Orkos is a quiet bay on Kea’s northeastern coast, the endpoint of the Orkos walking route — a cultural-interest path that passes traces of the island’s iron-ore mining history before reaching a calm, tree-backed shore.

The Beach

Orkos is a large, tranquil beach with a distinctive character shaped by the area’s mining past — the bay carries a different atmosphere from Kea’s more polished resort beaches, with a sense of industrial and natural history coexisting in the landscape. The beach is not organized; bring supplies. According to the official path description, a road return from Orkos is possible, making it accessible even to those who don’t want to walk both ways.

The Orkos Walking Route

Route Orkos (Route 11) runs from Profitis Ilias via Laoudi to Orkos — approximately 4.2 km, with a shorter local loop of around 1.9 km available in the area. The route passes traces of the island’s iron-ore mining industry, giving it a cultural-interest angle not found on purely landscape-focused paths.

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