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 | Turn L out of Vatopedi Monastery entrance along paved road. |
| 50 | At fork with covered well on L, bear L along walled K (signed Karyes). |
| 100 | Where wall turns L, turn L following K (signed Karyes). |
| 150 | At junction, KSO up road. |
| 100 | At junction, bear L along road. Ignore track to R. |
| 70 | At major T junction at top of small rise, bear R, uphill on main road (not straight on/L, downhill). |
| 300 | Arrive at crossroads where main road bends L uphill and level track straight on/R is signed Karyes and Pantokrator. Bear R onto level track signed Karyes and Pantokrator. |
| 200 | Fork L off track onto FP, uphill, signed Karyes and Pantokrator. |
| 800 | FP emerges at track. Turn L along track. |
| 40 | At T-junction of track with road, KSO on FP which continues on far side of the road, signed Karyes and Pantokrator. |
| 1300 | Climb steeply up bank to road with installation with solar panels on R. KSO on FP which continues on far side of road. |
| 150 | FP emerges at main road. |
| 250 | Fork R off road onto FP (signed). |
| 1150 | Path emerges at main road. Turn R along road. |
| 50 | Fork L off road onto wide track before cement works (in line with FP just walked); fine views down to Pantokrator and the sea soon appear to L. |
| 1200 | Track ends. KSO to find FP (K) continuing uphill ahead. Note: although it contains good stretches of K, the FP is in parts narrow and may be partly overgrown in some sections. |
| 200 | FP turns L at stone fountain (dry) beside large, ancient tree. |
| 500 | Pass second fountain (dry) on R. |
| 150 | Cross road. KSO on level path. Fine view ahead to Skete of St Andrew, Karyes and Mt Athos briefly appears. |
| 1000 | Emerge at road on outside of bend, with track back to R. KSO along road, gently uphill. |
| 200 | At 3-way junction where main road bends R, KSO/L (signed Karyes). |
| 400 | At T-junction, turn R on track. Track shows evidence of K. |
| 250 | Ignore track up R (signed I K Marouda) and KSO. |
| 100 | Fork L off track, downhill onto FP. Alternatively, or if missed, continue a further 100m to T-junction with large ruined building on R, and turn hard L onto concrete track downhill (signed). FP joins track from L in 30m (see next entry). |
| 100 | FP emerges at track. Turn L onto track, downhill. |
| 30 | At junction with large metal cross (on L), turn R onto track signed Karyes. |
| 150 | Ignore track L (to Kellion Pateritsa). |
| 300 | Ignore gated track back L to Kellion. KSO on main track. |
| 400 | Cross Karyes-Daphni road. KSO, now on K, signed Karyes. |
| 300 | Ignore FP (K) up R. |
| 110 | Arrive at Karyes square where the buses arrive. |