Two days of runs/long walks in the forest and around vineyards and stone-built villages
The trip constitutes a two-day exploration near Troodos peak and in the wine region of Limassol. The trip can be extended to include a run from Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge, and even a bit further away, a run starting at Madari peak (offers great views towards the main plain of Cyprus. Another option would be a circular run via Chantara waterfall and Trooditissa monastery (suggested when for one of the standard routes, there may be snow cover).
Natural Beauty, cultural heritage, gastronomy and wine
The trip takes participants through some nice combinations of nature and cultural heritage on the island. The route passes by waterfalls and a medieval bridge inside the forest, as well as through wine land dotted by picturesque stone built villages. Participants could get opportunities for wine tasting as well as for a meal in some of the best village restaurants in Cyprus.
Pano Platres
The explorers will be staying in Pano Platres, a village high on the south slope of Troodos mountain, that was for many decades and until the 50s a main mountain resort, with British architecture and at some point more than ten hotels. The village is seeing a revival after a long decline, improved tourism infrastructure and offers a fine base inside the forest all year around, including in the hot summer season.
The trip constitutes a two-day exploration near Troodos peak and in the wine region of Limassol. The trip can be extended to include a run from Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge, and even a bit further away, a run starting at Madari peak (offers great views towards the main plain of Cyprus. Another option would be a circular run via Chantara waterfall and Trooditissa monastery (suggested when for one of the standard routes, there may be snow cover).
Natural Beauty, cultural heritage, gastronomy and wine
The trip takes participants through some nice combinations of nature and cultural heritage on the island. The route passes by waterfalls and a medieval bridge inside the forest, as well as through wine land dotted by picturesque stone built villages. Participants could get opportunities for wine tasting as well as for a meal in some of the best village restaurants in Cyprus.
Pano Platres
The explorers will be staying in Pano Platres, a village high on the south slope of Troodos mountain, that was for many decades and until the 50s a main mountain resort, with British architecture and at some point more than ten hotels. The village is seeing a revival after a long decline, improved tourism infrastructure and offers a fine base inside the forest all year around, including in the hot summer season.
Rich Cultural heritage
While the majority of the route stretches are in the forest, the trip offers the visitor also significant cultural attractions. Omodos stone-built wine producing village is on one of the two routes. One can spend significant time here and have a break during the day's run (or walk). The ancient monastery in its center dates from the third century AD. There are two 'linos' old big manual grape presses in the village that are open to the public, as well as wine tasting establishments, and shops whose ware ranges from locally processed glass, local processed food, silverware and lace. The main square, in front of the monastery, with its mulberry trees offering shade during the hot season, and its coffee shops and restaurants, is a very pleasant place to relax before the day's adventure (or after, of the traveller decided to do the run downhill).
Other cultural attractions on (or near) the itinerary include :
1) Picturesque stone-built Arsos village, Mandria village
2) Apostle Philip medieval chapel (with its belfry in the form of an ancient laurel tree)
3) Milia medieval bridge
3) Trooditissa monastery (if travellers do the back-up run instead of doing the route to Troodos Square)
Day of Trip |
Distance in km |
Total ascent (m) |
Total descent (m) |
Average elevation (m) |
Day 2 - Arsos - Omodos - Pano Platres |
22 |
1,150 |
850 |
900 |
Day 3 - Pano Platres -Troodos Square - Artemis trail |
21.5 |
1,350 |
600 |
1,700 |
Average |
22 |
1,250 |
750 |
1,300 |
Backup for Day 3 (in case of snow cover) - Pano Platres - Chantara Waterfall - Trooditissa monastery - Pano Platres |
21 |
1,250 |
1,250 |
1,250 |
The itinerary (summary)
Day 1 - Arrive at Pano Platres village - walk in the village, hang out and relax
Day 2 - The taxi takes participants to Arsos village. They walk uphill to Pano Platres village via Omodos village
Day 3 - Walkers walk from Pano Platres village to Troodos Square to Artemis trail. If there is snowcover (please ask your hotel) travellers can do the alternative route to Trooditissa monastery and back to Pano Platres
Day 4 - morning - end of the trip
Day 1 - Arrive at Pano Platres village - walk in the village, hang out and relax
Day 2 - The taxi takes participants to Arsos village. They walk uphill to Pano Platres village via Omodos village
Day 3 - Walkers walk from Pano Platres village to Troodos Square to Artemis trail. If there is snowcover (please ask your hotel) travellers can do the alternative route to Trooditissa monastery and back to Pano Platres
Day 4 - morning - end of the trip
Detailed Itinerary
On Day 1, those travellers who book the transfer, from the airport are transported to their hotel in Pano Platres. Time to relax at the hotel or explore the village.
On Day 1, those travellers who book the transfer, from the airport are transported to their hotel in Pano Platres. Time to relax at the hotel or explore the village.
On Day 2 the participants are transported by car to picturesque stone-built Arsos. Arsos is a very pretty sleepy village of the 'Krassochoria' ('Wine villages' of Limassol). The route takes them via vineyards to Omodos village. Those who prefer to, have the opportunity to explore at their own pace this wine producing village (it has a number of wineries nearby, with winetasting opportunities also inside the village) and possibly have lunch at some of the best village restaurants in Cyprus and rest before they continue their ascent. The historic monastery is a worthwhile attraction as is a visit to one of the two old grape presses in the village center. The route traverses vineyards roughly until the village of Mandria (wine is produced here too). After Mandria the forest begins. Most of the rest of the route uphill is inside the pine forest. There are stretches as well close to the riverbank, where the habitat and the concentration of flora species is different. We side track from the straight forward route to go by Milia medieval bridge and especially Myllomeris waterfall. There is a short stretch on paved road as well as on an official walking trail. Travellers may spot trout in the stream. In summer a refreshing dip at the cool pool in front of the Waterfall is recommended. The route ends back at Pano Platres village. |
The Day 3 route is in the forest and on the largely barren, highest peak in Cyprus (mount Olympus). Habitats transform and the vistas and scenery change significantly along the route (mainly from a narrow valley to dirt roads or trails close to slopes with unobstructed vistas). After running/walking on the paved road from the village until the downhill start of the trail, travellers enter the short and steep Caledonia Waterfall trail. The trail crosses the stream many times, usually on wooden small bridges but occasionally in the absence of any. There is water year round in the stream. In winter there is more water and less vegetation. In summer the narrow valley is lush and largely shaded. Subsequently the route is on a dirt road towards the east, offering great vistas towards the south, as far as the Limassol coast. The route then continues on Persephone trail, and passes through Troodos Square (a good place for a break). The vegetation changes over the route from typical forested valley in Cyprus (dominated by plane trees) to Calabrian pine, Black pine and Juniper. Other species to be seen along the route include the endemic golden oak, the Greek strawberry tree, and bracken in the valley. One can see many orchids on some stretches (eg near Persephone), especially around June. It should be noted that blooming in this part of Cyprus, due to the higher elevation, takes part later during the year (April to June, instead of March to May in most parts of the island). Artemis is a flat trail, and on stretches offers wonderful views as far as the coast. As the trail on many stretches is on steep slopes, it needs caution. |
In the case (between January and March) that there is snow cover along the way of the standard route Day 3 route to the peak (your hotel should know) we offer an alternative running route at a lower elevation.
The route combines nature with the island's cultural heritage in the form of a historic monastery. Travellers go west towards Foini village, they pass by another waterfall (Hantara) and ascend upto the nearby 10th century Trooditissa monastery before returning via a higher elevation way (mostly dirt road, except for the end which is paved) back to Pano Platres village. |