Day 6: Hiking Donousa, Hidden Beaches & Ed’s Island Arrival

Introduction

After a much better night’s sleep (thank you, rediscovered blanket), I woke naturally around 7:30, just before my alarm. No rude awakenings, no chilly limbs – just the calm rustling of the breeze through Donousa’s hills and the slow hum of a quiet island morning.

I started the day with a relaxed breakfast in my studio: Greek yoghurt with honey, orange juice, coffee – the same simple combo I’d picked up from the mini market yesterday. The plan was to do some light sightseeing before my friend Ed arrived on the afternoon ferry, and I’d had my eye on one spot in particular: Livadi Beach.

The Long Way to Livadi

I set off just before 10 a.m., expecting a 90-minute hike. The first part of the route took me east past Kedros Beach and onto a hiking trail that I thought would rejoin the main road. It didn’t.

Instead, I found myself on a much hillier and more remote path than anticipated. It was scenic, sure, but also steep in places and definitely slowed me down. What was meant to be a 90-minute stroll turned into a two-hour trek, though the payoff at the end was completely worth it.

Livadi Beach: Paradise Found

Livadi Beach was absolutely stunning – and totally deserted. No umbrellas, no sunbeds, no beach bars. Just soft sand, rolling waves, and me. I found a spot under the cliffs and had a laid-back lunch: Pringles, a chocolate croissant, and a can of Mamos beer – classic hiker fuel.

With my shoes off and book in hand, I lay back and enjoyed the silence, soaking up the kind of peace you rarely find in the more well-known Greek islands.

Return Hike & A Dip at Kedros

The return journey followed the main road, climbing uphill toward the tiny village of Mersini before looping back toward Kedros. It was a more straightforward hike, though the initial 15-minute incline reminded me I’d already hit my step count for the day.

Back at Kedros Beach by mid-afternoon, I rewarded myself with a quick swim and another lazy stretch on the sand. Then I returned to my room for a shower and a bit of work on the second part of my Mykonos vlog.

Catching Ed’s Arrival – Island Reunion

By 5:45, I was out again – this time with my drone – to film some aerial shots of Donousa and capture Ed’s arrival on the Express Skopelitis, the same ferry I’d taken two days earlier. The drone held up well despite a light breeze, and I got some great footage of the boat gliding into the harbour.

Ed and I met back at the accommodation around 6:30 (like me, he opted to take the free transfer offered by Iliovasilema; this time I walked back across the beach), caught up a little, then headed out together for supplies and dinner. We walked toward the port to try a new restaurant, but everything seemed closed (a familiar theme in Donousa outside peak season), so we defaulted to the Iliovasilema restaurant at our accommodation.

Dinner with a View (Again)

Dinner didn’t disappoint. Ed went with stuffed tomatoes and peppers, and I had meatballs after starting with that baked feta with honey, which I’ve become mildly addicted to. We shared a carafe of white wine, which was an improvement over Saturday’s red, if still a bit rustic.

By 9:30, we were both ready to crash after a day of hiking, arrivals, and sun. We agreed to meet around 8 a.m. the next morning for breakfast – day seven promised more shared adventures now that we were officially a party of two.