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Wednesday 9 October – Boat Trip to the protected island of Yiaros – Guided tour from WWF scientists – swimming and snorkelling – lunch
9 October 2019 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Visit the island of Yiaros by boat. Take a walk to explore this historic exile site. A presentation by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) scientists on Yiaros’s rich biodiversity and their research findings. Take a sea swim in a protected area. A snack & a drink on board and return to Andros. This event is dependant on suitable weather conditions.
From the Batsi Seafront Parking Meeting Point, we stroll to Batsi Port. There we board the boat for the trip to the historic site of Yiaros, once a place of exile and now a site of substantial biodiversity.
The boat crossing takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Upon arrival at the island of Yiaros, we will be welcomed by members of the WWF team, who have been researching the island’s sea and land areas in recent years.
Yiaros has been a marine wildlife sanctuary since 2015 and a Marine Protected Area since 2019, providing a reference point for nature conservation in the Northern Cyclades. The WWF has been working systematically over the last 6 years to protect and promote this unique ecosystem, that supports 10% of the world’s Mediterranean seal population, who successfully live and breed on Yiaros. During the trip, we will visit the Yiaros prison and hike to the camps of the exiles. There will be time for a swim or enjoy a guided snorkeling sea tour on one of the two sea trails designed during the WWF’s CYCLADES LIFE program.
Around 1:30pm there will be a light lunch and a drink on board the boat. Around 3:00pm we will embark on the return trip to Andros. See the timeline of the program itinerary below
Please note : This event is dependent on suitable weather conditions. If event is cancelled you will be informed by text or email as supplied on the Registration & Booking form.
Meeting Times and Meeting Points:
8:00am- BATSI Seafront Parking
Departure Time and Place:
3:00pm Leave Yiaros by boat for return to
BATSI PORT
Visit to Yiaros : Hiking, swimming, snorkeling & lunch
8:00am – Meeting at the Batsi beachfront parking lot
9:30am Arrival at the Prison Building on the island – Visit the building
10:30-12:30am A walk along a dirt track to visit the camps where the exiled prisoners were living under canvas all year round from 1947
12.30 – 14.00pm For those interested, snorkelling of the underwater trails (You need to be a competent snorkeler and you will need to bring your own mask and flippers to take part in this activity)
14:00 -15:00pm – Cold Lunch on board the boat
15.00pm – Return to Andros, BATSI PORT
Suggested Area to stay the night before this event: Batsi or Gavrio area
Suggested area to stay the night of this event : Chora area
Event Price:
Prison Visit, Hiking & Water Activities – Free
Light Lunch & Drink – 10€
Transport Price:
Boat to Yiaros island and back : 25€
TRANSPORT OPTIONS AND PRICES
To get to Batsi in the morning from Gavrio, Chora or Ormos Korthi, we have arranged Special Festival Transport.
At the end of the day, there is a Special Festival Bus to return to Gavrio.
Don’t forget to book Special Festival Buses on the Registration&Booking Form.
At the end of the day, you can return to CHORA or ORMOS KORTHI, from BATSI by the REGULAR KTEL BUS.
Show your Festival ID for a reduced price. Purchase your ticket on the bus.
Your travel options below:
| Direction /Location (Transport Type) | Departure times / from / to | (Regular Fare) / Festival Fare |
| From Gavrio (SPECIAL FESTIVAL BUS) | 7:40am GAVRIO to BATSI (15 minutes duration) | 2€ |
| Return to GAVRIO (SPECIAL FESTIVAL BUS) | 5:00pm BATSI GAVRIO (15 minutes duration) | 2€ |
| From Chora (SPECIAL FESTIVAL BUS) | 7:00am – CHORA to BATSI (45 minutes duration) | 4€ |
| Return to CHORA (REGULAR KTEL BUS) | 7:40pm – from BATSI to CHORA | |
| From Ormos Korthi (SPECIAL FESTIVAL BUS) | 7:00am from ORMOS KORTHI to BATSI (1 hour duration) | 4,5€ |
| Return to Ormos KORTHI (REGULAR KTEL BUS) | 7:40pm from BATSI to ORMOS KORTHI (take the Bus towards CHORA and change at STAVROPEDA) |
Participation in the activities of the 2nd Andros on Foot Festival means the unconditional acceptance of the terms & conditions described in the links below:
Conditions for Participating in Hiking
Conditions for Participating in Festival Events