Rhodes island hiking
Rhodes island hiking.
Besides beautiful beaches also have wonderful countryside for Rhodes island hiking.
Mountains, forests, rivers, canyons and even lakes.
There are endless Rhodes island hiking routes with varying degrees of difficulty.
Ideal seasons for hiking, of course, are spring and autumn, where the weather is wonderful,
with temperatures averaging 10 degrees and the sun almost always present.
Ideal conditions are hard to come by. But even in the summer months,
starting early in the morning, you can hike without the hassle of heat.
At the foot of the third highest mountain in Rhodes, Prophet Elias, at an altitude of 798 meters,
is located in Salakos of the Municipality of Kameiros, 39 km. from the city of Rhodes,
one can discover the natural beauties of two separate paths.
The one trail we recommend is at the top of the mountain where there are the famous
Elafos and Elafina hotels and Villa De Vecci, built during the Italian occupation,
with excellent architectural beauty and both, and the chapel of Prophet Elias.
The second starts from the same point of the Nymphi area in the opposite direction,
crossing the Butterfly Valley of the Nymfi spring of Salakos village.
Access to these trails (Prophet Elias and Butterfly Valley) is easy,
as it begins through the village settlement and ends on public paved roads.
Keeping in mind that someone who travels wants to take relaxation stops
in order to enjoy the scenery and sights, take pictures, the estimated time of the trip
is approximately 40 to 45 minutes for each of them. suggested routes.
As to the degree of difficulty, the path of Prophet Elias is a little more difficult due to altitude,
and the path of the Nymph Valley is somewhat easier.
There are many sights and historical sites on the two routes.
Starting from the source of the “Nymph” source, you may be able to see
the rare “peony rhododendron” flower that grows only in the area.
It goes without saying that you won’t cut it.
At the edge of the village, is the Makarouna Cave, utilized and visited.
It is a natural cave in which, during the Christmas season, a vivid representation
of the Nativity of Christ takes place, attracting thousands of visitors
from the surrounding villages and the city of Rhodes.
The Nymph and Valley are a habitat of the species ‘Panaxia Quadripunctaria‘,
whose population is small at present, as the valley is in recovery but offers
opportunities for walks and relaxation, as the trail is quite accessible.
Butterflies prefer this valley because there are so-called “hives” of perennial trees,
which are valuable to them for the juice that the butterflies feed on.
The abundant waters and the dense vegetation make up a unique landscape of beauty and serenity.
In the area of Prophet Elias, 115 species of plants have been counted,
20 of which are rare. Apart from the smells and the lush vegetation
that is especially present in the spring months, the visitor will have the opportunity
to enjoy the panoramic view of the village, even to the deep sea, as if on a plane.
Reaching the summit is the monastery of Michael Archangelos, which was converted
from a Catholic to an Orthodox church.
Then there are the Dama Dama deer and the rare lamas that exist outside the Elafos and Elafina hotels,
which adds a unique touch of beauty to the landscape.
Finally, nature lovers and hikers will be thrilled by the unique paths and hidden paths in the woods,
which in turn lead to monasteries, fountains, and glades of unique beauty.
