FOOTPATHS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN

 

FROM PANTOKRATOR TO KARYES

 

Distance 5.5 km                  Journey Time 1¼ – 1½ hours.

 

 

© The Friends of Mount Athos, 2007

---

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

 

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       Leave Pantokrator Monastery by main gate by kiosk and zigzag down to harbour.  KSO past well house and over bridge.

          200       Reach rough crossroads (L to Stavronikita, R to Profitis Ilias).  KSO uphill (signed Karyes). Ignore tracks branching off to L.  Keep bearing R; FP becomes track.

          690       Track joins road at T junction.  Turn L along road. [No sign yet]

        2220       Road bends around to R, and a track leaves the road uphill sharp R.  KSO (L off road) along track that soon becomes K.  (Signs here to Pantokrator and Profitis Ilias but not to Karyes.

          570       K emerges onto road. Turn L along it then immediately R at T junction.

          180       20m past track off to R, take FP uphill to R.  Signed Karyes but easy to miss.  FP becomes K after a few metres.

          250       At T junction , turn R. (Signed Karyes one way, Pantokrator, Iviron and Stavronikita the other.)  Bear R along wall past skete on L.

            70       At fork, KSO along K.  Water pipe on R.

          670       FP crosses track at staggered junction: turn L along track then R back onto K.  Signed back to Pantokrator, but not on to Karyes.  FP becomes stony path then K again.

          160       Join track at T junction.  Turn R, then after 20 m turn L along FP signed to Karyes. 

            40       Ignore FP off to R.  Correct way signed Karyes.

            60       Ignore track on L.  Kiosk on R.  Descend to Karyes.

            30           Arrive at T junction with road.  Turn R along R then immediately L at next T junction onto road into Karyes. 

            20       Arrive at Karyes Main Square.

 

 

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