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 Beaches, coves, caves, mountains and thick pine forests
Skyros is located in the heart of the Aegean Sea, northeast of Evia and 24 nautical miles from the port of Kimi. The island covers an area of 210 square kilometres and has a perimeter of 80 nautical miles. It is surrounded by a number of small and big islands and reefs.
The alternating landscapes in the island are magical. The north side is green, with thick pine forests and crops that the locals call "Meroi" (quiet) while the south, is a solid rock with bushy flora, that the locals call "Vouno" (mountain). There are two mountains that stand out. In the south part is Kohilas or Piramida (Pyramid), with a height of 793m, the highest in the island. The second highest mountain is Olympus, in the north, with 525m height.
Leaving the mountains, you are welcomed by the beaches. Sand or pebbles? There are beaches that extend to many kilometres, secluded bays, steep beaches. The sea is al  ways crystal blue. In Skyros remains a beautiful greek picture: a beautiful beach with a little tavern. Caves complete the image of the beautiful natural landscape. There are interesting caves around the island but the most beautiful are the caves in the sea. A boat ride can reveal the unseen side of the island and unrolls the various rocks.
There are springs in south Skyros, the river Kifissos in the north and in the Chora, the Anavalsa spring, which provides water to the entire island.
The climate in the island is generally soft, cool in the summer, with strong winds. That is why it is called the "islands of the winds".
The north side is covered by 60000 hectares of pine forests. In the island, there are endemic types of plants while chamois, hares and wild rabbits live freely in nature. Mount Kohilas, in the south of the island, belongs to the protected areas of the network Natura and is characterized as a special protection zone of bird fauna.
It is there, in mount Kohilas, where the Skyros pony lives, in an almost semi-savage condition. It is a rare breed that can be found only in Skyros. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times. It is of small stature, with a height of one meter and ten centimetres with particularly intense eyes and rich mane. In the past, the horses used to spend the winter up in the mountain and in the spring, their owners used them for threshing. Before they returned to the mountain, in August, the island's residents organized races and celebrations. Today, there are few in numbers. It really worths walking to the mountain, where you can see the Skyrian horses living in small packs or learn more about them in areas that have been specially formulated in an effort to rescue them.
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Licensed by the Ministry of Tourism-Greek National Tourism Organisation
