A weeklong walking trip around Akamas and Laona Plateau - average 20.5  km per day

This is a weeklong two accommodations walking route around beautiful Akamas, the legendary playground of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love and beauty. The route goes also through many of the picturesque stone-built villages on the Laona plateau, presenting the traveller with elements of the island's cultural heritage (not least of which is its cuisine).
​The route is offered all year round (also as a guided walking trip).

Climate - sea water temperature
Please check the relevant climate and sea water temperature information. During the hot season, many people would find walking on the island uncomfortable. However the fact that the route is largely on a ridge and a plateau, as well as near the north west coast, means that it is cooler. While in late autumn, winter and spring the scenery may be greener, summer has also significant green tones in the form of vineyards, olive, carob orchards and juniper bushes near the coast. In summer and autumn the sea water temperatures are higher and those explorers into snorkelling may be blessed with spotting some of the thousands of sea turtles that visit Cyprus during the warm season to feed and reproduce.

Below one can see info about the walks. 

Day of Trip	​Distance in km	​Total ascent (m)	​Total descent (m)	Average elevation (m)	Description
Day 2	19.5	900	900	500	Circular walk from Droushia village towards the east, passing by a medieval church and a waterfall, also crossing to the west slope of Laona Plateau
Day 3	21	600	600	550	Circular walk from Droushia village, largely on the Laona Plateau, also exploring a number of stone-built villages, reaching Kathikas village and a winery. Significant descent on the west slope of the plateau
Day 4	22	400	1000	200	From Droushia village descend west, towards Lara beach. Then coastal walk south, optionally passing through Akamas Gorge
Day 5	20.5	550	1150	350	From Droushia village go north on the Akamas ridge and then east, ending at Aphrodite's Baths.
Day 6	20	650	650	150	Initially the east part of Adonis trail​. Go west towards Akamas lighthouse, north to Fontana Amorosa, east via Blue Lagoon and other coves to Aphrodite's Baths
​Average	20.5	600	850	350

The itinerary (summary)  
Day 1 - Arrival to Start location of the trip (Droushia village)
Day 2 - Circular route from Droushia village towards the east and Kritou Terra village, then west of  Pano Arodes
Day 3 - Circular route from Droushia towards the south and upto Kathikas village
Day 4 - Droushia - Lara beach - Agios Georgios tis Pegeias
Day 5 - Droushia to  Baths of Aphrodite via Akamas ridge and Moutti tis Sotiras peak
Day 6 - East stretch of Adonis trail - Fontana Amoroza - Blue Lagoon - Baths of Aphrodite
​Day 7 - Free day for exploration (other walking trails are possible)
Day 8 - finish

Detailed Itinerary
​On Day 1, those travellers who book the transfer from the airportthey are transported to their hotel in Droushia village. Time to relax at the hotel and possibly explore the village of Droushia and teh immediate surroundings.

On Day 2 walkers explore mainly the eastern slope of the Laona Plateau. On the way they pass through stone built Kritou Terra village (pretty and well preserved) home to the first casino on the island, from just before 1900), the nearby waterfall of Kremmiotis and the medieval tiny Agia Paraskevi chapel. Subsequently the route returns to the top of the Laona Plateau, passes through the village of Pano Arodes and crosses to the west slope, at some point passing by Ineia village before returning to Droushia.
​

The walking trip passes through a number of picturesque stone-built villages on the Laona Plateau

On Day 4 walkers descend the Laona plateau towards the south Lara beach. Great vistas towards the coast. At the beach there is a coffee place. For some people the water is find to swim all year round, as it only goes down to 16 degrees (in February).  Subsequently they walk along the coast, passing a number of beaches. There is the option to sidetrack the coastal route and visit the narrow Avakas Gorge. The route finishes at Agios tis Pegeias locality, where there are a number of medieval attractions and a restaurant. A small fishing port and Geronissos island (very iportant historically and a bird refuge) are very near.
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The descent from Moutti tis Sotiras peak

The pool at the Kremmiotis Waterfall

The Day 3 route stays close to the top of the Laona plateau, and passes through a few of the picturesque stone built villages (Pano Arodes, Kato Arodes and Ineia village). The route reaches south to Kathikas village, a picturesque village with many village restaurants (great for a break). There is also a winery very close to the route, with options for wine tasting. At some point it descents significantly on the west slope. The last stretch again passes through the village of Ineia.

Inside Avakas Gorge

On Day 5 walkers head north along the Akamas peninsula ridge, enjoying excellent views of Lara coast as well as the bay of Polis Chrysochous. The route passes by Smiyies locality (where there is a picnic site - the church of medieval Agios Minas monastery is also very near). From Smiyies walkers head north at some point ascending on the imposing Moutti Tis Sotiras peak, from where they enjoy glorious views of the north west, and of the north coast, all the way to Pomos village in the north east. The descent from the peak is for many walkers a huge highlight of the whole trip. Walkers leave Akamas from small yet mythical Baths of Aphrodite cave. ​

On Day 6 walkers initially complete the east stretch of Adonis trail, which starts and finishes at Baths of Aphrodite pool. Optionally they ascend again on Moutti tis Sotiras peak. The route takes them further west on the ridge, all the way to Akamas lighthouse. Subsequently it descends to the north coast, passing by Fontana Amorosa cove, Blue Lagoon, Manolis, Amphitheater, Koufotrypis and Photiadis coves. It then joins the coastal stretch of Aphrodite trail, continues east on the rugged coast and finishes at the Baths of Aphrodite. More excellent views of the north Akamas coast and more exploration of pristine Akamas peninsula. 

Day 7 is a free day. Walkers have a number of options, including relaxing , swimming, snorkelling at the beach in front of the hotel, walking on the coastal road along the north Akamas coast, taking a cruise to Blue Lagoon bay, trying exploration on a kayak and more.

Moutti tis Sotiras peak from Blue Lagoon

​​​On Day 8 morning, the package finishes. If travellers want, we can arrange a taxi for them, book additional nights, etc.
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​Enjoy our Akamas and our Laona!

Summary of our services
We offer Independent Self–Guided Walkers interested in exploring beautiful Cyprus, a menu of services:

• Extensive information on our inhouse designed route that presents the best Cyprus has to offer, combining top elements of its cultural and natural heritage. We provide information on each day's walk and instructions to find one's way, as well as relevant useful information material on Cyprus.  We recommend the use of GPS data (which we can gladly provide) as an excellent addition to maps and navigation tables.
• Booking of appropriate accommodation on the route, where possible in small, family run establishments.
• Booking of meals, including breakfast, dinner (as per the package) and optionally lunch packs , with a high element of local cuisine, where available.
• Arranging all applicable luggage transport.
• Arranging transfers to location of arrival/departure and other transfers if required.
• On the ground support for the independent walker.

The package
It includes the following:
a) Information on the walking routes and nearby attractions (as well as public bus info where applicable), in the form of GPS readings, electronic material (PDF in English, we will be adding other language versions), printed material (at an additional fee) and/or other media.
b) Transportation. The standard package includes the following: 

​1) on Day 4 from Agios Georgios tis Pegeias locality to Droushia village

 c) Accommodation as follows:  

1) First four nights at ( Droushia Heights hotel  - if not available then Palates hotel)
2) Last three night near Baths of Aphrodite in Akamas (Aphrodite Beach Hotel or Souli beach hotel, if no availability at Aphrodite Beach Hotel)

d) Breakfast for all overnights
e) Luggage transfer as required
f) On the ground support

Notes : 
1) The package does NOT include transport to the first hotel in Droushia village or from the last hotel near Akamas. When booking one can add airport transportation, upgrade rooms, add extra nights. In case of some other request, please contact us.
2) We have agreements with more hotels in the rare case that the rooms in the above organisations are occupied.  
    
Prices until the end of 2023

The price for the Standard package (September to June):
  a) two walkers travel together on a Double Occupancy basis is 540 Euro per person
  b) two single travellers is 710 Euro per person
  c) a solo traveller is 820 Euro per person

CANCELLATION POLICY

If Customers cancel:
Cancellation charges for a booked trip:

• Until Day 60 prior to travel date: No cancellation fee
• Day 60 to Day 16 prior to travel date : 20%
• Day 15 to Day 3 prior to travel date: 50%
• Day 2 prior to Day 1 prior to travel date: 80%
• Day 0 of the trip onward: 100%

If Cyprus Walks Etc cancels
If Cyprus Walks Etc cancels for severe expected weather or other reason we provide our customers with full refund for the services paid to us. Where possible we provide alternatives, which customers can select instead of refunds if they prefer.


TRAVEL INSURANCE
We expect that all users of our services will make all necessary arrangements to, and will for the duration of their trip with us, be covered by adequate insurance related to our services (personal accident, medical expenses, etc).

​​Please keep in mind that walkers may buy services from us for a shorter version of the trip (eg, a 3-day walk instead of the 4-day walk) or they may extend their trip staying at any of the accommodation options on our route for more than one day.