Greece Active vacation on Samos

Green mountain slopes, turquoise bays, traditional mountain villages and countless hiking trails. The island of Samos in the Eastern Aegean Sea is a dream destination for hikers and mountain bikers. Many people are drawn to a Greece Active Holidays that’s exactly why Samos.

The heavy rainfall in winter ensures a Lush vegetation and gift the island with green deciduous forests, citrus trees and fresh spring water until midsummer. Especially in spring, Samos is in full bloom and nature lovers get their money’s worth.

#1 Samos holiday with the frogs

Cooperation with Frosch Sportreisen (advertisement)*

The best way to explore the island’s beautiful nature is on foot or by bike. The German provider Frosch Sportreisen, a specialist for sports and adventure travel, has put together a successful activity program for Samos, which we were allowed to test for a week in May 2019.

So far, we have tended to avoid group tours, mainly because of the package character. The colleagues from Frosch have proven to us that there is another way. “Everything can, nothing must”, a motto that we liked right away and fits perfectly with our travel style.

One week we really worked up a sweat again, covered many a mountain stage and enjoyed extensive hikes the magnificent nature of the island of Samos. And in the end we had to realize once again:

“Greece is especially fun in company!”

Our tour group was a colorful bunch of young and old and came from all parts of Germany. We were a great group of 22 people and felt comfortable right away. “Holiday like with friends”, the frog slogan could not have been more apt.

Our two sympathetic teamers Shadee and Conny have a varied sports programme on its feet. The week with frog journeys consists of an activity programme and an appealing evening programme.

In the sports part, you can choose between a hike or a mountain bike tour choose. In addition, yoga, surfing and SUP (stand up paddling) are also offered on Samos.

However, participating in sports activities is never a must. If you want to take a day off, you can also relax by the pool or the sea and enjoy the let your mind wander. Enclosed we tell you about our experiences with Frosch Sportreisen.

Arrive and feel good

The flight time to the island is about three hours. The day of arrival, usually on Tuesdays on Samos, is very relaxed. After the transfer to the hotel and the welcome by the team leaders, there will be a frog information in the evening.

It will be the programme announced and some details of the process will be clarified. In the meantime, you can take a short walk and get a first impression of the beautiful beaches around Kokkari.

#2 Kokkari: The popular coastal town

The Sports Club Helen Yolanda is located in Kokkari in the green north of Samos. The pretty coastal town is one of the most attractive villages on the island. The white houses combined with the turquoise blue sea make the postcard motif perfect.

Kokkari has about 1,000 inhabitants, in summer there are of course a few more due to numerous vacationers. In addition to pretty boutiques and shops, there are also many restaurants and cafés where you can relax, including a sea view. You will also find shops for daily needs, such as a pharmacy, mini market, gas station and ATM (ATM) on site.

A guest at Helen Yolanda

The space is exclusively for Frosch guests and is pleasantly quiet outside of Kokkari. You can walk to the village for about 10 minutes. The Helen Yolanda has 30 rooms, all equipped with bathroom, air conditioning and refrigerator. The rooms are attractively designed and minimalistically furnished. Especially from the huge roof terrace on the second floor you have a very nice sea view.

The hotel’s own pool invites you to cool down after each sports session. The entire grounds of the Helen Yolanda Sports Club are surrounded by fruit trees and look very well maintained. An idyllic ambience in which to spend a wonderful holiday.

At the Frosch Sports Club on Samos, half board is offered. This gives you the opportunity to eat out at lunchtime and try the local taverns of the island.

In the morning there is a rich breakfast buffet with which you can start the day strengthened. Dinner is served in the Helens Garden restaurant opposite. We were pleasantly surprised by the typical Greek dishes. Here, the family still cooks themselves with fresh ingredients.

Coming to the table traditional Greek dishes, such as farmer’s salad, fava, dolmadakia, moussaka & Co. Twice a week there was a delicious barbeque buffet with salad, souvlaki and delicious potato wedges. On the other evenings there is dinner in the form of a menu, consisting of a starter platter, main menu (vegetarian or meat/fish) and a dessert. As spoiled gourmets, we found the dishes very delicious and were always well satiated.

#3 Greece Active holiday in Samos

Every day, except Sunday, there is a extensive activity programme consisting of a hike or a mountain bike tour. The very next day, the sports shoes were laced up and we got to know the hiking area around Kokkari. During the beginner’s hike in the hinterland of Kokkari, we were accompanied by a magnificent island panorama.

The hikes on the following days range from 6 to 18 kilometres and vary in difficulty. The complete frog program is very varied and is suitable for both for beginners as well as for advanced skiers. So every sports enthusiast gets their money’s worth.

Since the terrain on Samos sometimes consists of scree, walking shoes absolutely necessary for the tours. The paths on Samos are diverse. In addition to paved roads, there are some gravel roads, well-trodden paths and stony passages.

#4 Nightingale Walk

On a hike you can see the enchanted Nightingale Valley and explore the enchanting mountain village of Vourliotes. The Valley of the Nightingales in Samos is a real oasis. Since it is located on the mountain slopes, it is very rich in water.

There are several routes of the so-called Nightingale Walks on Samos. The Region in Samos North is home to a dense forest of plane trees, babbling streams and many small waterfalls. An idyllic hiking paradise!

#5 Mountain village of Vourliotes: Samos’ most beautiful village

The traditionalMountain village of Vourliotes enchanted by its picturesque alleys. A few years ago, a villager simply started to paint the Platia in a variety of colors. The colorful house facades attracted numerous guests and so the village has become a real attraction on Samos.

At every corner you will discover a new photo motif. The cozy taverns in Vourliotes invite you to linger. For us, the village was a real one highlight on Samos!

#6 Samos Mountain Bike Tour to Mytilene

For cyclists, for example, it goes to the tranquil mountain village of Mytilene in the center of the island. Situated in a fertile valley, the mountain village has little tourist significance. The Mytilene has retained all the more originality.

Beautiful Platia is bustling with activity. This is where the children play after school, the gentlemen sit in the cafés and drink their Greek coffee. An enchanting village idyll, which in many places has already had to give way to tourism.

Most of this mountain bike route is on dirt roads. Especially as a beginner, it is recommended to take part in the technique training on the first day. Dear Conny is a professional and has some tips and tricks up her sleeve on how to be safe on the MTB even on difficult surfaces.

#7 Samos Beaches: Cycling to the East

An extensive mountain bike tour was also waiting for us on the third day. We have taken a trip to the North coast near Samos town. Our group of about 12 people ranged from beginners to professionals. Everyone could ride at their own pace and they always met at pre-agreed points. A large part of the route led over solid asphalt until it turned into a gravel road for about five kilometers.

Along the northeast coast you will pass beautiful turquoise blue bays and lonely villages. At 43 kilometers, it is the longest route in the weekly program and we were pretty exhausted afterwards. By the way, the physical well-being is taken care of on every tour thanks to the many small taverns and kafenias along the way.

In the evening we relaxed our tired legs while Yoga. Marjan made the yoga session varied and we were able to relax wonderfully. The exercises were also feasible for us as beginners and movement dyslexics.

#8 Potami Falls in the West

Saturday is excursion day and a great opportunity to get to know the island of Samos even better. Shadee and Conny went on a trip to the Potami Waterfalls organized. The stage starts in the small village of Paleo Karlovasi. Perched on a hill is a pretty chapel from which you can enjoy a magnificent panorama. Afterwards, the hike leads through the beautiful river valley. At a rustic tavern we take a short break.

Along the shore you walk to a water basin. From here it’s time to put on your swimsuit and go until swim to the waterfall. The valley is picturesque and the course of the river is a welcome cooling, especially in midsummer. After the refreshment, we go to the Hippie Bar in Potami for a coffee. If you want, you can then take a stroll through the alleys of Karlovasi, the second largest town in Samos.

On Carpe Diem Day, the two tour guides have their well-deserved day off and the guests can also distract themselves on Sunday as they please. There is so much to discover on Samos! It is ideal if you rent a car for a day and explore the island on your own.

For a cocktail in the evening

The evening program was also very varied by the two girls. In addition to cozy evenings in the bars of Kokkari, there was an exciting Samos quiz and a bottle evening on the beach.

The latter was an absolute highlight and the perfect end to a successful active week. The entire group sat between candlelight and the sound of the sea cozy together on the beach. Quiet music played in the background and there was a round of ouzo. In addition, everyone could bring a drink of their choice. They looked at the starry sky, counted shooting stars and reviewed the week.

#9 Experiences of the Frosch Sports Tour

As individual travelers, all our concerns about a group trip disappeared into thin air on the first day. There was a relaxed, informal atmosphere and you could spend the week as you wanted. We especially liked the joint excursions and the social discussions in the evening. However, those who wanted to be alone could also be completely undisturbed.

The hikes and bike tours are an ideal way to explore the beauty of Samos and get to know the island better. Our two teamers brought a lot of know-how with them and organized and structured the entire week in a great way.

We can recommend the offer of Frosch Sportreisen to anyone who likes to travel in company and spend your holiday actively Want. The booking process in particular is child’s play and the colleagues take care of the organization of the trip for you. Nevertheless, you are flexible on site and get the opportunity to do something on your own. Samos is a versatile island whose natural treasures are waiting to be discovered by you.

More about the provider Frosch Sportreisen and a Samos active holiday can be found at: Frosch Sports Club Samos*

Our Samos Travel Guide

If you want to get to know the island of Samos even better, it is recommended to invest in the travel guide from Michael Müller Verlag. The book contains 252 pages and describes in detail many sights and well-known villages of Samos.

The many beaches of the island and beautiful hikes along the mountains and sea are also discussed in detail. A small section also deals with the neighboring island of Ikaria, which is also wonderful for a longer stay.

Here you can take a look at the travel guide: Buy on Amazon*

Getting to Samos

You can reach the island of Samos by Direct flight from Germany from. In the high season, there are flights to Samos several times a week, including from Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf. Samos is also a great starting point for a Island hopping in Greece. Many ferry connections head for the islands of the North Aegean.

➲ To cheap flights to the island*

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