Three-day Self-Guided escooter exploration on Troodos (with optional walks) - Kakopetria based
This is a 130 km route (three days of exploration on an electric scooter with many possibilities for excellent walks) across much of the Troodos range. Explorers are based at picturesque Kakopetria village. On each of the three days they are transported by taxi to the starting point . On two of the days they return on electric scooters back to Kakopetria. On the third day they are returned by taxi. The route reaches as far east as Palaichori village, and as far west upto Cedar Valley, and it takes travellers through Troodos forests, near peaks and through a number of picturesque villages, offering them excellent vistas over much of the island. The route is very pretty for those who want to explore Troodos mountains in an extraordinary way, during any time of the year (though we recommend against riding under rain), including summer, without the use of a car. There are possibilities for doing some of the best walks on the island, including Artemis, Madari circular, Caledonia Waterfalls, Cedar Valley and other trails. The route passes by three monasteries, a number of Unesco World Heritage Troodos painted churches, a winery and more.
Day of Trip |
Distance in km |
Total ascent (m) |
Total descent (m) |
Average elevation (m) |
Escooter trip - Description |
Day 2 |
54 |
2,250 |
2,750 |
1,100 |
Kyperounda-Agros-Palaichori-Alona-Lagoudera-Spilia-Kakopetria - initially south Troodos slope and then north - past by a winery, picturesque villages, Unesco World Heritage churches in Palaichori, and in Lagoudera and Madari circular walking trail |
Day 3 |
35 |
1,050 |
2,200 |
1,300 |
Artemis trail - Caledonia Waterfalls trail uphill end - Trooditissa monastery - Prodromos - (optionally Pedoulas and Unesco World Heritage Archangel Michael chapel) - Unesco World Heritage Agios Nicolaos tis Stegis chapel - Kakopetria |
Day 4 (short version) |
40 |
2,650 |
2,650 |
1,100 |
Kykkos monastery - Paphos Forest - Cedar Valley (optionally walk to Tripilos peak on linear trail) - Kykkos monastery |
Day 4 (long version) |
57 |
3,200 |
3,600 |
1,050 |
The short Day 4 route (Kykkos monastery - Paphos Forest - Cedar Valley - Kykkos monastery) plus - Gerakies - Kalopanagiotis - Unesco World Heritage Ioannis Lampadistis monastery (may need some battery charging at Kykkos monastery) |
Trip Highlights
- Many of the most beautiful natural attractions and breathtaking views on Troodos mountains
- Overnights in picturesque Kakopetria village with easy access to authentic Cyprus cuisine
- Important cultural attractions on the route, including three Unesco World Heritage churches (four other ones are quite close), monasteries and chapels, medieval bridges, watermills
- Possibility to walk on some of the best trails in Cyprus, including Artemis, Madari circular, Caledonian Waterfalls, Cedar Valley-Tripilos peak, and more
- Relatively easy short distances per day, with the possibility to add extra miles for those preferring longer exploration each day.
Equipment
Our E-scooters
Electric specifications
Motor : 52V 600W rear hub brushless motor Battery : Lithium Polymer Batteries/LI-PO 26AH Charger : 2 AMP (takes more than 8 hours, huge battery) Controller : Smart stable Display : LCD display Mechanical specifications Frame : Magnesium aluminum alloy, foldable Tires : 10*2.5 CST Rims : Aluminum alloy 6061-12 Fork : Suspension Fork and rear suspension Handlebar : Aluminum alloy, adjustable, foldable, 109 - 118 cm Brakes : Zoom, Disc Brakes Weight : About 24 kg Passenger's max weight : 120 kg |
Included accessories (besides a helmet and a lock, a charger, minitool, minipump and a carrying bag)
The itinerary (summary)
- Day 1 - Arrival to Artemis to start the exploration (3-nights package) or to our base of the Route (Kakopetria - 4-nights package)
- Day 2 - Go by taxi to Kyperounta village (local winery - one of the best in Cyprus) - return to Kakopetria via Agros, Palaichori, Alona, Polistipos, Lagoudera, Saranti, Spilia. Many cultural attractions on the way, and great views - possibility for at least three walks
- Day 3 - For 4-night package, Go by taxi to Artemis trail (or Troodos Square if preferred by travellers). Descend on the south slope of Troodos on the escooter via the 'Seven Sisters' road to uphill end of Caledonia Waterfalls trail (walk the trail if you like - and back). Continue on the escooter to Trooditissa monastery, and Prodromos village. Move to the north slope of Troodos towards Pedoulas village (visit if you like, especially to see the small Unesco World Heritage Archangel Michail chapel), and return to Kakopetria via the road that passes by Unesco World Heritage Agios Nicolaos tis Stegis chapel. In the 3-nights package this route will take place on the day of arrival.
- Day 4 short version - (for 4 - nights package) - Go by taxi to Kykkos monastery (towards the west), one of the main places of pilgrimage for Greek Orthodox christians in Cyprus. Explore deep inside Paphos Forest initially going on the north road and then returning via Cedar Valley, home to about 130,000 endemic Cedar subspecies in Cyprus. Optionally do a short 2.5-km each way walk to Tripylos peak and back, before continuing on the escooter back to Kykkos monastery where travellers would be picked up by taxi to be returned to Kakopetria. In 3-nights package this trip is done on Day 3.
- Day 4 long version - (for 4 - nights package) - Do the same route as the short version of Day 4, but instead, continue on the scooter via Gerakies village to picturesque Kalopanagiotis village, which has a number of attractions including Unesco World Heritage Agios Ioannis Lampadistis monastery, and a medieval bridge. Depending in a number of parameters, travellers may need to recharge at Kykkos monastery a bit in order to make it to Kalopanagiotis (or possibly recharge instead at Gerakies village). Travellers will be picked up in Kalopanagiotis to be returned to Kakopetria by taxi. In 3-nights package this trip is done on Day 3.
- Day 5 (in 4-nights trip or Day 4 in 3-nights trip) - Finish the trip
Detailed Itinerary (description for 4 nights trip - in 3-nights trip travellers start their exploration on Day 1, in both cases the three days of exploration are the same)
On Day 1 from Larnaca airport or Paphos airport travelers are transported (with their rented Escooter equipment) to the old part of Kakopetria village (or very close by, depending on the available hotel). Depending on the time of arrival they could relax and explore the old part of the village and/or visit attractions in the area (eg old watermills, Unesco World Heritage Panagia Podithou church in Galata village or even visit the surreal divided walled city of Nicosia).
On Day 1 from Larnaca airport or Paphos airport travelers are transported (with their rented Escooter equipment) to the old part of Kakopetria village (or very close by, depending on the available hotel). Depending on the time of arrival they could relax and explore the old part of the village and/or visit attractions in the area (eg old watermills, Unesco World Heritage Panagia Podithou church in Galata village or even visit the surreal divided walled city of Nicosia).
On Day 2 travellers are taken my taxi to Kyperounta village to start their escooter adventure. In Kyperounta they could go for winetasting at the local winery and/or explore the village center. On the south Pitsilia road to Palaichori, the riders pass by the village of Agros, where a collection of small food related plants are found (rose products, syrup fruit preserves, processed meat). The route takes riders to Palaichori, (as is the case with Kyperounta and Agros) one of the larger villages in Troodos. In Palaichori village one can visit the church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour (need to arrange with the custodian), one of the ten Unesco World Heritage Troodos Painted churches. The route then continues west on the north side of Troodos mountains and passes through some picturesque villages like Alona and Polistipos. On the way to Lagoudera there is the possibility for two short walks around the hazelnut plantations of the area. The route passes next to Panagia tou Araka church (another of the ten Unesco churchers) and by points on the challenging Madari circular trail. It then descends via Spilia to Kakopetria. On Day 4 (short version) travellers are first transported to Kykkos, a historic monastery high up on Troodos mountains, a main place of pilgrimage in Cyprus. They start their escooter adventure there and go (north) west, deep inside Paphos Forest, on very good roads with little traffic. They initially take the north road (towards Stavros tis Psokas forest station) enjoying views towards the north, in places as far as the sea. At about 16 km from the start they turn towards Pano Panagia village and then Cedar Valley, home to the 130,000 endemic Cedars of Cyprus. They can do a short walk (five km in total) to the Tripilos peak and back if they like. Lucky travellers may spot moufflon. The short version of the walk finishes back at Kykkos monastery where explorers are picked up and transported to Kakopetria.
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On Day 3 travellers are transported either to Artemis trail or to Troodos Square (depends on their preference). Artemis walking trail is highly recommended year round (except for winter when it is usually snow covered). From Troodos there are other walking trails that one could alternatively do (such as the short Persephone trail. We recommend that explorers descend on a scooter down the 'Seven Sisters' road that passes the north (uphill) end of Caledonia Waterfalls trail. The trail is recommended year around. It is lush, steep and can be slippery. Alternatively (or in addition) travellers could also do the shorter and easier Myllomeris Waterfall walking trail. The escooter route continues via the Troodotissa monastery and Trikoukkia monastery to Prodromos village, and from there it descends to Kakopetria via the road that passes by Agios Nicolaos tis Stegis Unesco World Heritage monastery. On the descend, traveller could visit Pedoulas village and Archangel Michael small Unesco World Heritage painted church.
On Day 4 (long version) on their return to Kykkos monastery, travellers continue further east (and then north). The route takes them via the village of Gerakies to Kalopanagiotis, a village with many attractions including Unesco World Heritage Agios Ioannis Lampadistis monastery, a medieval bridge, a small manmade lake, a restored watermill and more. Travellers are picked up by taxi and transported back to Kakopetria. Because of the considerable total ascent and big overall distance, it may be necessary to pause at Kykkos (or Gerakies) for a while to recharge the battery, in order to be able to complete the route. |