Sendoukia Pirate Graves
Sendoukia Pirate Graves
4.1
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.1
50 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
23
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Davide
Milan, Italy154 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
The graves are just three holes in the ground with a stone cover.
but one you’re there...holy cow the view is breathtaking. it takes you a couple of hours from any place in the island. i’d suggest that
but one you’re there...holy cow the view is breathtaking. it takes you a couple of hours from any place in the island. i’d suggest that
Written September 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victaloria
Slapton, UK22 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
I think we must have followed a different road to the last reviewer as we spent ages on dirt tracks but it was definitely worth it! And I have to admit the road back was much easier! The path is quite obvious and white arrows (some reviews I'd read said red spots but we only saw arrows) do enough to lead you on and up. It took us about 20mins and we did it later in the day to avoid some of the heat and wore trainers as it was quite rocky in places. We didn't see anyone else the whole time we were up there. The graves are quite impressive and certainly make you wonder who they were for and why. The best bit is the view though, it's really stunning. Worth making an effort to get to.
Written July 24, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline E
Brighton81 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
This is yet another example of why Skopelos is such a great destination. The lack of commercialisation of such a great site is a big plus. The signposts are clear out of the town and you climb up on an amazing new asphalt road before turning on to a reasonably short dirt track. Stop and park just after the small quarry where there is a blue road sign that points up hill. There is a footpath that goes up the hill and white arrows to occasionally show the way. It is a moderately hard walk but as long as you have average fitness you will make it.
We wandered up to the top through an area that was covered with butterfly's and bees collecting nectar and emerged into the area with the stone burial ground. The views are amazing and the graves intriguing.
Equally amazingly we had it all to ourselves, so no voices apart from the bees.
We wandered up to the top through an area that was covered with butterfly's and bees collecting nectar and emerged into the area with the stone burial ground. The views are amazing and the graves intriguing.
Equally amazingly we had it all to ourselves, so no voices apart from the bees.
Written June 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann S
Franklin, KY1 contribution
Jun 2012 • Solo
. This is an ancient site and very spiritual. Possibly Minoan or Neolithic with the sarcophagus laboriously carved out of the rocky outcrop overlooking the sea below. The bases of the graves are all oriented towards the sea feet first suggesting an early settlement by the Minoans or perhaps the Romans - traces of both cultures have been documented on the island. Every time I climb up to Sendoukia I appreciate the uniqueness of this special place.
Written April 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen G
Stockton-on-Tees, UK161 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
This was such a weird thing to do but we are glad we did. After leaving the main road you drive on rough track for about 2km into Deliverance country until the track stops. You then leave your vehicle and follow a series of rocks with red dots on for about 1km to a flat rock surface with 3 graves dug into the rock. Long ago raided they are easy to see, which is good because there is no signage to signify you have reached them.
For a fun and scary (the drive) few hours away from the beaches this is a good thing to do. Clean underwear and a 4x4 recommended
For a fun and scary (the drive) few hours away from the beaches this is a good thing to do. Clean underwear and a 4x4 recommended
Written July 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SakK
62 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
The view is amazing. Wear your sports shoes and take your time until you reach the place, but it's worth the visit
Written September 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KevinRSheffield_UK
Sheffield, UK52 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
Splendid rocky site with views over Skopelos and beyond. Well worth the 20 minute walk from the nearest road junction or, as we did, the three hour climb from Skopelos town. The path from the blue motorway-style sign is very clear up to the rocky outcrop but once up there look for faint paint arrow marks and small cairns. The grave site is obvious just as the path starts to descend again.
While sometimes described as 'Pirate graves' that is the one thing they are certainly not. A massive undertaking to carve three holes of approx. 2m x 1m 1m shows these people were very important and the dominant site is suggestive of Neolithic peoples (although I know little of Minoan culture which is another suggested origin).
The three completed graves each have a slightly raised end, a 'pillow' at the hilltop end and a rim around the edge. The rim would have both kept rainwater out of the grave and served to anchor the huge capstones which have a similar carved border around their base. The capstones are also carved although at first glance they might be taken for natural shapes; the central capstone is largely natural which suggests to me it was the first and the best available stone was used with minimal work.
There is also a fourth grave only worked to a very shallow depth (maybe 5cm from week-old memory) and it seems to me that it was being worked on by 4 carvers as there are clearly four points where work was suspended.
The work is too imprecise to be Roman and there are no Christian symbols so these two origin suggestions seem unlikely, Whoever carved them, the results are a must-see for anyone with an interest in historical sites.
While sometimes described as 'Pirate graves' that is the one thing they are certainly not. A massive undertaking to carve three holes of approx. 2m x 1m 1m shows these people were very important and the dominant site is suggestive of Neolithic peoples (although I know little of Minoan culture which is another suggested origin).
The three completed graves each have a slightly raised end, a 'pillow' at the hilltop end and a rim around the edge. The rim would have both kept rainwater out of the grave and served to anchor the huge capstones which have a similar carved border around their base. The capstones are also carved although at first glance they might be taken for natural shapes; the central capstone is largely natural which suggests to me it was the first and the best available stone was used with minimal work.
There is also a fourth grave only worked to a very shallow depth (maybe 5cm from week-old memory) and it seems to me that it was being worked on by 4 carvers as there are clearly four points where work was suspended.
The work is too imprecise to be Roman and there are no Christian symbols so these two origin suggestions seem unlikely, Whoever carved them, the results are a must-see for anyone with an interest in historical sites.
Written May 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KABSydney222
Sydney, Australia418 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
We followed instructions on a tourist map and were sadly misinformed. It said to keep going until the dirt road ended. In fact you leave the car where the road branches into two by a sign on a tree marked at Sendoukia.
At no point in our journey was any sign entitled Pirate Graves.
You follow a path on foot from here. It is totally unmarked except for intermittent piles of rocks along the way or some white arrows painted on rocks when you get a bit closer.
After 20 minutes you come upon a spectacular view of neighbouring islands and three unmarked tombs with the top stones dragged aside.
Two are full of water and rocks thrown in by insensitive visitors.
No inscriptions or a community notice is at the site, by way of explanation.
Very disappointed.
At no point in our journey was any sign entitled Pirate Graves.
You follow a path on foot from here. It is totally unmarked except for intermittent piles of rocks along the way or some white arrows painted on rocks when you get a bit closer.
After 20 minutes you come upon a spectacular view of neighbouring islands and three unmarked tombs with the top stones dragged aside.
Two are full of water and rocks thrown in by insensitive visitors.
No inscriptions or a community notice is at the site, by way of explanation.
Very disappointed.
Written June 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ludwig H
North Curry, UK63 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
So, my wife agreed to join me on a hike up to Sedoukia from Panormos Beach Hotel. Unfortunately, we decided to go on one of the hottest days of our week!! It took us about an hour & 40 minutes up a fairly well worn track, not too difficult but constantly going up! Lovely views as we made our way.
We followed 'trusty' Google maps as there were no signs on this route until we got to the car park just past the quarry. To be fair, google did OK.
As mentioned by others, you follow a well worn trail up to the top then a series of stone mounds & the occasional faded white arrow to the graves. Nothing much has changed from previous reviews here. Three empty graves with their stone lids pushed aside. No information about their history.
But, don't let that put you off - go for the views!! Just before you reach the graves there is a large rock outcrop to the right of the trail affording stunning views across Skopelos, Alonnisos & other smaller islands. The views were worth the hike just by itself! As for the graves, it does make you wonder who carved them up here, taking a lot of effort to do it in an obscure out of the way location.
We followed 'trusty' Google maps as there were no signs on this route until we got to the car park just past the quarry. To be fair, google did OK.
As mentioned by others, you follow a well worn trail up to the top then a series of stone mounds & the occasional faded white arrow to the graves. Nothing much has changed from previous reviews here. Three empty graves with their stone lids pushed aside. No information about their history.
But, don't let that put you off - go for the views!! Just before you reach the graves there is a large rock outcrop to the right of the trail affording stunning views across Skopelos, Alonnisos & other smaller islands. The views were worth the hike just by itself! As for the graves, it does make you wonder who carved them up here, taking a lot of effort to do it in an obscure out of the way location.
Written July 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pissclap
Croxton, UK56 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We really enjoyed our visit here. It was a cloudy and windy day, and the graves gave us an alternative to the beach. Our 4 and 7 year olds were excited and benefited from the exercise. It is a little hard to find but nothing a family on a pirate adventure cannot handle. It is not a Disney theme park, it is some real pirate graves. Surely it's not meant to be easy....!! The view from the top was marvellous... Look for the sign that points to the path at the start. Then follow the rock piles and painted arrows..
Written August 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Comment puis-je m'y rendre?
Written December 5, 2015
Showing results 1-1 of 1
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing