Mount Zas: Hiking to the Highest Peak in the Cyclades

The Trail – Two Routes, One Peak

How do you want your adventure served — steep or scenic?
There are two main ways to reach the summit:

• From Filoti (via Aria Spring): The more popular, slightly easier route with natural shade and a gentler incline.

• From Danakos (Chapel of Agia Marina): Steeper, more direct, and favored by locals.

🥤 Pro Tip: Bring water — there’s none along the way, and the summer heat is no joke.

Zas Cave – The Myth Below

What lies inside the mountain?
About 20 minutes from the Filoti route trailhead is the Cave of Zas — said to be where Zeus was raised in secret. The cave is cool, mysterious, and filled with stalactites. Ancient worshippers left offerings here, believing the cave to be sacred.

🕳️ Worth a Stop: Even if you don’t summit, this short hike to the cave is a rewarding detour.

The Summit – Aegean at Your Feet

How wide can your gaze stretch?
At 1,004 meters above sea level, the view from the top of Mount Zas is unforgettable. On a clear day, you can spot neighboring islands like Paros, Ios, Amorgos, and sometimes even Santorini. It’s the kind of silence and scale that makes you pause — no filter required.

📷 Best Light: Morning offers clear skies; sunset brings dramatic colors (but come prepared with a flashlight for the descent).

Flora, Fauna & Freedom

What makes this hike truly Naxian?
Wild thyme, caper bushes, eagles, mountain goats, and dry-stone walls left by generations of shepherds. This isn’t just a hike — it’s a walk through a living landscape that locals have moved through for centuries.

🦅 Look For: Griffon vultures gliding above the cliffs — a rare and majestic sight.