Two days of 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 walk around Artemis trail at the top of the island and even a bit further away, a walk around Madari peak, both of which offer stunning views towards many parts of the island. Another option would be a walk to Trooditissa monastery via Chantara waterfall (suggested when for one of the standard walks, there may be snow on the way to Troodos Square).
Natural Beauty, cultural heritage, gastronomy and wine
The trip takes participants through some nice combinations of nature and cultural heritage on the island. In the routes one passes by waterfalls and a medieval bridge inside the forest as well as wine land dotted by picturesque stone built villages. Participants will get opportunities for wine tasting as well as for dining in some of the best village restaurants in Cyprus.
Pano Platres
Walkers will be staying in the village of 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 and improved tourism infrastructure. Pano Platres offers a fine base inside the forest all year around.
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 walk around Artemis trail at the top of the island and even a bit further away, a walk around Madari peak, both of which offer stunning views towards many parts of the island. Another option would be a walk to Trooditissa monastery via Chantara waterfall (suggested when for one of the standard walks, there may be snow on the way to Troodos Square).
Natural Beauty, cultural heritage, gastronomy and wine
The trip takes participants through some nice combinations of nature and cultural heritage on the island. In the routes one passes by waterfalls and a medieval bridge inside the forest as well as wine land dotted by picturesque stone built villages. Participants will get opportunities for wine tasting as well as for dining in some of the best village restaurants in Cyprus.
Pano Platres
Walkers will be staying in the village of 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 and improved tourism infrastructure. Pano Platres offers a fine base inside the forest all year around.
Rich Cultural heritage
While the majority of the routes stretche are in the forest, the trip offers the visitor also significant cultural attractions. Omodos stone-built wine producing village is the start of one of the walking routes. One can spend significant time here before the day's walk. The ancient monastery in its center, dates from the third century AD. There are two linos (grape presses) 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, locally processed food, silverware and lace. The main square, in front of the monastery, with its mulberry trees offering shade during the hot season, and with its coffee shops and restaurants, is a very pleasant place to relax before the day's walk.
Other cultural attractions on (or near) the itinerary include :
1) Picturesque stone-built Mandria village
2) Milia medieval bridge
3) Trooditissa monastery (if travellers do the back-up walk instead of doing the walk to Troodos Square)
While the majority of the routes stretche are in the forest, the trip offers the visitor also significant cultural attractions. Omodos stone-built wine producing village is the start of one of the walking routes. One can spend significant time here before the day's walk. The ancient monastery in its center, dates from the third century AD. There are two linos (grape presses) 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, locally processed food, silverware and lace. The main square, in front of the monastery, with its mulberry trees offering shade during the hot season, and with its coffee shops and restaurants, is a very pleasant place to relax before the day's walk.
Other cultural attractions on (or near) the itinerary include :
1) Picturesque stone-built Mandria village
2) Milia medieval bridge
3) Trooditissa monastery (if travellers do the back-up walk instead of doing the walk to Troodos Square)
Day of Trip |
Distance in km |
Total ascent (m) |
Total descent (m) |
Average elevation (m) |
Day 2 - Omodos to Pano Platres |
14 |
850 |
550 |
900 |
Day 3 - Pano Platres to Troodos Square |
10.5 |
850 |
250 |
1,550 |
Average |
12.5 |
850 |
400 |
1,250 |
Backup for Day 3 (in case of snow cover) - Pano Platres - Chantara Waterfall - Trooditissa monastery |
9.5 |
750 |
550 |
1,100 |
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 Omodos village. After exploring the village they walk uphill to Pano Platres village
Day 3 - Walkers walk from Pano Platres village to Troodos Square. If there is snow cover on the way (please ask your hotel) travellers can do the alternative route to Trooditissa monastery
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 Omodos village. After exploring the village they walk uphill to Pano Platres village
Day 3 - Walkers walk from Pano Platres village to Troodos Square. If there is snow cover on the way (please ask your hotel) travellers can do the alternative route to Trooditissa monastery
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 visit 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 visit the village.
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On Day 2 the participants are transported by car to picturesque stone-built Omodos village. They 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). The historic monastery is a worthwhile attraction as is a visit to one of the two old grape presses in the village center. The walk initially traverses vineyards roughly until the village of Mandria (wine is produced here too). After Mandria the forest begins. Most of the rest of the walk 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. Walkers may spot trout in the stream. In summer a refreshing dip at the cool pool in front of the Waterfall is recommended. The walk ends at Pano Platres village. 
Along Caledonia Waterfall trail
Vista towards Limassol along the route between Caledonia Waterfalls trail and Persephone trail
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Walking in wineland near Omodos
Walking on Myllomeris waterfall trail
The Day 3 walk is in the forest. At the same time, both habitats as well as the vistas and scenery change significantly along the route (mainly from a narrow valley to roads or trails close to slopes with unobstructed vistas).
After walking on the paved road from the village until the downhill start of the trail, walkers 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 Limassol coast. The last stretch of the route is on Persephone trail, ending at Troodos Square. The vegetation changes over the route from typical forested valley in Cyprus (dominated by plane trees) to Calabrian pine and Black pine. 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, especially around June. |
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In the case (between January and March) that there is snow cover along the way of the standard route (your hotel should know) we offer an alternative walking route to the Day 3 standar walk at lower elevation. The route combines nature with the island's cultural heritage in the form of a historic monastery. Walkers go west towards Foini village, they pass by another waterfall (Hantara) and ascend upto the nearby historic Trooditissa monastery, that dates from the 10th century (the end of the route). |
Historic Trooditissa monastery
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