How hard is the walking?

Self-Guided Walking Holiday Itinerary

This itinerary offers a maximum 20km per day taking 3-5 hours depending on your speed leaving plenty of time for relaxation afterwards. Optional harder and/or easier walks are also available on request

Day 1- Arrival day and Transfer to Paradisos Hills Hotel in Lysos village, your base for 3 nights.

Day 2- Explore deserted villages around Lysos including Melandra, Zacharia and Istinjo. The villages were deserted after the Turkish invasion in 1974 and lie in a beautiful valley full of almond and olive trees. Distance 12km.

Day 3- Walk the "Gorgeous Gorge." Follow part of the E4 long distance trail a short walk from your hotel. Descend to the valley floor past goat farms. Hike through the hidden "Gorgeous Gorge" and climb back up to Lysos through fragrant pine forest. Distance 19.5km.

Day 4 Luggage transfer day to Y&P Latchi hotel, your base for 2 nights. We take your luggage, you walk. Today's walk is longer but mainly downhill starting with a short transfer by car from Lysos to the bottom of the Evretou valley. Visit Skarfos Venetian bridge. Hike through the valley to the Evretou reservoir. Climb up to Steni village for coffee/lunch and visit the traditional Steni artisan museum. Continue to Latchi through several villages via the E4 long distance path. Distance 22km.

Day 5- We transfer you by car to the famous Baths of Aphrodite for this short but strenuous hike linking two nature trails - the Aphrodite trail and Adonis trail on the beautiful Akamas peninsula. Spectacular views from Moutti tis Sotiras, the high point on the trail at 350m. Distance 10km. (optional 5km extra back to the Hotel)

Day 6- Luggage transfer day to Droushia Heights Hotel, your luxurious base for the last 2 nights. Transfer with your luggage to your hotel perched 600m above the coast in Droushia village with spectacular views back down to Polis and Latchi. Today you have the option (weather permitting) to hike through the spectacular Avakas Gorge, a 15km walk that takes you from sea level to 600m. There is an additional charge of €35 to cover the 45 minute transfer to the start of the walk. If you prefer an easier day, just explore the top end of the Akamas peninsula, with spectacular views of both Lara Bay on one side and the Chrysochous Bay on the other. Descend first into the valley below Droushia along a myriad of trails past several goat farms and then join the E4 long distance path to hike back up to Droushia and your hotel. 12.5km

Day 7- Your last day offers yet another gorge experience, this time visiting what we fondly call the "Witches Gorge", named because of the weird and wonderful rock formations, one of which looks like the head of a witch! Explore quiet back roads and gravel trails through local villages close to Drousia. After climbing out of the Gorge, take a stop and sample some wine at the Vasilikon winery, one of the best on the island, before walking back to your Hotel. Distance 20km.

Day 8- Departure day and transfer to airport. It's time to say goodbye.

Notes:

• On luggage transfer days, your luggage will be collected after your departure and delivered to the next hotel by mid-day.

• If you wish to order a packed lunch from your hotel, please do so the night before.

• The Avakas Gorge Walk includes a degree of scrambling at the lower end through several sections of large boulder rocks.