Note: All distances given (in metres) should be taken as approximate. The route described is liable to unpredictable change: for example, forestry work, road or track construction and plant growth may alter the route, or its appearance. Signposts may disappear or new ones appear. The Friends of Mount Athos strives to keep this description correct and up to date but cannot take responsibility for its accuracy.
| Abbreviations: |
L = Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;
FP = Footpath; K = Kalderimi (stone-paved FP or mule track) |
| Walk (m) | And then . . . |
|---|---|
| 0 | Leave gate of Skete of Bogoroditsa and head uphill along main track (which leads to the main Vatopedi - Karyes road). |
| 90 | Turn R along FP signed Profitis Ilias. Cross stream, passing remains of water system/mill. |
| 200 | Arrive at fork where the path to the Skete of Profitis Ilias and the connector to the historic Vatopedi – Pantokrator footpath diverge. Note: Straight on/R, downhill, continues toward the Skete of Profitis Ilias; L onto FP uphill connects to the Vatopedi – Pantokrator footpath. |
| For more direct route via FP to Vatopedi: | |
| Bear L onto FP, uphill. | |
| 350 | Emerge at rocky track, roughly along crest of ridge. KSO to pick up FP on further side, soon descending. |
| 350 | FP joins FP from Vatopedi to Pantokrator at T junction. Turn hard R. (L is to Vatopedi.) |
| 600 | Pass remains of circular building (possible cell) beside FP on L. Note: May be difficult to spot. |
| 600 | KSO, ignoring faint level track to L. KSO downhill on remains of K. Fine views to Pantokrator, Stavronikita, Mount Athos and the coast. |
| 700 | FP emerges from trees and continues to descend across rocky hillside. |
| 350 | FP descends steeply onto main road with
Pantokrator ahead (care needed). This is
where the two routes recombine. Turn L onto main road, ignoring track
down to R. Note: The historic route goes straight ahead here. To follow it, cross road and scramble down very steep bank to reach open area. Cross open area to pick up K track to R of building ahead and continue along K in direction of the Monastery, ignoring paths or tracks joining from L or R. Continue at 'Combined Route' below. |
| For longer route via FP to Skete of Profitis Ilias: | |
| KSO/R downhill on main FP, towards Skete of Profitis Ilias. | |
| 800 | Pass rocky viewpoint across valley to the Skete of Profitis Ilias opposite. |
| 650 | FP descends to track. Turn L onto track which descends side of valley. |
| 55 | FP to the Skete of Profitis Ilias diverges to the R, steeply
down the bank to the R of the track.
For Pantokrator, KSO on track.
Note: Diverging FP may be difficult to spot. |
| 1050 | Track joins main Karyes - Pantokrator road at a corner near a bridge (to R). Turn L along road, uphill. |
| 900 | At junction with road down ro R (which leads to Pantokrator Arsenas and cultivated land), KSO/L still on main road. |
| 200 | FP, signed Vatopedi, joins road steeply down bank on L. This is the FP from Pantokrator to Vatopedi and is where the two routes recombine. KSO on main road ignoring track down to R. |
| Combined Route: | |
| 200 | Ignore road joining from L signed Vatopedi. KSO/R on major road which curves round to R towards Monastery, passing aqueduct on L. |
| 270 | At fork in road bear R, following direction indicated by arrow. |
| 100 | Road joins K road from back R. KSO/L along K, ignoring K tracks up to L and to R down to harbour. |
| 110 | Pass kiosk to arrive at Pantokrator Monastery entrance. |