There are two reasons to do this FKT: Mount Zas…to stand on the highest point in the Cyclades and to summit the mountain where Zeus was raised.
According to Greek mythology, Mount Zas, also called Mount Zeus, is the place where Zeus spent his childhood. Tucked away on the slopes of the mountain is a small cave where Zeus was raised. You can visit this cave as you hike to the summit.
Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades. It feels vastly different from volcanic Santorini and windswept Mykonos. Naxos is mountainous, fertile, and covered with patches of trees, a rarity in the Cyclades. The geography, and the mythology, make Naxos one of the best spots in the Cyclades to go hiking.
The hike to the peak of Mount Zas is relatively short, but it’s also steep and strenuous in spots. In all honestly, I wouldn’t classify it as a “fun” hike, but the main reason for doing it is for the breathtaking views from the summit and for bragging rights that you stood on the highest peak in the Cyclades.
As you climb you pass the Cave of Zeus (it was closed and full of bats). and there is Aria Spring (we didn't need water as short run but if you did the water looked ok).
The route kicks up a bit and got a bit technical but we managed and made summit pretty quickly and views are so incredible, it really is so worth the grind and tricky footing.
We looked around, snapped a few pictures and then turned around and headed back down the mountain to our car.
Highly recommend and we could have moved faster, the boys were actually really quick until it got steep and then my training allowed me to catch up..
Love this route and hope more people do it as do think there is a lot of room for improvement.
