Friends of Mount Athos Logo FOOTPATHS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN

 

FROM KARYES TO PANTOKRATOR

 

Distance – 5.5 km      Journey Time 1 – 1¼ hours.

 

 

© The Friends of Mount Athos, 2007

This route descends from over 300m to sea level; the initial and final sections are quite steep, but not difficult.  A fine kaldirimi path descends from Karyes to meet and cross the road before continuing.  There follows a longish and fairly level stretch around a headland along the road.  A fairly rough path then descends to the harbour below Pantokrator across open terrain.

 

Notes:  Be aware that, while the paths themselves do not move, over time it is possible for other details to change (eg, signposts disappear and appear, new roads or tracks appear).  Distances (in metres) have been measured by GPS and thus are horizontal measurements, without allowance for ascents or descents; they are normally accurate to within around 10 metres. 

 

Abbreviations:        L = Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;

                                    FP = Footpath;  K = Kaldirimi stone path

 

 

Description of Route:

 

  Distance       Directions

 

              0       With the Protaton behind, leave Karyes main Square along the main road (towards Daphni, etc).

            20       At major T-junction, turn R along road and then immediately L on to FP (kaldirimi).

            30       Ignore track on R and path up to kiosk on L.  KSO on FP, now descending.

            60       Ignore FP off to L; KSO, signed Pantokrator

            40       Join track at T junction.  Turn R, then after 20m turn L along FP.  (Not signed to Pantokrator.)

          160       FP crosses track at staggered junction: turn L along track then R back onto K, signed Pantokrator.  FP becomes stony path, then K again.  Water pipe on L.

          670       At junction, KSO on K.  Pass skete on R.

            70       At T junction, turn L, signed Pantokrator, Iviron and Stavronikita.

          250       FP emerges at road; turn L along road and over bridge.

          180       At major road junction, turn R and then immediately L onto FP (K).  (Sign to Pantokrator points along road)

         570        FP becomes track and then emerges at road.  Turn R (signed Pantokrator and Profitis Ilias) along road, which goes around headland.

         2220      At T-junction, turn R down track.  Pantokrator now visible ahead.   Track becomes FP, descending all the time.

         690        Reach rough cross-roads at shore.  KSO over bridge and KSO (well house on L, harbour on R) and ascend zigzag path to reach É

         200        Pantokrator Monastery entrance.

 

 

 

This description has been produced by The Friends of Mount Athos, a charitable organisation which, among other activities, works with monasteries to keep this, and certain other footpaths on the Holy Mountain, open.   Copies of this and similar descriptions are available, free, from the Friends website, www.athosfriends.org and in a number of places on or associated with the Holy Mountain.            

     May 2007