Cycling trip, with Eleni and her friends in Nisyros island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Greece

Nisyros, a volcanic island of rare beauty !

What a nice surprise that the island of Nisyros!

We met Eleni on Rhodes island and she invited us to Nisyros island. So we took a one-way ticket to Nisyros. This authentic volcanic island is a real hidden treasure and certainly the place we preferred in Greece. The island offers sumptuous landscapes with its volcano crater surrounded by small traditional villages with white and blue houses, a beautiful and long beach of black sand (Pachia Ammos) and natural hot springs.

Bike trip, view of the village of Mandraki, March 2018, Island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, view on Mandraki Village, March 2018 in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
View of the village of Mandraki (capital of the island)
Bike trip, Yasmina in the village of Mandraki, March 2018, Island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, Yasmina at Mandraki Village, March 2018 in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Mandraki

Stefanos, the main crater of the volcano, is one of the largest and best preserved in the world with a depth of 27m. This was the first time we had the chance to walk and cycle on the crater of a volcano. The strong smell of sulfur is similar to that of a rotten egg but it does not prevent us from enjoying this amazing lunar landscape.

Bike trip, Voldan Crater of the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, Volcano Crater of Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
The Volcano!
Bicycle trip, Arthur Cycling in the crater of the Voldan of the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, Arthur cycling in the volcano Crater of Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Cycling in the heart of the volcano!

On the road leading to the volcano, we visited the charming village of Emporios (which has only 15 inhabitants according to what we were told).

Bike trip, Arthur in the natural sauna in Emporio on the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, in the natural sauna at Emporio in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Below the village of Emporios, along the road, this small cave acts as a natural volcanic sauna.
Bike trip, Arthur and Yasmina in the village of Emporio, March 2018, Island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, Arthur and Yasmina at Emporio Village, March 2018 in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Village of Emporios
Bicycle trip, Arthur to the village of Emporio, March 2018, Island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, Arthur at Emporio Village, March 2018 in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
In the alleys of Emporios

Then we visited Nikia, a pretty little mountain village, from where we could enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the volcano crater.

Bike trip, village of Nikia on the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling Trip, Nikia Village in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Village of Nikia, central square paved with pebble mosaics
Bike trip, Arthur and the view of the volcano crater in Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, Arthur and the view on Nisyros volcano crater, Dodecanese, Greece.
Nikia, view on the plain and the crater of the volcano
Bike trip, in the alleys of the village of Nikia on the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, in the little street of Nikia village in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Nikia

Near Mandraki, the main village of the island where we stayed, we went to see the ruins of the Paleokastro, ancient fortification with black stone walls dating from the 6th century BC.

Bike trip, Paleokastro and view on Mandraki and the bay, Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, Nisyros Island Paleokastro, Dodecanese, Greece.
Paleokastro
Biking trip to the sea in March 2018 at the beach of Cochia Ammos on the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, swimming in the sea at whining Ammos Beach in March 2018 in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Beach of Pachia Ammos, best beach ever !
Cycling, cycling on the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, cycling in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Returning from the beach

In the village, the atmosphere is calm and relaxing, everyone says hello, the atmosphere is very friendly. Eleni cooked us very good dishes and took us to the theatre class on Wednesday. The next day we were invited for lunch in a “taverna” (traditional Greek restaurant that is found throughout Greece) with Eleni’s friends, including Stavros (the theatre teacher) and Stamatis who speaks perfectly French.

After the meal, we went hiking in the hills of the island to see a secret natural sauna.  A place in the midst of nature, in the middle of the hills and impossible to find if you are not from the island. A stone room in old ruins of an old house where inside it is very hot. Indeed steam emanates from a hole at the bottom of the room. So we enjoyed a sauna session 100% natural !

Bike trip, natural sauna on the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, natural sauna in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Secret Sauna

The kindness, generosity, good humour and enthusiasm of Eleni and her friends made our stay on the island one of our best experiences in Greece. Unforgettable moments where we played darts in the small cafe of Pali village, enjoyed an ice-cream in the evening while walking along the sea, had lunch at the taverna of typical Greek dishes, participated in a theatre class and well laughed around a cup of tea or “hot raki with honey” (a local drink).

Bike trip, with Eleni and her friends on the island of Nisyros, Dodecanese, Greece. Cycling trip, with Eleni and her friends in Nisyros Island, Dodecanese, Greece.
Nisyros Team!

After 3 days spent on the island, we had to say goodbye to our friends and we took the boat to Kos island which is only one hour crossing.

3 Comment

  1. WHAT AN AMAZING ARTICLE…!WE THE LOCAL TEAM FROOM NISYROS SEND YOU OUR GREETINGS…
    THE VOLANO WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU WHENEVER YOU DECIDE TO COME BACK..

    1. Happy to see you liked the article ! Say hello to everyone and to the volcano ! We’ll be also waiting for you whenever you decide to come in France !

  2. Hey guys! Great article, we can’t wait to reach the island which is going to happen this saturday. Please tell us: is it easy to move around island on bicycles? We assuming to rent some at Mandraki and go to Nikia (with backpacks on) where we have accomodation. Is it not-so-hardcore way?

    Cheers!

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