This is a week-long, three accommodations walking route that offers many of the best walking experiences on the beautiful island of Cyprus. The average walking distance per day is abt 18 kilometers. The trip focuses on Troodos trails and on the Akamas peninsula, with an additional inland walk experience in between. It is suitable for those interested in rather long walks (we offer other programs with shorter walks). We recommend this program for autumn, winter and spring. For winter there are alternatives in case of snow cover at the top of Troodos.
Below one can see most the standard walks in the program. Please remember that the nature of the package allows route selection on many days, in order to cater for different traveller preferences per day.
Day of Trip |
Distance in km |
Total ascent (m) |
Total descent (m) |
Average elevation (m) |
Description |
Day 2 |
19 |
600 |
1,200 |
1,700 |
Unique geology & lush valley - possibility to do one of the two walks in the combo (under 10 km instead of 19 km) |
Day 3 |
12.5 |
800 |
800 |
1,300 |
Peculiar rock formations and vistas |
Day 4 |
20 |
500 |
700 |
350 |
Medieval bridges - Paphos Forest (possibility of mouflon spotting), open valley, deserted monastery |
Day 5 |
20 |
350 |
950 |
200 |
Descent from the ridge and then a coastal route along Lara coast. It has a stretch back and forth inside Avakas Gorge |
Day 6 |
21 |
500 |
1,000 |
400 |
Akamas ridge - beautiful coastal vistas |
Average |
18 |
550 |
950 |
800 |
Great combo of Troodos and Akamas, with an excellent bridge walk |
Day 2 backup |
18.5 |
800 |
800 |
450 |
Views, also towards Mesaoria Valley & Morphou bay. Asinou Unesco World Heritage Painted church is a big attraction |
The itinerary (summary) - please remember that we have other options for shorter or even different routes in the package
Day 1 - Arrival to Start location of the Walking Trip
Day 2 - Walk on a combo of Artemis, Atalanti, Persephone and Caledonia Falls trail
Day 3 -Walk on Madari circular trail
Day 4 - Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge - Roudias medieval bridge - Panagia tou Sinti monastery
Day 5 - Droushia - Lara beach - Avakas Gorge - Agios Georgios tis Pegeias
Day 6 - Akamas Panorama long - Droushia - Moutti tis Sotiras - Baths of Aphrodite
Day 7 - Free day ( a number of possible round trips)
Day 8 - Finish
Day 1 - Arrival to Start location of the Walking Trip
Day 2 - Walk on a combo of Artemis, Atalanti, Persephone and Caledonia Falls trail
Day 3 -Walk on Madari circular trail
Day 4 - Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge - Roudias medieval bridge - Panagia tou Sinti monastery
Day 5 - Droushia - Lara beach - Avakas Gorge - Agios Georgios tis Pegeias
Day 6 - Akamas Panorama long - Droushia - Moutti tis Sotiras - Baths of Aphrodite
Day 7 - Free day ( a number of possible round trips)
Day 8 - Finish
Detailed Itinerary
On Day 1, those travellers that book the transfer from the airport, are transported to the old part of Kakopetria village where they stay for three nights. Depending on the time of arrival visitors could relax and explore the old part of the village and/or visit upto two Unesco World Heritage Troodos painted churches within walking distance from their accommodation.
On Day 1, those travellers that book the transfer from the airport, are transported to the old part of Kakopetria village where they stay for three nights. Depending on the time of arrival visitors could relax and explore the old part of the village and/or visit upto two Unesco World Heritage Troodos painted churches within walking distance from their accommodation.
In Day 2 Long Option, travellers do a combination of top elevation Cyprus walks (most of Artemis trail, part of Atalanti, Persephone and lastly and of Caledonia Waterfalls trail) (please check the short videoclip). Walking on Artemis offers superb panoramic views of different parts of Cyprus. The trail combines barren rocky land with forested stretches of black pine (and of the endemic Troodos juniper). Walkers pass by some very old and huge trees. The walk has a very high value also for those interested in geology. It should be noted that when there is snow, (usually a few months each year) we advise against doing this walk. There is a lower elevation alternative around Unesco World Heritage painted Asinou chapel that we suggest (included in the package). The long Option walk includes also a part of the Atalanti trail, a short stretch on paved road and the Persophone trail (with a bit of a connecting dirt road). We highly recommend the Caledonia Waterfalls trail as it is quite dramatic and steep and has a running stream all year round, which is atypical of Cyprus. It provides an excellent contrast to Artemis trail. Instead of doing the 19 km long Long Option, travellers may choose to do a shorter stretch (eg 9 km long, or even shorter). |
On Day 4 of the walk (Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge to Panagia tou Sinti walk), walkers are transported to Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge, a great location that combines beautiful nature and great cultural heritage. About half of the stretch of the walk is found in the expansive Paphos Forest, until Roudias medieval bridge. There are good possibilities for mouflon spotting here. The second half of the walk is along Xeros Potamos river bank, a scenic part of Cyprus with no villages, but with cultural heritage in the form of watermills and a non functioning monastery (medieval Panagia tou Sinti - it's repair in the 90s received a Europa Nostra award). If travellers are lucky, they may spot griffon vultures gliding in search of food. Travellers are picked up from a bridge near the monastery, to be taken to the village of Droushia, where they spend the next two nights. On Day 6 walkers traverse the pristine Akamas peninsula enjoying glorious views initially of the west coast and subsequently, on the imposing Moutti Tis Sotiras peak, of the north west, and of the north coast, all the way to Pomos in the north east (the Akamas Panorama Walk). Walkers leave Akamas from small yet mythical Baths of Aphrodite cave. The walk is a bit over twenty (20) km long and starts at Drousheia village, from where it goes north. There is a shorter option that is thirteen (13) km long, starting from the village of Neo Chorio and goes initially west. As walkers will be staying at a hotel near Akamas, it is possible to do other, circular shorter walks instead (eg. Aphrodite or Adonis) that may be more suitable in the summer.
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On Day 3, we propose a walk on Madari mountain peak (short videoclip here). The walk is on a circular nature trail that offers a combination of habitats (including a Cyprus Cedar forest), excellent panoramic views, and the very extraordinary rock formations in the area (appropriately named ‘Teishia tis Madaris’ meaning ‘Madari’s walls’). Those looking for an even longer walk (Madari circular walk is tough because of the big elevation changes) can combine it with an adjacent circular walk (3 km / 2 mi long), or walk to and from the nearby Panagia tou Araka Unesco World Heritage Painted church (which would add about six more km to the distance). On Day 5 the walkers explore Akamas west coast. The standard route starts from the hotel and firstly descends on a cement road, offering lovely views of Lara coastline. The coastal part of the route connects Lara beach to Touxeftra beach (on the south end of Lara coast) and is just about six (6) km long. The walk could be combined with swimming/snorkelling in a couple of Lara beaches (with the possibility of sea turtle spotting close to summer). A walk in the unique Avakas Gorge is integrated in the route (but can be skipped, there is a degree of danger in that it may be slippery, and there is a possibility of falling rocks from the top). Avakas Gorge offers a unique habitat on the island. The walk ends at Agios Georgios tis Pegeias locality. Day 7 of the trip is considered as a free day, and travellers are encouraged to explore as well as relax. Paphos ancient city (in fact Palaipaphos, Nea Paphos and Aphrodite's Rock) comprise a Unesco World Heritage site, well worth a visit. Just relaxing at one of the nearby beaches, swimming, snorkelling or going on a cruise along Akamas north coast are also recommended. At the same time, we recommend at least two walks for travellers (we provide relevant information), if they prefer to walk more : the seven km Adonis trail as well as the twelve km long coastal walk to Fontana Amoroza and back. Both of the walks have small (and different) stretches found in the Akamas Panorama walk, that walkers may have completed on Day 6. |
On Day 8 morning, the package finishes. If travellers want, we can arrange a taxi for them, book additional nights, etc