Walks in the Kokkari Area of Samos (book and map)

This book covers the area around the resort of Kokkari, on the north coast of the Greek island of Samos, presided over by the 1100m peak of Mt Ambelos. Most of the walks could also be done from Samos Town, using the local buses.

Samos is one of the larger islands in the Greek eastern Aegean, and one of the nearest to mainland Turkey, with less than 2 km of sea between them. Kokkari is situated on the north coast of the island, 10km west of Samos Town, and sheltered from the southwest by the tall limestone range of Mt Ambelos. The mountain, with its once dense woodland cover, intercepts passing rain clouds and keeps the area lush and green in summer, in striking contrast to the other parts of the island such as the popular resort of Pythagorio (formerly known as Tigani – "frying-pan") in the southeast. It can also mean high ambient levels of humidity, which may make some of the steeper hills tiring, at least during your first few days.

The resort of Kokkari is built behind an older fishing harbour and around the two roads into the village, though it now has a bypass that skims off some of the north coast traffic. West from Kokkari are the beaches of Limonakia, Tzamadou and Tzabou, the coastal villages of Avlakia, Kambos, Sodoma, Platanakia, Agios Konstandinos and Livadaki, and the hill villages of Vourliotes, Manolates, Stavrinides and Ambelos.

The twenty-five walks in the book, include routes inland from Kokkari; from the coastal villages of Avlakia, Kambos, Sodoma, Platanakia, Agios Konstandinos and Livadaki; through the string of inland hill villages on the north side of Ambelos, namely Vourliotes, Manolates, Stavrinides and Ambelos; there are also more challenging high mountain routes including Pandrosos and the bare limestone summits of Ambelos (Profitis Ilias Karvounis), Lazaros and Lazariaki, as well as the Kastro Louloudas outcrop.

The walks behind Kokkari go into gentler hills, while those to the west and southwest usually have greater, and sometimes steeper, ascents and descents. Some of the walks use old, cobbled paths which may have a lot of loose stones. There is plenty of shade from trees, although humidity can be high. Most en route villages have café facilities.

The 36-page book is A5 size, with a card cover. It is accompanied by an A3 double-sided colour walkers' map of the area, at a scale of 4.5cm:1km. Book and map are supplied in a tough A5 plastic sleeve.

Book first published 1996, reprinted 2007; map published 1996, reprinted 2007.

The book was updated with the assistance of Roger Foden.

ISBN 978-1-900802-44-4

"Il volume Walks in the Kokkari Area of Samos di Lance Chilton è un must"
Corriere della Sera website 2007.

UK ONLY Kokkari book and map
Royal Mail 2ndClass Standard KOBM-UK-2nd Ł7.75
Royal Mail 1stClass Standard KOBM-UK-1st Ł8.25
Royal Mail 2ndClass Recorded Signed For KOBM-UK-RSF2 Ł8.75
Royal Mail 1stClass Recorded Signed For KOBM-UK-RSF1 Ł9.25
Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day KOBM-UK-SDND Ł13.25 (not Saturday delivery)

OUTSIDE UK Kokkari book and map
Europe Royal Mail Airmail Small Packets KOBM-EUR-SP Ł8.91
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Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA Royal Mail Airmail International Signed For Small Packets KOBM-WD-ISF Ł14.20
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Lance Chilton and Marengo 2010

Marengo, 17 Bernard Crescent, Hunstanton PE36 6ER, England