More Akamas Less Laona 4-nights self-guided walking
(option 1: 2 overnights on the Laona Plateau, 2 on the coast, option 2: 4 overnights on the Laona Plateau)
Average length 10.5 km per day - with other options for each day
This is a 4 nights self-guided walking trip that presents Akamas to travellers, one of the most beautiful protected regions of Cyprus nature, as well as the adjacent Laona Plateau. The program includes a Cyprus Top5 walking route (Aphrodite trail) and other nature trails that offer great vistas, and a cultural walk through picturesque villages of the Laona Plateau. The average walking distance per day is abt 10.5 kilometers. In the same package, for every day there may be different walk alternatives. We offer this program all year round except for July and August. During the hot season we suggest to complete the walks in the morning, when it is cooler. The area is lovely to walk and explore also in winter.
For the same walks, we offer the possibility either to spend 1) the first two nights on the Laona Plateau and the last two on the coast, or 2) to spend all four overnights on the coast.
Day of Trip | Average elevation (m) | Total descent (m) | Total ascent (m) | Distance in km | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day 2 | 600 | 250 | 300 | 10.5 | Droushia - Kathikas walk - a walk on the Laona plateau passing also through stone-built villages. |
Day 3 | 300 | 450 | 350 | 9.5 | Pissouromoutti trail and Smiyies trail ending at stone-built Neo Chorio village |
Day 4 | 200 | 500 | 500 | 11 | Top 5 walk - Adonis&Aphrodite coastal trails combo. It can be shortened (eg only Aphrodite - 7.5 km) or extended. |
Average | 350 | 400 | 400 | 10.5 | Beautiful Akamas walks and rustic Laona Plateau villages |
The itinerary (summary) - please remember that we have other options for different routes in the package
Day 1 - Arrival at the accommodation. Travellers can choose packages with taxi from Paphos airport or from Larnaca airport or no taxi (overnight in Droushia or the coast, depending on the selected option).
Day 2 - Walk the linear route between Droushia village and Kathikas village - return on the relatively frequent public bus. Overnight in Droushia or the coast, depending on the selected option.
Day 3 - (Luggage to the hotel on the coast if selected to stay in Droushia for the first two nights) Taxi ride to start - Walk the Smiyies (long or short version) circular trail and/or the Pissouromoutti trail and then to picturesque stone-built Neo Chorio village. Taxi from Neo Chorio village to the hotel. (overnight on the coast)
Day 4 - Take the public bus to and from or walk to Baths of Aphrodite, the start of the walk - Walk on a combo of (Cyprus Top5 trail of) Aphrodite and Adonis trails, or if preferred, on only one of the two or a longer combo of the two (overnight on the coast east of Akamas)
Day 5 - Finish
Detailed Itinerary
On Day 1, walkers (who bought the relevant taxi airport package) are transferred by taxi from the (Paphos or Larnaca) airport to their chosen accommodation. Depending on the time of arrival visitors could relax and explore the area around the hotel. They may also explore Polis (relatively frequent public buses).
Day 2 walk is on the Laona Plateau at an elevation of 600 meters, and offers vistas to the west coast of Akamas and to the bay of Chrysochou.
The route connects 4 stone-built villages, providing opportunities to see traditional village architecture, try Cyprus coffee, and visit a number of museums, including the Sea Turtle Museum in Inia, the Knights museum and the Geological museum in Pano Arodes, and the Akamas Information center in Kathikas. The route also passes by a winery near Kathikas.
The walk finishes at Kathikas, home to many restaurants, that provides the opportunity for a well-deserved Cyprus village lunch, after the day's walk.
The walk can be great year round, showcasing the change of seasons, from green fields and wildflowers in bloom in winter and much of spring, to golder colours and some vineyards in summer, and more earthy colours in autumn.
On Day 3 we propose a walk on the ridge of the Akamas peninsula, that presents travellers also with part of the west (Lara coastline). Our recommendation is to do an 'eight' route starting and finishing at the Smiyies picnic site, the legendary meeting spot of Adonis and Aphrodite (then the travellers walk to Neo Chorio village). The default route is about 9.5 km long and is based on the short version of the Smiyies trail and on the Pissouromoutti trail. The route can be easily extended by a couple of km if one does the long version of Smiyies trail instead of the short one. The route presents walkers with glorious views both of the west coast as well as of the Bay of Chrysochous. A significant cultural component of the trip is a stop at the church of Agios Minas, what remains of a medieval monastery on the site. The last part of the walking route passes by cultivated land (that hosts also carob trees, one of four main traditional cultivated plants in Cyprus, before ending at the center of stone-built Neo Chorio, which adds a taste of traditional village life to the experience.
On Day 4 walkers do a combination of Adonis circular trail and (Cyprus Top5) Aphrodite circular trail. The route is excellent all through the year (more difficult in summer), including winter, when the place is largely green and full of wildflowers.
According to legend Aphrodite and Adonis regularly met in Akamas. After walking up the east stretch of Adonis trail walkers pass by the ruins of a medieval monastery and a huge old oak tree. The route ascends onto the imposing Moutti Tis Sotiras peak. Walkers enjoy glorious views of the north west coast, and of the north coast, upto Pomos village towards the north east.
The descent from the peak is probably one of the very best walking routes on the island.
The last part of the route is on the coastal dirt road, on the cliffs. The walk ends at tiny and mythical Baths of Aphrodite.
On Day 5 morning, the package ends. If travellers want we can book additional nights, etc, otherwise (for those who bought a package with taxi to the airport) we arrange a taxi for them.
Summary of our services
We offer Independent Self–Guided Walkers interested in exploring beautiful Cyprus, a menu of services:
-
Information on our inhouse designed route that presents much of 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 provide GPS data as the basic navigation tool (usually on the travellers' mobile phone). We also provide information of the route on Google Earth imagery.
-
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), printed material (at an additional fee) and/or other media.
b) Transportation
1) For Day 1 transport from the airport (Paphos airport or Larnaca airport) or no airport transport, depending on the package bought
2) For Day 2 taxi if required from the hotel to Droushia village. Walkers do the linear walk from Droushia to Kathikas. For the return to the hotel travellers are expected to use the relatively frequent public buses between Kathikas village and Droushia village (or to Polis and then to the hotel for for those staying on the coast). If instead a taxi is preferred (at an added fee), please let us know.
3) For Day 3 (for those who chose to stay in Droushia, taxi will transfer them with their luggage to the hotel on the coast, and then for all travellers) taxi ride to start - Walk the Smiyies (long or short version) circular trail and/or the Pissouromoutti and then to picturesque stone-built Neo Chorio village. Taxi from Neo Chorio village to the hotel.
4) For Day 4 either walk to and from the start/finish of the walk or use the public bus that connects Polis with Baths of Aphrodite.
5) For Day 5, transport to the airport (Paphos airport or no airport transport, depending on the package bought)
c) Accommodation as follows:
Option 1:
1) First two nights in Droushia village (Droushia Heights hotel or Sappho Manor or Palates Hotel if no availability at Droushia Heights hotel).
2) Last two nights at Aphrodite Beach hotel (or Souli Beach Hotel if no availability).
Option 2:
All four nights at Aphrodite Beach hotel (or Souli Beach Hotel if no availability).
d) Breakfast for the four mornings
e) On the ground support
Notes :
1) We have agreements with more hotels in the case that the rooms in the above organisations are occupied. In this event walkers will have the option to accept alternative accommodation, reschedule or cancel the booking.
Prices until the end of 2026
We normally offer the package throughout the year (except for July and August). We do not recommend walking during summer (unless one does the short versions and it is managed well - eg start at 7:00).
The price for the standard package using (taxi from and to) Paphos airport, when
a) two walkers travel together on a Double Occupancy, bed and breakfast basis is 450 Euro per person.
b) two walkers travel together on a Single Room, bed and breakfast basis is 545 Euro per person.
c) a single traveller on bed and breakfast basis is 705 Euro per person.
The price for the standard package using (taxi from and to) Larnaca airport, when
a) two walkers travel together on a Double Occupancy, bed and breakfast basis is 555 Euro per person.
b) two walkers travel together on a Single Room, bed and breakfast basis is 650 Euro per person.
c) a single traveller on bed and breakfast basis is 915 Euro per person.
The price for the standard package using no (taxi from and to an) airport, when
a) two walkers travel together on a Double Occupancy, bed and breakfast basis is 380 Euro per person.
b) two walkers travel together on a Single Room, bed and breakfast basis is 475 Euro per person.
c) a single traveller on bed and breakfast basis is 565 Euro per person.
We can easily extend the package to more days. We have additional walking route that we can arrange for explorers.
Note: For those who choose the package that includes the first two overnights in Droushia, there are surcharges during specific periods (Easter, Christmas).: 12 Euro per person for double/twin and 30 Euro for single rooms.
INQUIRIES
Please contact us via phone (or whatsapp or viber) at +35799458366, or email at phivos@cypruswalksetc.com with your questions.
BOOKING PROCESS
After one books a trip we enquire with the hotel(s) and (provided that there is availability) book (and issue an Invoice to you to pay a non refundable one hundred Euro deposit within a couple of days. If the payment is not made within a couple of days, the booking is cancelled. The balance must be paid at least more than a month before the start of the trip. If the payment is not made on time, the booking is cancelled (the deposit is not refunded). You will be in due course receive relevant information with regards to the payment and the trip.
CANCELLATION POLICY
If Customers cancel:
Cancellation charges for a booked trip:
-
Until Day 31 prior to travel date: 100 Euro per booking
-
Day 30 to Day 16 prior to travel date : 25%
-
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, in the unlikely case that we find no accommodation, or for other reason outside our control, 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 4-day walk instead of the weeklong walk) or they may extend their trip staying at any of the accommodation options on our route for more than one day.