Overview
Hiking in Karpathos, the third largest of the Dodecanese islands, poised perfectly between Rhodes and Crete in the Aegean, is to walk in Hellenic paradise. A self-guided holiday, staying two nights in each location, spend a week exploring one of the most unspoilt of Greek islands, where villages are perched on craggy mountain sides or sprinkled along the coast. Follow ancient trails to the once Mycenaen city of Vroukounda, the traditional and folklore-filled village of Olympos or along the island’s mountainous spine with panoramic views across this Aegean arcadia.
Highlights
- Traditional Village of Olympos
- Walkers’ paradise with dense trail network
- Karpathos Mountains treks
- Boat trip to uninhabited island of Saria or to secluded beach of Forokli
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Karpathos | 7km or 9.5km
After your arrival on Karpathos you are transferred to your hotel in Pigadia. Depending on arrival time, explore the pretty town and environs or opt for an afternoon walk via dirt roads and quiet tarmac roads.
- Optional walking for the day: 7km or 9.5km, ↑250m or 10m ↓250m or 340m
- Accommodation: Hotel Atlantis or similar in Karpathos
Day 2: From Pigadia to Diafani | 3.4km or 7.5km
You are transferred to the north of the island when you will get your first glimpse of the island’s varied landscapes, passing through rich valleys, forests and impressive steep mountain ranges, with many sea views of course.
A wonderful option is to walk the last 5km to Diafani, a pleasant stroll along a forested river bed. On your arrival at Diafani, there are two options for a walk to the beach.
- Walking for the day (option 1): 1h 3.4km, ↑0m ↓250m
- Walking for the day (option 2): 2h 30mins – 3h 7.6km, ↑280m ↓280m
- Accommodation: Hotel Dorana or similar in Diafani
Day 3: Round walk from Diafani | 9km
Low season (April, May, June): When day 3 falls on a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday and high season (July, August, September): When day 3 falls on a Thursday or Sunday:
In the morning, take a small boat and travel for 30mins to the secluded beach of Forokli. This beach is only accessible by jeep, on foot or by boat and you are often the only people there. Walk inland via a beautiful trail along a riverbed where, even in hot summer months, the stream is flowing. The flowers in spring here are really magnificent. Follow an old dirt road, via an old chapel, back to Diafani.
Low season (April, May, June): When day 3 falls on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday and high season (July, August, September): When day 3 falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday:
In the morning take a short boat ride to the small uninhabited island of Saria, north of Karpathos. There you will find an information board with several waymarked walking routes , or you may just want to relax on the beach. The island is rocky and volcanic, with several idyllic bays and ancient ruins. Saria is also well known as a popular breeding place for Eleonora’s falcon.
- Walking for the day: 3h 30mins, 9km, ↑340m ↓340m
- Accommodation: Hotel Dorana or similar in Diafani
Day 4: From Diafani to Olympos | 17.4km
Leaving Diafani, walk inland via an ancient mule track (kalderimi) to the traditional hamlet of Avlona. It feels as if time has stood still here, where the land is often still cultivated by hand and traditions abound. There is a small taverna that is perfect for a break, then continue to the ancient town of Vrykous, now called Vroukounda. This once Mycenaen City was an important settlement until the 7th century when, because of attacks by Saracen pirates, its inhabitants moved to the more mountainous area of Olympos. The place is now desolated but it is worth time strolling around the ruins, and definitely seek out the chapel in a cave.
Continue on to Olympos, a village with only 450 inhabitants. In many ways, it’s like a living museum having maintained very traditional ways, and where customs and cultural heritage still playing a central role.
- Walking for the day: 6h-7h, 17.4km, ↑795 ↓580m
- Accommodation: Aphrodite or similar in Olympos
Day 5: Circular walk around Olympos | 4km
Today’s 4km circular around Olympos village and its environs is short, but not short on beauty, with plenty of wild flowers, ancient churches and traditional pastoral scenes. Before the walk, you can also take time to enjoy the narrow alleys, small local shops, traditional ovens and hidden churches of the village itself.
- Walking for the day: 1h 30mins-2h, 4km, ↑125m ↓125m
- Accommodation: Aphrodite or similar in Olympos
Day 6: From Olympos to Lefkos | 17.3km
The walk from Olympos to Spoa is the longest walk of this holiday and definitely the most impressive one, following the mountainous spine of the island all the way from Olympos to Spoa, a village perched on the narrowest section of the island. Quite often you will see the sea on both sides of the island on this spectacular trek.
From Olympos, follow a well maintained kalderimi to a fertile valley, passing farmhouses and their produce-laden terraces, then through a pine forest. Descend via a stony path to Spoa where, after a well earned drink at the local café, you are met by your transfer taxi to take you to your next hotel in Lefkos. Dine near the hotel or walk down to the secluded bay for dinner at a waterfront taverna. Your hotelier will happily pick you up after dinner for a small cost.
- Walking for the day: 7h, 17.3km, ↑870m ↓770m
- Accommodation: Lefkorama or similar in Lefkos
Day 7: Lefkos-Mesohori-Lefkos | 7.3km
Leaving Lefkos, pass a Roman archaeological site with a basilica and mosaics, then follow a kalderimi up Profitis Ilias (1,160m) to Mesohori. After lunch in the local taverna, the owners will drive you back to Lefkos on request, or you can return on foot via the same path. Either way, don’t miss some time out on the sandy beach in Lefkos.
- Walking for the day: 2h 30mins, 7.3km, ↑300m ↓150m
- Accommodation: Lefkorama or similar in Lefkos
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your departure. Lefkos is also a lovely location to extend your trip for a few more nights.
What to expect
Accommodation
They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfasts are included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at your hotel or nearby restaurants and taverns.
Difficulty and terrain
Categorised as moderate to strenuous: Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5-7h walking per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with clothes for one night; elevation differences between 500 and 1000m per day.(read more about difficulty grades).
The walks are mostly unsurfaced tracks, kalderimi, footpaths and mountain trails.
Additional note: Karpathos is a very mountainous island and the paths are not always very clear. You should have a good basic sense of orientation and some walking experience will definitely be to your benefit. The area is remote and there are days on which you probably will not encounter anybody during your walk.
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
Starting on any day of the week, April-October. In the summer months (mid-June to mid-September) temperatures can be quite high, even though there is a sea breeze. We recommend booking during the low season.
In April and first half of May, the colourful wild flowers and herbs are at their finest. In autumn the light is perfect and sea temperatures are still pleasant. In summer temperatures are around 30C although the dry northerly Meltemi winds can cool things down.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Karpathos (AOK).
- There are charter flights from most European countries and domestic flights from Athens. Visit Karpathos Airport for more details.
- It is difficult to get to Karpathos by boat since the connections are only twice weekly with Rhodes Island and with Crete.
- Transfers to and from Karpathos airport are included.
- If you arrive by boat from Rhodes you come into Diafani and will, therefore, be given a discount of €75.00 per booking.
- From Lefkos you are transfer back to the airport (or to the port should you depart by ferry).
Inclusions
Included
- 8 nights on a bed and breakfast basis
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Luggage transfers
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure and no printed documents are mailed or provided on-site.
- GPS tracks
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and ferry tickets
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights in Pigadia, Diafani, Olympos or Lefkos
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