At a glance
A rural route linking two UNESCO-listed Byzantine churches in the Pitsilia hills, passing vineyards, almond groves and pine forest. Great for combining culture with a solid hike.
- Region
- Nicosia
- Distance
- 7 km
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Time
- about 3 hours
- Route type
- Linear
- Start point
- Panagia tou Araka church, Lagoudera (or Stavros tou Agiasmati, 8 km from Platanistasa)
What you'll see
- Two UNESCO-listed painted churches
- 700-year-old oak at Panagia tou Araka
- Vineyards and almond groves
Before you go
- Carry at least 1.5 litres of water per person and a hat; there is little shade on many Cyprus trails from May to October.
- Start early in summer and avoid the hottest hours (12:00–16:00).
- Wear proper walking shoes: paths are often stony and steep in places.
- This is a demanding route: allow extra time and don't walk it alone if you're not used to mountain paths.
- Routes can close after fires or storms. Check the official page for the latest status.
- In an emergency, call 112.
Map & official details on Visit Cyprus
Source: Deputy Ministry of Tourism (Visit Cyprus), checked October 2026. Description written by Expatify.
More trails in Nicosia
- Kionia – Profitis Ilias Trail · 7 km
- Xyliatos Dam Trail · 3.8 km
- Agia Eirini – Limeria Trail · 5 km
- Doxa soi o Theos – Madari Fire Lookout Trail · 3.8 km
- Teisia tis Madaris Trail · 3 km
- Selladi tou Karamanli – Kannavia Trail · 4.8 km