Hiking Adventure in Karpathos: Explore Olympos, Saria Island & More

Upon arrival at Karpathos airport, a transfer is arranged to the charming seafront village of Diafani. Settle to your room, and enjoy the calmness of the surroundings.

Olympos is a village of exceptional beauty and the capital of northern Karpathos. You will cross traditional villages, beautiful green valleys and verdant cliffs until you reach the beautiful settlement on the slopes of a mountain. Houses in Olympos are built amidst lush green forests and preserve their traditional color and layout. The village itself is a live museum with an idyllic atmosphere. Today, the village has a population of 400 inhabitants most of whom are engaged in farming and agriculture. Olympos retains an old fashioned way of life where primitive customs play an important role. Having reached Olympos you will climb to Profitis Ilias peak 718 meters, to admire the magnificent view of the Aegean sea and you will then descend to Olympos where you will have time to enjoy your lunch (if you wish to do so) and explore the village. (depending on your will, you can either hike down to Diafani via Ag. Konstantinos or transfer back to Diafani).
Distance:  7  km
Estimated Hiking Time: 3,5 hours

A lovely walk up and down some gentle slopes, through pine trees and past olive groves and wheat fields to the pretty bay of Papa Mina with its pebble beach and shady Tamarisk trees. You will have time to enjoy swimming and snorkeling in this beautiful bay before your return back to Diafani.
Distance: 7,5 km
Estimated Hiking Time: 3,5 hour

You will make a short transfer to Avlona from where your hike on a stone path built in ancient times descends to Ancient Vroukounta. Vroukounta is a mystical area where once stood the ancient city-state of Vrykous. You will discover ruins of more than 3500 years old, the Church cave of St. John, and underwater treasures while snorkeling. Then you will hike up and back to the village of Avlona for a delicious homemade lunch (highly recommended but optional) to the one and only tavern in the area – famous all over Karpathos. After, you will descend to Vananta by a stone path that goes easily towards this lovely bay. From there, the last part of the hike is situated just on the coast offering incomparable views.
Distance: 8 km
Estimated Hiking Time:  4,00 hours

With a boat, you will cross to Saria Island, where you will make a traverse hike of the island ending at the beach of Palatia where you will enjoy a barbeque lunch and take the boat back to Diafani. Saria was part of Karpathos until it detached from it through erosion. In antiquity, Saria used to be one of the four cities of Karpathos.  Everywhere there are ancient monuments, ruins, and remains of ancient settlements, while Saria was the base of Saracen pirates. According to mythology, the island was created when Poseidon in a battle with Titan  Ephialtes, he cut off a piece from Karpathos side and buried under this opponent. Ruins of the city are sunken in the Strait of Tristomou, between Karpathos and Saria. Signs indicate the existence of Apollo Porthmiou sanctuary. There are traces of human presence since the Neolithic Age and the early Bronze Age, and since historical times have been found remains of fortifications on the west side of Castello hill. Furthermore, the island is an important habitat and breeding site for birds and marine organisms. Note that the northern Karpathos, Saria, and the sea area around them, belong to the European network of protected areas Natura 2000, thanks to the variety of habitats available and rare plant and animal species that host.
Distance: 8 km
Estimated Hiking Time: 3 hours