
Skala Kalonis, in the big square.
First we gather on the terrace of bar/pizzeria Argo for coffee or tea between 8.30 and 8.45. Then we drive along Highway 1, turning down a beautiful small path through the forest of
Lambou Mili to an old Roman aqueduct. We will stop here for a few minutes to take some photographs and enjoy the views.
We continue on this path and after one hour we drive to the top of
Mt. Olympos (Prof. Ilias ¬ 967m). After a short break we drive along a sandy road from the top of the mountain towards the apple-orchards and the old mountain village of
Agiasos. We park our jeeps just outside Agiasos and walk through the main street into the square for a coffee and/or a visit to the magnificent church, and maybe some shopping.
After a drive through a large chestnut-forest we arrive at the south-side of Mt. Olympos. We take a short break to enjoy the magnificent views over the Island and over Turkey. Then we stop at Milies, an abandoned village, where only 87 year old Irini lives. Here, next to the big church we will enjoy a light lunch with Costas, the restorer of the village, who is also restoring the ancient footpaths and donkey tracks on
Lesvos: ’the monopati or kalderimi’. Many volunteers from all over the world come to Milies to help Costas with this restoration.
After lunch we drive through the olive groves which are high in the mountains, towards the source of river Sedoundas. This beautiful small river flows to the southern ouzo-making town
Plomari.
Then we will continue along the coast to
Melinda, a small village with a beautiful stony beach and a high rock. This is the perfect place for a refreshing swim. After an hours stop - when we feel all refreshed - we continue our journey up the mountains through Akrassi and Ampeliko to the road where we first went up to
Mount Olympos.
We will then drive through
Vassilika to the bay of
Kaloni, along the sea from Ag. Pavlos to Achladeri. There might be some time for a short walk beside the bay, where the giant mussel always forgets his shell!
Afterwards we will continue from the site of ancient Pyrrha - one of the 5 ancient cities of
Lesvos which disappeared in 231 BC in the stormy waters of the bay after an earthquake - to
Kaloni and
Skala Kalonis. Here we finish our jeep safari on the terrace of the taverna Argo where you can enjoy a drink to remember:The green South of Lesvos, Around Olymbos mountain.
The people on the safari who have come from Petra or Molyvos will have to climb back into their jeeps for the last mountain climb. But if you think you will be too tired or will want another drink in the pleasant company of the other drivers, you can book a special jeepsafari-combi with one or two nights at the Natura Studio’s in Skala Kaloni!
