Hiking around Kardamyli

The place

Land of stone and light, villages perched on the outskirts of mount Taygetos with tower houses and countless chapels, settlements bordering with the sea, steep canyons and caves and beaches entangled with olive groves. The charm of Mani is precisely these contrasts. This is a hike to the land and the traditions of the Mani, the place where every stone has its own history. Here, the magnificence of the mountainous nature is harmoniously combined with the allure of the sea as gigantic mount Taygetos is so close from the embrace of the Mediterranean.

The activity

Our tour starts from the fortified tower houses of old Kardamili as we follow the path that once was part of the ancient so called ‘’royal road’’ connecting Kardamili with Sparta. Along the way we visit some of the traditional, beautiful little villages of the region, we walk through their narrow streets as we learn about their past. Byzantine churches, stone built watchtowers, old fountains olive and grain mills reveal the life of the past. In a small distance ahead, mount Taygetos stands snowed in some of its highest peaks. A small break for a healthy picnic with traditional local delicacies gives us additional supply of energy. A burst of colors and fragrances of flowers and herbs overwhelm us and bring us even closer to the natural environment. We walk through an easy route, sometimes a stone built path and sometimes a shady pathway, immersed in olive trees, pines and cypress trees. Along the way we discover all the elements and images that make up the scenery of Mani, narrate its past and lifestyle of Mani inhabitants throughout time.

• Starting time: 9:30 a.m.
• Meeting Point: Kardamili central square
• Implementation period: All year round (upon request)
• Trail distance: 12 km
• Route type: Circular
• Activity duration with breaks: 5+ hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Suitability: Suitable for all / relatively good fitness is required

At a glance:

• A day hike to the villages around Kardamyli
• We walk on cobblestone paths and trails through the olive groves
• We discover Byzantine churches, watchtowers, old olive mills and watermills
• Ideal for hikers without much previous experience
• You will taste homemade picnic of local products
• Includes photos from the activity

The distance covered combined with the variation in elevation difference define the level of difficulty as moderate. However there are no parts of the route with great difficulty.