Start of the tour in Athens, pick-up and transfer to the port of Pireus, then sail to Nisyros overnight.

Today we arrive in the morning in the picturesque village of Mandraki on Nisyros. On our way we will see the volcanoes Strongyli and the mining area of the volcanic Yali island.
After we take our rooms in the little harbour of Mandraki, we will meet for a first round walk. Strolling through the romantic lanes of the small town Mandraki we will find the monastery of Panagia spiliani (Maria in the cave). Later we will visit the impressive fortification from ancient times. The acropolis of Mandraki, the Paliocastro, is one of the most fascinating castles from times about 400-500 B.C. Its huge walls are made of hard volcanic rock. There are many towers still in original position and you can imagine how difficult it was for enemies to enter this place…
Another walk will show us spectacular pillow lava and brecia formations at a nice beach nearby. After returning to our hotel and a break we will meet in the early evening for dinner in one of the taverns in Mandraki.

After breakfast we will walk up to the little church of Evangelistria in a beautiful, green valley between huge volcano domes.  After a little break we will follow a small path between fern and macchia.  On our decent to the caldera-bottom we will find old farm houses. The first “volcanic” sign we find, is a road sign to the former hydrothermal power station that was planned in the 80´s. There was a great drilling project to use the geothermal energy of the volcano. After a kilometre we will arrive at the little volcano bar of Lefteris. He is offering the famous, sweet almond drink of Nisyros: The “Soumada”. We will take a bottle of water for the walk into the active volcano crater “Stefanos”.  A small path brings us into the total flat bottom of the crater. In many parts there are small fumaroles where hot sulphur gas is blown out. There are some holes in the southern part of the crater that are exhausting hot steam. The craters around “Stefanos”, like the Polyvotis craters have been researched by the GEOWARN project to find a system to warn the people of Nisyros in case of a new volcanic eruption. Tobias Schorr took place in that project in 2000 and so he knows some interesting details about the volcanoes on Nisyros.
After the craters the group will walk on the western crater walls of the caldera. The monastery Stavros will be a great stop for a view over the volcanic caldera of Nisyros and after a few kilometres Mandraki town is in sight.  After returning to the hotel , there will be enough time to relax until the meeting for dinner in Mandraki.

Today we will do a very special tour to one of the most beautyful places in Greece. The top of Nisyros can be seen even from our hotel, but only a few people have been there even from the local people. Our tour will follow the first part of our tour to the volcano and near the Evangelistria we take a small path up in the mountains. There are wild goats around and green ferns  make a fresh contrast between the volcanic rocks. The path rises steeply and we need a few breakes. But the landscape around us is great: A valley between high volcanoes. There are many sights for photo stops and after a while we will arrive at a round valley with a little cistern, an old farm house and a chapel. There are chestnut trees and fig trees. A good place for a relaxation. We can go on and meet the highest point on which we find the little chapel of Prophitis Ilias. It is only a few hundred meters to have a few inside the volcano caldera with its crater Stefanos. A view like from an airplane! In the late afternoon we will descend back to Mandraki and our hotel. In the evening we meet for a lunch in Mandraki.

After breakfast we will drive with rented cars to the villages of Pali, Emporion and Nikia. First we will visit the little roman bath of Panagia Thermiani at Pali. Later we drive to the village of Emporion with its natural sauna. There you will see and feel the hot power of the volcano. Hot steam is used in a little room for sauna. After strolling to the highest point of Emporion  we go on to Nikia village. On its beautiful square we enjoy a Soumada or a Greek salad. In the afternoon Avlaki is our next target. We will meet the famous “Dracons” of Nisyros – lizard (Agame) and near the coast we will find the former buildings of a Spa. In this area there are many places with hot and salty water coming out of little gaps in the beach rocks.  After returning we will pass our last evening on Nisyros at the beautyful village square in Mandraki.

Day for optional additional excursions. Night ferry back to Athens.

Early arrival in Athens, end of tour (transfer to city centre or airport)