Walking the Corfu Trail (North)

Over View

Take in the highlights of northern Corfu, taking the renowned Corfu Trail. Walk across the island to the coastal town of Kalami and cross the Karst Plateau, passing by remote monasteries and hillside villages to the summit of Pantokrator Mountain.
Karstic highlands – Admire the views across the sea to Albania
Variety of landscapes – Olive groves, valleys, plateaus, golden beaches and dramatic cliff paths
Home cooked food – Enjoy freshly prepared meals in local tavernas

Itinerary

Day 1 Join trip in Liapades Beach

Arrive in Corfu Liapades Beach, situated below the traditional village of Liapades, and surrounded by green hillsides. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting. Dinner is included tonight where you can sit outside an enjoy the coastal views. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Corfu Town at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive at Corfu International Airport (CFU) which is around 30 minutes’ drive from the hotel. Should you miss the meeting, your leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to stroll down to the beautiful pebble beach, a 10 minute walk away.

Day 2 Walk to Agios Georgios

First thing this morning we negotiate a steep and fairly difficult ascent up to Lakones and Bella Vista (the best view in Europe). After a kilometre of unavoidable road we take a break for lunch. In the afternoon our walk continues across olive groves to Krini, through Lily Valley and on down one of Greece’s most remarkable footpaths, which zigzags down a sheer cliff. Our accommodation tonight is in the pleasant beach resort of Agios Georgios, where it may be possible to hire wind surfers. The wide empty beach north of the resort was used for scenes in the James Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only’.

Today’s 13.5 kilometre walk is expected to take around four hours with 3oo metres of ascent and 500 metres of descent.

Day 3 Walk to Rekini via several villages; bus transfer to Roda

A sharp climb from Agios Georgios to the village of Prinilas starts today’s walk. We descend from here to the picturesque village of Pagi. Tracks and a quiet road take us through agricultural land alongside the Megapotamos River and over the ridge through Aspiotades, to the two sprawling villages of Agros and Agios Athanasios, where our way leads through the alleyways. Leaving the villages, a quiet road leads past the wealthy convent of Agios Athanasios and tracks take us on to the road junction at Rekini. From here we plan to take a bus for the short journey to the nearest accommodation on the north coast at Roda.

Today’s 14 kilometre walk is expected to take around four-and-half hours with 450 metres of ascent and descent.

Day 4 Bus to Rekini where our walk begins via Sokraki, to Spartillas. Bus to Kalami

A local bus takes us back to the Corfu Trail. Starting our walk from Rekini, we take the unmade road to Valanio, a village deep in the middle of nowhere. Then tracks funnel us up a deep valley. Along a cobbled path, we enter Sokraki, where the village square with its happy atmosphere calls for a stop. Then to Spartillas, where a chartered bus is waiting to take us down to our accommodation at the picturesque coastal village of Kalami. Here, in the White House, Lawrence Durrell wrote Prospero’s Cell. The little bay in Kalami is lined with white pebbles and has a panoramic backdrop of mountainous Albania.

Today’s 14 kilometre walk is expected to take around four-and-half hours with 550 metres of ascent; we are transferred to Kalami from the top of the village.

Day 5 Bus to Spartillas; walk to Spyridon via the summit of Pantokrator (917m)

Today the real mountain terrain beckons. We transfer by bus back to Spartillas and start our walk: immediately we are on a steep mountain footpath climbing a gully to a fantastic viewpoint at Taxiarchis Chapel – a ruin with fresco-covered walls. We ascend further to cross the Karst Plateau, Corfu’s wildest scenery, under the summit of Pantokrator. Then we make our way to the very top, at 917 m, and visit the monastery, with its views across to the mountains of Albania. Descending now with fine views and some rough sections we reach the deserted village of Polie Perithia where we stop at a taverna before we descend the final stretch of the Corfu trail ending at the most northerly point of the island.

Todays 21 kilometre walk is expected to take around eight-and-half hours with 500 metres of ascent and 850 metres of descent. The optional climb of an additional three kilometre to the summit will take approximately one hour with an additional ascent and descent of 250 metres.

Day 6 Free day; optional walk to deserted village of Mengoulas

Today you may choose to relax in your free time or alternatively you could walk the five hour, 15.5 kilometre round trip from Kalami to Mengoulas.

Day 7 Bus to Corfu Town. Orientation tour

We return to Corfu Town’s old port by bus this morning. This afternoon your tour leader will accompany us on a walking orientation tour of the main points of interest in the marvellous Venetian town centre. There may well be time to take a bus to the picture postcard location of Kanoni to perhaps explore the archaeological sites and walk across the causeway to visit Vlacherna Church. Intriguing Mouse Island can also be visited by boat, departing from the peninsula’s small jetty. Alternatively, spend the rest of your
time exploring more of Corfu Town: there is certainly plenty to keep you occupied. The town has some sophisticated restaurants to round off your tour in style.

Day 8 Trip ends in Corfu Town

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Corfu Town.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Corfu Town at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Corfu International Airport (CFU) which is around 10 minutes’ drive from the hotel.