An overnight hike to see the sunrise
In August, I was lucky to tick off a bucket list item of seeing the sun rise out of the Aegean Sea from the remote (almost) peak of Amorgos.
Setting off after midnight from the village - because that’s when hospitality workers get off work - we hiked up the mountain guided by head torches and moonlight to a small cave in the far northern corner of the island where we would sleep for a few hours, pelted by wind and dirt through the wee hours.
Moonlit hiking // exploring // arrival at the cave (and brushing away goat droppings)
Views from the cave:
The (almost) full moon beaming down from the apex of the cave / the sea lit up by the moon, the lights of Santorini visible on the horizon
Waking up in the faint glow of the pre dawn light, the curtain of darkness yet to be fully lifted off the island, we set off for a short walk up to higher ground, blown around by the howling wind but admiring the views around us: the island stretching away to the south, the chapel of Stavros perched on top of the cliffs, waves crashing hundreds of metres below us, and epic views of the Aegean in all directions.
More waiting…
As much as I would rave on about the light, I think the photos can take over from here, with the giant sun rising out of the sea painting everything around us in golden hues.
A huge thank you to Iakovos who took us to the cave, this was a special experience made all the better shared with friends.
We rounded off the hike by traversing the ridge of the island before dropping back down to the village, with views down the island, neighbouring Nikouria island, and Theologos monastery, passing one of the ‘holes,’ the windmills and finally the old ‘Geros’ Stavros church before a well earned coffee and bite to eat at Pergalidi.
