The hike up Mount Eros is a rewarding experience, but not for the faint of heart. It is doable by most, providing you are sure-footed and not intimidated by a bit of clambering as you near the summit. It is HIGHLY advisable you go early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat (we left at sunrise to make the most of the cooler temperatures). Depending on your fitness, the amount of time taken will vary; for an unfit Brit with asthma and a heat-intolerant Irishwoman, the round-trip was around 6 hours after moving in short pulses of speed and taking the time to enjoy the scenery and the wildlife encountered along the way. Water is ESSENTIAL on this trip, don't forget it! We took two full hydroflasks and a 1.5L bottle and managed to finish all of it by the time we were back. Food is good too. Apparently you can also purchase water at the Prophet Elias Monastery, though we did not stop there ourselves.
The route to the summit is well sign-posted and it is difficult to get lost. Going from the port and up Votsi/Miaouli Road, the indicators begin at the top of the road to direct you. Along the trip you will see blue and white rectangles painted in view indicating the route and direction you need to go, and similarly coloured crosses that denote incorrect routes. Surfacing for the first chunk of hike is mostly even, cobbles and steps with some rocky or gravelled paths. Take this time to doddle and enjoy the butterflies floating around, the view of the port and the shade of the trees. As you climb higher, eventually you will meet a fork in the path; one, painted in blue and white, will lead to Prophet Elias Monastery. The other, in yellow and black, leads to Saint Eupraxia Holy Convent and the route to the summit of Eros. Follow the yellow and black for the summit. The steps are a little more uneven so watch your step. Once beyond the convent, the rectangles will resume the blue and white colour. The path slopes slightly here before you begin climbing again, and here is where the footing begins to degrade. By the time you are closing in on the summit, you are basically climbing rocks, the best path is indicated by the red colouring of the soil. The route is marked with blue paint on said rocks to keep you on the straight and narrow. You will see the marker of the summit when you're almost at the top. From there, enjoy the view and snap some pics! And be proud of yourself, you just climbed a mountain. On the way back down be VERY careful with footing, it is far easier to slip going down than up - one of us took a tumble and got a lovely scrape down the forearm (did I mention it's also advisable to keep a first-aid kit on hand, just in case?). Fortunately this route is quite quiet, the lack of traffic makes descending...
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