Avakas Gorge

An amazing area of Cyprus nature found at the perimeter of the Akamas peninsula is the Avakas Gorge. It lies around 16km west of Paphos, with a starting altitude of 47m and an ending altitude of 45m. The trail is about 3km, estimated as a two to three hour walk — in reality it depends on you and how many stops you make.

Getting there and what to bring

To reach the starting point you will most likely need a 4x4, and from there you continue on foot. If you do not have one, drive as far as your vehicle will take you and walk from there. Come prepared: comfortable hiking shoes that you do not mind getting wet, water, maybe a snack. It gets really hot in Cyprus, so sunscreen and a hat are a good idea.

On the trail you will see native flora — lentisk, Phoenician juniper, thorny broom, oleander and more. As for animals, you may see fox, hare, hedgehogs, owls and birds like kestrel, wild pigeon and partridge, and lizards and frogs too.

Before you go

Mind the season: summer gets very hot and winter can be slippery where there is water. Not everyone does the full hike — it takes a long time. You are not advised to go alone, as there may be no phone service and if something happened you would struggle to reach anyone; tell someone where you are going, or better, go with friends. Along the trail there are educational signs explaining the fauna and the limestone you are looking at.

Otherwise, Avakas is an impressive and beautiful canyon to hike and explore, especially in spring and autumn when the weather is right for it. Keep the surrounding area in mind too — Lara Beach and the Sea Turtle Project are both worth the trip.