Overview
A ten day, self-guided adventure, walking in Corfu, along its wild and extraordinary northern coasts. Starting in the north-west, with three nights in the coastal treat of a 15th-century Venetian village, Liapades. There’s an array of beaches and walking trails on its doorstep, including the Olive Way and Roman Way, as well as the nearby site of Paleokastritsa Monastery. You also have three nights in Kalami in the north-east, famous for being home to writer and conservationist Lawrence Durrell, with trails to secluded coves, the flanks of Mount Pantrokrator and the ancient village of Mengoulas.
- Liapades
- Paleokastritsa Monastery
- Roman Way
- Agios Georgios
- Kalami
- Kassiopi
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Liapades
Arrive at Corfu Airport and meet our representative for your trip briefing to receive any maps and documentation needed. You are transferred to your accommodation in the Liapades area (30mins) to spend the afternoon relaxing by the hotel pool or strolling around the village. Liapades is a traditional village on the north-west coast of Corfu, known for its Venetian architecture, and proximity to stunning beaches.
- Accommodation: Corfu Pearl or similar in Liapades
Day 2: The Olive Way and west coast loop | 11/14.5km
From Liapades village square, gravel paths head into the centuries-old olive groves surrounding the village. In Kanakades, we recommend a visit to the frescoed church in the village centre. Descend towards the steep west coast where there are two options for the end of the walk. Both continue on to the hotel with a detour option for a refreshing swim at one of the beaches before coming back into Liapades.
- Accommodation: Corfu Pearl or similar in Liapades
- Walking for the day: 11km, 3-4h, ↑250m or 14.5km, 5-6h, ↑450m
Day 3: Doukades and Saint Simeon | 7/11km
Today there are two options to choose from:
Option one: walk to Doukades and Paleokastritsa, taking in views of the bays and rocky coast. Begin on a steep, forested footpath before continuing along paved footpaths to the the Monastery of the Virgin Mary on the hill at the end of Paleokastritsa, dating back to the 19th century. We recommend returning to Liapades by boat (payable locally) to gain a different perspective of this rocky coastline.
Option two: head uphill to the villages of Gardelades and later Doukades, with its inviting village square. Climbing further, head to the chapel of Saint Simeon and take in the view over Paleokastritsa, Liapades and the south of the island. Descend through olive groves to Lakones, then down a cobbled footpath to Paleokastritsa. Finally, either take a boat (payable locally) back to Liapades beach or walk back from Lakones to Liapades.
- Accommodation: Corfu Pearl or similar in Liapades
- Walking for the day: 7km, 2h, ↑250m or 11km, 4.5h, ↑450m
Day 4: Liapades – Agios Georgios | 14-16km
Start the day with a steep climb to Lakones, which was originally built up in the hills to prevent being seen by pirates. Taking in the views over Paleokastritsa and its bays, ascend to Vistonas and Makrades, before arriving at Krini. We recommend another 1.5km ascent to visit to the ruins of Angelokastro, a hilltop Byzantine castle with great views. Shortly after Krini, descend on the Roman Way to the west coast and Agios Georgios.
- Accommodation: Belle Helene Hotel or similar in Agio Georgios Pagi
- Walking for the day: 14km, 4-5h, ↑450m or 16km, 5-6h, ↑500m
Day 5: Double bay of Porto Timoni | 9km
From Agios Georgios, take on a steep climb up to the village of Afionas, filled with olive oil shops, narrow alleys and beautiful views. Descend steeply on footpaths towards the sea below and take in the narrow peninsula is so narrow. The path continues a bit further up the peninsula to the chapel-like cave of Agios Stylianos before returning to the hotel.
- Accommodation: Belle Helene Hotel or similar in Agio Georgios Pagi
- Walking for the day: 9km, 3-4h, ↑350m
Day 6: Agios Georgios circuit | 12km
Follow a stretch of the Corfu Trail up to the villages of Prinilas and Paghi and take in the views. Descend via the valley, to continue on towards Aspiotades. Follow the route to return to the coast at Agios Georgios.
- Accommodation: Belle Helene Hotel or similar in Agio Georgios Pagi
- Walking for the day: 12km, 4h, ↑400m
Day 7: Kassiopi – Kalami | 12km
You are transferred to Kassiopi (1h). In Kassiopi we recommend a visit to the Byzantine castle ruins in the town. Head out along the Erimitis Peninsula, which has many small coves and beaches. From the marina at Agios Stefanos head inland to Kerasia where you can take a rest on the beach before continuing to the secluded bay of Kalami, where you spend the night. your final destination of the day.
- Accommodation: Villa Rita or similar in Kalami
- Walking for the day: 12km, 3-4h, ↑300m
Day 8: In the footsteps of Lawrence Durrell | 7/15km
Start the walk from the beach, passing by the White House, Lawrence Durrell and family’s residence along the east coast. There are two options for today, a shorter route heads south through secluded coves to Kaminaki. Along the way there are many options for swimming. The longer option heads up from Agni to the flanks of Mount Pantokrator and the ancient village of Meggoulas. After exploring the village, take the coastal path to return to Kalami.
- Accommodation: Villa Rita or similar in Kalami
- Walking for the day: 7km, 2-3h, ↑200m or 15km, 6-7h, ↑650m
Day 9: Rest day
Spend the day relaxing in the bay, strolling along the coast or going for a kayaking or paddleboarding session (payable locally).
- Accommodation: Villa Rita or similar in Kalami
Day 10: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour 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
- Corfu Pearl (Liapades)
- Belle Helene Hotel (Agios Georgios Pagi)
- Villa Rita (Kalami)
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 to order on site. In towns, there are multiple restaurants and taverns where you can sample the incredible local cuisine..
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is rated easy to moderate and is suitable for regular hikers with a generally good level of fitness (read more about difficulty grades). With daily distances ranging from 7-15km, the terrain varies from 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
This trip is available to start between April and June and between September and October as July and August are too hot for walking.
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
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Corfu Airport (CFU). Complimentary airport transfers from/to Corfu airport are included.
Inclusions
Included
- 9 nights accommodation
- 9 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 connecting land transfers
- Bus transfer on day nine and optional return by boat on day three
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Accommodation tourist tax (€1-6per night)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
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. 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
