Overview
An eight day, self-guided walking holiday in both south and north Corfu, including highlights from the Corfu Trail. This is a 200km trail that covers coastal ridges, river trails and mountains, including the Mount Pantokrator hike (906m) and a marvellous meze of beaches. Other walking wonders while hiking in Corfu on this holiday include plenty of time in UNESCO’s Corfu Town, which is a prime example of the archipelago’s Venetian past, the wetland wonders of Korission Lagoon and a trek up Agii Deka Corfu’s second highest peak (576m). With accommodation in small, locally-owned hotels, and luggage transfers.
- Corfu Town
- Corfu Trail
- Mount Pantokrator (906m)
- Korission Lagoon
- Summit Agii Deka (576m)
Itinerary for the Corfu Trail
Day 1: Arrive in Messonghi
Meet your diver to be transferred to the hotel in Messonghi on the east coast of Corfu, 19km south of Corfu Town. Messonghi is a quiet former fishing village with a sandy beach. Spend the evening exploring the village or relaxing in one of the waterfront tavernas, getting ready for your adventure on this self-guided Corfu Trail.
- Accommodation: Hotel Rossis or similar in Messonghi
Day 2: Messonghi loop | 16km
You are transferred to Issos Beach on the western coast of Corfu near Korission Lagoon. This juniper-covered coastal area is a wildlife haven with many different species of birds in the spring and autumn, such as egrets and kingfishers. From the lagoon, head back to the east coast via Chlomatiana, walking uphill amongst olive groves and vineyards. We recommend a stop in Chlomatiana, where there are many restaurants with amazing views of the sea. Finally, descend through olive groves back to Messonghi.
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 16km ↑175m ↓180m
- Accommodation: Hotel Rossis or similar in Messonghi
Day 3: Benitses loop | 15km
Take a public bus to the coastal town of Benitses (20mins). Walk up through a shady forested area, and later through olive groves, to Agioi Deka, where you can top up your bottle with fresh spring water. Descend to Pikantika and Achilleio on rural roads, before a steep ascent to the viewpoint at the Holy Church of Agia Kyriaki. Descend through dense forest to Benitses. We recommend taking time to relax in one of the numerous cafes in the Old Town square before taking the bus back to Messonghi (payable locally).
- Walking for the day: 4h, 15km ↑600m ↓600m
- Accommodation: Hotel Rossis or similar in Messonghi
Day 4: Stroggili – Sinarades | 17km
Start the day with a transfer to Stroggili to join the Corfu Trail. Head to the slopes of Agioi Deka, the second-highest peak on Corfu (676m), via an easy footpath. Follow ancient mule tracks past traditional mountain villages and an impressive monastery. Finally, from Sinarades catch the local bus to Corfu Town (payable locally). Spend the evening wandering around the historic centre, which is now a protected UNESCO site.
- Walking for the day: 6h, 17km ↑785m ↓705m
- Accommodation: Cavalieri Hotel or similar in Corfu Town
Day 5: Corfu Town rest day
A prime example of the archipelago’s Venetian past, Corfu’s fortified Old Centre, with three forts to protect its position and trading strength in the Ionian Sea, was constructed by Venetians. It’s an exquisite island capital, with history oozing from every pore. Highlights include the Old Fortress, Palace of St Michael and St George and the winding streets and sacred places hidden amongst the Mouragia and Campiello neighbourhoods. The Museum of Asian Art is also a must, especially as it’s within a stone’s throw of a beautiful beach.
- Accommodation: Cavalieri Hotel or similar in Corfu Town
Day 6: Rekini – Spartilas | 12km
You are transferred to Rekini where you begin a walk in the foothills of Pantokrator Mountain. Following the Corfu Trail once more, on cobbled trails through sleepy villages such as Sokraki, which is famous for its ginger beer. The walk ends in Spartilas, where there are several cafés with sea views as far as Albania. From Spartilas, you are transferred to Barbati.
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 12km ↑575m ↓220m
- Accommodation: Pantokrator Hotel or similar in Barbati
Day 7: Mount Pantokrator hike | 21km
Today’s walk starts at an altitude of 350m, where you follow ancient mule tracks up to the high saddle of Mount Pantokrator, the island’s highest mountain at 906m. Walk through the abandoned village of Meggoulas as far as the Byzantine village of Old Perithia which, despite being almost abandoned, has six churches and a couple of traditional tavernas. It’s a very special spot and perfect for lunch. Today’s walk does not summit Mount Pantokrator due to the additional time needed to reach the peak, making the day too long. The trail continues through a valley and forest before heading along wetlands near the coast. The day comes to a close in Agios Spyridon on the northern coast, which is also the end of the Corfu Trail, where you are met and transferred to Barbati.
- Walking for the day: 7h, 21km ↑400m ↓750m
- Accommodation: Pantokrator Hotel or similar in Barbati
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to the airport and departure.
What to expect
Accommodation on the Corfu Trail
Accommodation while hiking in Corfu includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. 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
- Hotel Rossis (Messonghi)
- Cavalieri Hotel (Corfu town)
- Pantokrator Hotel (Barbati)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen 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
Breakfast is included on all days, with a half board option available in some towns. In towns, there are multiple restaurants and tavernas where you can sample the incredible local cuisine.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is rated moderate and is suitable for regular hikers with a good level of fitness who are looking for more challenging hikes (read more about difficulty grades). With daily distances ranging from 12-21km, the terrain varies between steep and exposed rocky footpaths to cobbled paths and asphalted roads.
Routes are well signposted. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the way 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 to the Corfu Trail
This trip is available from April until mid-October. The best time for walking is between April-June and September-October, when nature is at its best. It gets very hot in the summer months, and it is recommended to start walking very early to avoid the heat.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season. For more information on when to go, see our blog Best time to go to Greece.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
Our recommended airport for this tour is Corfu Airport (CFU). Complimentary airport transfers from/to Corfu airport are included.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transport (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Private transfers as per itinerary
- Complimentary airport transfers to/from Corfu Airport in daytime
- Detailed digital pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road notes; maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and public transport
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
Options, extras and supplement
- Please note that the standard hotel in Messonghi, Hotel Rossis, is only available 11 May- 06 October. Alternative accommodation is booked outside of this period, which may affect the tour price
- 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. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights in Corfu Town or along the trail are bookable upon request
- Transfer supplement applies for airport arrivals/departures between 21.00 and 08.00
