When one thinks of Ikaria, the lovely and remote Greek island, one thinks of pebble beaches, craggy mountainsides, and meandering roads. Tucked away, however, in the middle of the island lies a rare gem; the old, rare, and protected Randi Forest that visitors can hike to.

Randi Forest

Historically, Ikaria, as with many of the Greek Islands, was heavily forested. Today, most of the island is barren, with short shrubbery and rocks scattering across the landscape. With the wonderful exception, of course, for the Randi Forest. Located just west of the Sierra Atheras mountain range, this forest represents a type of ancient forest that is native to the Mediterranean region and used to cover a large portion of Greece, Italy, southern France, and parts of coastal Spain. It is rare to have a forest of this size and age to be found intact in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Randi Forest contains the evergreen oak tree, the Holly Oak, or Holm Oak as it’s sometimes called (Quercus ilex). This species has been around for five million years. It’s slow growth, so it takes some time for the trees to get to their current size.

This particular forest has been untouched for over 200 years. There are even some specimens within it that are estimated to be 300 years old. Indigenous forests of this type of tree are rare. The woods are dominated by the Holly Oak, and supplemented with arbutus heath plants, flowering heather, and yew trees.

Today the Randi Forest is listed under the EU Natura 2000 as a protected ecosystem as a way to save this rare habitat for future generations and the small mammals who depend on it (badgers, hedgehogs, and martens). There is only about 4,000 acres that are protected on Ikaria, so logging and grazing are both illegal here.

Hiking

A hiking trail takes you from the parking area off the main road to the edge of the Randi Forest. To get there, you follow red blazes painted along the stones on the ground.

The blazes are easier to follow in some places than others, but game trails can take you further until you can find the blazes again. Once there, you can meander through the forest to see this rarity for yourself.

Where is it Located?

The Randi Forest is located in central Ikaria just west of the main road that goes north from Plagia to Evdilos. There is a pull off area to park just after the hairpin curve.