Geotourist Paths of Lesvos (Paths through the Olive Orchards)

The Museum of Natural History of the Petrified Forest has organized a network of hiking paths on which hikers have the opportunity to tour through significant wetlands, hot springs, archeological monuments, picturesque villages, traditional olive oil presses, water mills and volcanic geotopes. This route features clear signposts and informational signs.

Specifically, the following central route courses are open:

1. The Geotourist Route to the Gera Olive Tree Orchard

The Gera route starts from the location “Larisaies Petres” and runs through the villages of the Gera vicinity following the western side of Gera Bay. The hiking routes start from the following villages:

• Papados – Paliokastro – Mesagros – Skopelos: 6 km
• Papados – Mana – Paliokastro – Papados (cyclical route): 5 km
• Skopelos – Karyonas – Skopelos (cyclical route): 7 km
• Palaiokipos – Paliokastro – Mesagros – Papados: 7 km

2. Geotourist Route through Central Lesvos

This Central Lesvos route starts from Polichnitos, runs along the eastern side of Kalloni Bay, continues through Aghia Paraskevi to the mountains of Lepetymnos and ends on the northern coast of Lesvos. From the main axis the following routes branch out:

• Krinelia – Aghia Paraskevi: 3.4 km
• Aghia Paraskevi – Kremasti Bridge – Ypsilometopo: 12.3 km
• Aghia Paraskevi – Plakes – Napi – Aghios Georgios: 4 km
• Aghia Paraskevi – Kremasti Bridge – Klopedi: 8.5 km

3. Geotourist Route in Western Lesvos: The “Route of Orpheus”

The so-called Route of Orpheus starts from Petra, runs along the north shore of Lesvos and ends in Sigri. The hiking routes go through the following villages:

• Petra – Ligionas – Petri: 5 km
• Skalohori – Gavathas: 15 km
• Gavathas – Lygeri – Lapsarna: 7.4 km
• Lapsarna – Sigri: 14 km