Walking the Corfu Trail (North)

Greece - Trip code FA Walking and Trekking
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278Kg of CO²e
Average carbon footprint per person
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We've partnered with ecollective to measure the carbon footprint of this tour based on an average group size. Find out more about how we calculate this and why we think it's important here.

 

Tick the Corfu Trail off your bucket list on our week-long walking holiday. Traverse the island toward the coastal town of Kalami and cross the Karst Plateau, passing by remote monasteries and hillside villages to the summit of Pantokrator Mountain.

Why we love this trip
  • Breathtaking vistas - Admire views from karstic highlands across the sea to Albania.
  • Iconic island landscapes - Take in fragrant olive groves, lush valleys, golden beaches, and dramatic cliff paths.
  • Traditional Greek cooking - Dine on hearty home cooking and meet locals in traditional tavernas.

  • Included meals

    Breakfast: 7

    Dinner: 2

  • Trip staff

    Explore Tour Leader

    Driver(s)

  • Transport

    Bus

    Taxi

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    Accommodation

    4 nights comfortable hotel

    3 nights simple pension

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    Walking grade:

    Moderate and Challenging

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    Group Size:

    Trip maximum 16
    Explore Average 11

Itinerary

Day 1 - Join trip in Liapades Beach

Our Corfu walking adventure starts in Liapades Beach, situated just below the traditional village of Liapades and surrounded by green hillsides.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7 pm for a welcome meeting and the chance to go out for dinner for those who fancy it. The hotel does not have a 24-hour reception. If you plan to arrive later than 7 pm, please contact your tour leader, Spiros, in advance on the number provided in your travel documents so he can organise a late check in. There are no activities planned for today, so you're free to arrive at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Corfu International Airport (CFU), around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. If you miss the meeting, our tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to stroll down to the pebble beach. The beautiful beach of Rovinia is also just a 15-minute walk away.

Accommodation:

Corfu Pearl (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Dinner

Day 2 - Walk to Agios Georgios

First thing this morning, we'll negotiate a steep, fairly difficult ascent up to the old village of Lakones - with one of the best views in Europe. After close to a kilometre of unavoidable road, we'll head up on an old cobbled footpath towards the villages of Vistonas, Makrades and Krini. In the afternoon, we'll continue down one of Greece's most remarkable footpaths, The Donkey Path. This pathway zigzags down a wide track to the sweeping bay of Agios Georgios.

Our accommodation tonight is in the pleasant beach resort of Agios Georgios, with a long sandy beach and views of the green hills bordering the bay.

Today's 14.5 kilometre/9 mile walk is graded as moderate and is expected to take around 4 hours with 490 metres/1,608 feet of ascent and 490 metres/1,608 feet of descent.

Accommodation:

Belle Helene Hotel (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3 - Walk to Rekini via traditional villages, bus to Roda

Today starts with another sharp climb from Agios Georgios to the village of Prinilas. We'll descend to the picturesque village of Pagi, from where tracks and a quiet road lead us through agricultural land alongside the Megapotamos River through Aspiotades to the sprawling villages of Agros and Agios Athanasios.

From the villages, we'll follow a quiet road past the wealthy convent of Agios Athanasios and tracks that take us to the road junction at Rekini. At Rekini, we'll take a short bus journey to the nearest accommodation on the north coast at Roda.

Today's 12 kilometre/7.5 mile walk is graded as moderate and is expected to take around 4.5 hours with 600 metres/1,969 of ascent and 500 metres/1,641 of descent.

Accommodation:

Pegasus Hotel (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 4 - Bus to Rekini, walk via Sokraki to Spartillas

Today, we'll take a local bus back to the Corfu Trail. Starting our walk from Rekini, we'll take the unmade road to Valanio, a village deep in the middle of nowhere, from where tracks funnel us up a deep valley. We'll follow a cobbled path to enter Sokraki, where the village square with its happy atmosphere calls for a stop. Then we'll carry on to Spartillas, where a chartered bus is waiting to take us down to our accommodation at the picturesque coastal village of Kalami.

Here, in the White House, Lawrence Durrell wrote Prospero's Cell. The little bay in Kalami is lined with white pebbles and has a panoramic backdrop of mountainous Albania. For the next three nights the group will be spread over a variety of simple apartments around the bay. Breakfast is at Thomas's Place, a family run taverna on the beach of Kalami.

Today's 13.5 kilometre/8.4 mile walk is graded as challenging and is expected to take around 4.5 hours with 710 metres/2,330 feet of ascent and 375 metres/1,230 feet of descent; we are transferred to Kalami from the top of the village.

Accommodation:

Thomas's Place (or similar)

Grade: Simple Pension

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 5 - Walk to Agios Spyridon via the summit of Pantokrator

Today the real mountain terrain beckons. We'll transfer by bus back to Spartillas to begin our walk, which starts immediately with a steep mountain footpath, climbing a gully to a fantastic viewpoint at Taxiarchis Chapel - a ruin with fresco-covered walls.

We'll ascend further to cross the Karst Plateau, Corfu's wildest scenery, under the summit of Pantokrator. Then, we'll make our way to the very top (917 metres/3,009 feet) and visit the monastery, with its views across to the mountains of Albania. Descending, we'll have fine views as well as some rough sections of terrain as we reach the deserted village of Palia Perithia where we'll stop at a taverna for a refresher. Eventually, we'll make the final stretch of the Corfu trail ending at the most northerly point of the island.

Today's 22.5 kilometre/14 mile walk is graded as challenging and is expected to take around 8.5 hours with 640 metres/2,100 feet of ascent and 1,050 metres/3,445 feet of descent. The optional climb of an additional 3 kilometres/1.9 miles to the summit will take approximately 1 hour with an additional ascent and descent of 250 metres/820 feet.

Accommodation:

Thomas's Place (or similar)

Grade: Simple Pension

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 6 - Free day with optional walk to deserted village of Mengoulas or through the Erimitis Peninsulas to Kassiopi

Today is free to rest your legs and relax in the local area. If you'd rather keep going, there's an optional walk - a 15.5 kilometre/9.6 mile round trip from Kalami to Mengoulas or a 12 kilometre/7.5 mile walk through the unspoiled Erimitis Peninsula to the lovely seaside village of Kassiopi.

Accommodation:

Thomas's Place (or similar)

Grade: Simple Pension

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 7 - Bus to Corfu town and orientation walk

We'll return to Corfu Town's old port by bus this morning. This afternoon, our tour leader will accompany us on a walking orientation tour of the main points of interest in the marvellous Venetian town centre. There might be time to take a bus to the postcard-perfect location of Kanoni to explore the archaeological sites and walk across the causeway to visit Vlacherna Church, too. Alternatively, you might like to visit the intriguing Mouse Island by boat departing from the peninsula's small jetty.

Accommodation:

Konstantinoupolis Hotel (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 8 - Trip ends in Corfu Town

Our tour ends at our hotel in Corfu Town.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is leaving later in the day, there are luggage storage facilities available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to depart from Corfu International Airport (CFU), around a ten-minute drive from our hotel.

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Trip information

Climate and country information

Greece

Climate

Greece has such a vast geographical difference between the mainland and the islands, and travel is possible at all times of year but the climate can vary depending on when you go. During late spring or early autumn, in the months of April-May or September-October, temperatures are warm and pleasant, usually hovering around 77 degrees. Rainfall is low, but can be erratic during these months. Cooler evenings take the heat off the day. If you have booked a walking holiday, wild flowers bloom during the spring, adding color to the hiking trails. Summers are hot and dry, with plenty of sunshine and little rain. Temperatures can go north of 95 degrees in July and August. On the islands, restaurants and bars may be busy with cruise ship passengers. While this period definitely gives you a ‘summer holiday’ feeling, those wishing to explore Greece’s ancient sites may find the heat challenging. When traveling in winter, from late November to early March, the villages will be very quiet. Temperatures in Athens at this time are around 50 and 60 degrees, while the nights will be colder. Hotels in northern Greece in particular are well adapted to deal with cold winters, having proper heating and warm fires to retreat to after a day of exploring. This makes it a good destination for travel between November-March.

Time difference to GMT

+2

Plugs

2 Pin Round

Religion

Orthodox

Language

Greek

Budgeting and packing

Optional activities

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for locally and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.


Corfu Town - Allow approximately 15 Euros for entrance fees; Kanoni Peninsula 3.50 Euros.
Liapades Beach - Boat trip up west coast (depending on numbers booked) 15 Euros. (6 people minimum) Agios Georgios Wind surfer hire 10 to 12 Euros per hour.

Clothing

Bring light and comfortable clothing that can be layered according to the temperature. The weather conditions in the mountains can be changeable, and it can become cool, especially at night, so bring warmer layers. Tops made from wicking materials which keep you drier and warmer are recommended as a base layer, and walking trousers are preferable to trousers of heavier material such as jeans. A waterproof jacket is essential at all times in case of rain and wind.

-Breathable wind and waterproof jacket (you may also wish to bring waterproof trousers)
-T-shirts
-Long sleeved tops
-Sunhat
-Long trousers (thorny vegetation may scratch bare legs)
-Shorts (if you prefer to walk in them)
-Swimwear and towel
-Midlayer Fleece/pullover
-Socks (liner and thicker pair)
-Insulated jacket

Footwear

We strongly recommend you to pack walking boots with proper ankle support, whether they are made of leather or fabric. It's essential that your boots are well-worn and comfortable prior to the start of your trip. Additionally, bring along some trainers or sandals for relaxation and casual wear. When it comes to international flights, we advise carrying your walking boots in your carry-on or wearing them, as your luggage may get lost or delayed, and your own boots are irreplaceable in such situations. To prevent potential blister problems on consecutive long walking days, ensure you have snug-fitting socks, blister plasters, and Sudocrem on hand.

Luggage

20kg

Luggage: On tour

Bring one main piece of luggage and a 20-30 litre day sack is recommended. You will need to carry what you need for the day which may include a raincoat, jumper, camera, sun-cream, water and picnic lunch. On hot days you will carry fewer clothes but more drinking water. You will be carrying only your day bag during the walks and main luggage shall be transported from hotel to hotel by car.

Equipment

-Sunglasses
-Sun cream
-Small Torch (with spare batteries and bulb)
-Camera
-Walking poles (if you usually use them)
-Personal toiletries
-Personal first aid kit - On each walk a first aid kit is carried but you should have your own blister kit, supply of plasters, aspirin and other essentials.
-Insect repellent
-Small waterproof dry bag (for items such as your mobile phone)
-Reusable water bottle (minimum 1 litre) - Get 15% discount on a Water-to-Go bottle www.explore.co.uk/about-us/responsible-travel/water-to-go-discount-with-explore
-Lunch bag/Tupperware (for packed lunches)
-Binoculars

Tipping

Explore leader
Tipping isn't compulsory, and we work hard to ensure that our leaders all receive a fair wage. You may however, want to recognise a leader that has done a great job or really added to your trip by giving them a tip. We're often asked about the recommended amount. It is a tricky one, and down to personal preference, but we would recommend £15 to £20 per person per week as a guideline.

Local crew
Although voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. Accordingly, you should allow approximately £20 of local c urrency for tipping.

In order to make things easier for you, the Explore Leader may organise a group's tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the trip.

Greece

Food and drink

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.


Dinner price
£12.00 - 16.00
Beer price
£3.5
Water price
£0.9
Foreign Exchange
Local currency
Euro
Recommended Currency For Exchange
GBP Sterling or US Dollars, cash.
Where To Exchange
We recommend that you change any currency into Euros prior to arrival. Currency Exchange locations are generally only found in major cities and large airports
ATM Availability
Cash can be drawn from ATMs from all types of cards in most areas in Greece, including the islands.
Credit Card Acceptance
In major restaurants.
Transport, Accommodation, Food & Drink

Transport Information

Bus, Taxi

Accommodation notes

During our Corfu walking tour, we stay in a mixture of basic and more comfortable accommodation. As is the nature of properties in this part of the Mediterranean, the size and standard of rooms can vary widely. Rooms are generally simply decorated with private en-suite facilities, and some may have a balcony or terrace.

Due to the small size of the properties in nearly all overnight locations, our group might be spread over a variety of studios and apartments in the area. If this happens, there is one communal base where we'll have breakfast and dinner (where included) and in some cases there's also a communal swimming pool to cool off in. In some cases, two one-bedroom apartments may share a single bathroom.

Greece

Food and drink

Can you drink the water? 
The water quality is poor and therefore it is recommended to avoid drinking tap water during your trip.

 

Essential Information

Government Travel Safety Advice

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination's safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. Relevant government website links for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens are available on our Travel Safety page.

If you'd like some inital information on country-specific entry requirements, such as visas or any health declaration forms, please refer to our Entry Requirements page.  The services and information on this page are provided by a third party, and so we will still recommend that you cross check this against your government website for the latest advice.
 

Under 18 immigration guidance

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
 

Visa and Passport Information

Greece: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office.




If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.
 

Booking conditions

Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
 

Minimum age restrictions

For our group tours, the minimum age is 16. The minimum age on Family trips varies between 7 and 11 - please check the 'Family information' section of the trip page for more information. 


Your safety and enjoyment on tour

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, so we ask you to confirm when booking this trip that you are fit and able to fully participate in all elements of the itinerary. If you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to complete any of the activities, please get in touch with our Customer Relations team at cr@explore.co.uk as soon as possible. Our tour leaders are trained and experienced in managing differing abilities within a group, but if they have concerns about a group member’s ability to safely participate in any element of the itinerary or believe someone’s presence could affect the safety or enjoyment of the holiday for others, in accordance with our Booking Conditions our tour leaders have the authority to ask an individual to miss an activity or activities. This decision would never be taken lightly, but on the rare occasions our tour leaders ask someone to sit out part of the tour, refunds will not be offered and individuals may be liable for additional costs incurred. 
 

Your Tour Leader

All tours aside from extensions, Galapagos cruises and polar expeditions will be led by one of our experienced Tour Leaders. We believe that our Tour Leaders are the key to the success of our tours; they are local experts who are bursting with first-hand knowledge which they love to share, and their unique insights will bring the destination to life. Your Tour Leader will be on hand throughout your tour to make sure arrangements run smoothly, to organise all the local logistics and to keep you safe. Your Tour Leader should be your first point of contact if you encounter any difficulties or disappointments in country – please raise any concerns, however small, with your Tour Leader as they are best placed to assist you.

Transfers

Find out more about Trip Transfer Terms and Conditions before you book.

Booking a land only package with Explore

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. 

You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.


Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both.

The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.  

Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.  

For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here

Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.
Read more information about what travel insurance is required.

Flight information

Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.


Flight Information

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

 

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Maximum altitude (m)

917

Ability to swim

Throughout this trip we use a mixture of simple and standard accommodation. At Liapades beach our accommodation is listed as the Cricketer Taverna and Studios. For this night we stay in a variety of studios/apartments in Liapades Beach near to the Taverna. We will use the Cricketer Taverna as a communal base with use of all the facilities there including the hotel's swimming pool. This is where breakfast and our traditional Greek dinner will take place. As with the nature of apartments in this part of the Mediterranean the size and standard of the rooms can vary, the rooms will be decorated in a plain style with private bathrooms and some may have a balcony or terrace.

Greece

Vaccinations

Nothing compulsory but we recommend protection against tetanus and polio. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

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Airport Transfers
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