Published · 7 min read · Facts checked 9 October 2026 against the sources below
The best walks in Paphos are in the Akamas, the wild western tip of Cyprus, where the Department of Forests keeps a set of waymarked nature trails through pine forest and past ruins, with views over two coasts. Closer to Coral Bay, Paphos, the cliff top at the sea caves makes an easy evening stroll, and the long E4 path crosses the whole district.
From the villa, the Akamas National Park is about 5 km, which is why we think of our villa by the Akamas as a walking base as much as a beach one. Trails close and reopen, so check before you set off.
Walks in Paphos: the Akamas trails at a glance
There are 52 designated nature trails on the island. The Department of Forests grades them from 1 to 3:
- Grade 1 is easy, with gentle slopes, and suits all ages.
- Grade 2 is average, for adults of fair to good fitness, with sudden changes of gradient or narrow, rough ground.
- Grade 3 is hard: rough, slippery or steep in places, for very fit walkers, and not suitable for young children.
These are the trails in the Akamas forest, with their official lengths and times.
| Trail | Start | Length | Time | Grade | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aphrodite (circular) | Baths of Aphrodite | 7.5 km | 3–4 hours | 3 | Queen's Tower ruins, a 500-year-old oak, sea views |
| Adonis (circular) | 400 m before the Baths | 7.5 km | 3–4 hours | 3 | Views over Polis and the Akamas |
| Smigies (circular) | Smigies picnic site, near Neo Chorio | 2.5 km or 6 km | 1 or 2 hours | 2 | Views to Lara Bay and Chrysochou Bay, old mines |
| Pissouromoutti (circular) | Smigies picnic site | 3 km | 2 hours | 2 | Hilltop views, shady pine forest |
| Avakas Gorge (linear) | Road from Agios Georgios to Toxeftra | 1.2 km | 45 minutes | 1–2 | Closed since 6 December 2025 |
The Aphrodite trail
This is the classic Akamas walk. It starts at the Baths of Aphrodite, which lie beyond the fishing harbour of Latchi, towards the tip of the Akamas: a small grotto shaded by an old fig tree, with a botanical garden beside the start of the trail.
From about 35 m above the sea, the path climbs to 333 m. On the way up you pass the ruins of Pyrgos tis Rigainas, the Queen's Tower, thought to have been a medieval monastery, and a 500-year-old oak. The views take in Cape Arnaoutis, Polis Chrysochous and the Pafos Forest.
It is 7.5 km, takes 3 to 4 hours, and is graded 3, so it is rough and steep in places. There are two fountains on the route, but neither is drinking water. The Cyprus viper lives in the area, so watch where you put your hands when you stop to rest.
Adonis, Smigies and Pissouromoutti
Adonis starts 400 m before the Baths of Aphrodite and is the same length and grade as its neighbour: 7.5 km, 3 to 4 hours, grade 3, with a high point of 319 m. It meets the Aphrodite trail at the Queen's Tower, so strong walkers can link the two, and meets the Smigies trail at Kefalovrysia, where the fountain is again not for drinking. The last 400 m follow the main road between the Baths and Polis, so keep to the side and keep children close. The Adonis trail is not the same place as the Adonis Baths waterfalls, which have their own guide.
Smigies starts from the Smigies picnic site, 2.5 km from Neo Chorio. You can choose a short loop of 2.5 km (about an hour) or a long one of 6 km (about two hours), both graded 2. The views run west to Lara Bay and east over Chrysochou Bay towards Latchi and Polis. The long loop passes old mines, magnesium works and kilns, and the Piana fire lookout station.
Pissouromoutti starts from the same picnic site: 3 km, about two hours, grade 2. It climbs to a hilltop at about 400 m with views over Lara, Agios Georgios and Chrysochou Bay, and part of it runs through shady pine forest. The Smigies picnic site has drinking water from a spring, the only drinking water we know of on these trails.
For a first walk in the Akamas, a Smigies loop is the gentler choice.
Is the Avakas Gorge open?
No. The Department of Forests has kept the Avakas Gorge closed since 6 December 2025. The reasons given were extreme weather, a higher flow of water, slippery ground, falling rocks and landslides.
The gorge trail is short, 1.2 km and about 45 minutes, and is reached 2.5 km along the road from Agios Georgios to Toxeftra; our guide to Agios Georgios covers that end of the coast. The last stretch of the trail runs in the stream bed itself, which is exactly where the danger lies after rain.
In late March 2026, 31 hikers had to be rescued after rising water trapped them in the gorge. In May 2026 the Department of Forests said people were still ignoring the closure. It said there are warning signs and a chain at the entrance, that anyone who goes in does so at their own risk, and that it will announce when the gorge is safe again.
The sea caves cliff walk
Not every walk needs a trailhead. The cliff top at the sea caves is the easiest coastal walk near Coral Bay. It is a rocky shore up to 20 m high, worn by the sea into caves and small islets.
On the same stretch of cliffs lies the wreck of the Edro III, aground on the rocks since 2011; our Edro III shipwreck guide explains its story and the best evening light.
This is open coast with no fence. In January 2022 a tourist fell about 15 m into the sea here while taking photos. Stay well back from the edge, wear shoes with grip, and hold children's hands.
Seals rest and occasionally breed in these caves. The agriculture ministry estimated 20 to 22 Mediterranean monk seals around Cyprus in 2025, and tracks one called Ariadne using a cave in Peyia. It asks people to watch from a distance, never approach a seal, and not to go into the caves.
The Troodos and the E4
For mountain walking, the Troodos is a day trip inland from Paphos. Our Troodos guide covers its trails, what to wear and how the weather changes up there.
The E4 European long-distance path also crosses Cyprus. Its Cyprus section, opened in 2005, runs for 539 km between Larnaca and Paphos airports, by way of the Troodos and the Akamas. Some of the Department of Forests' nature trails are part of the E4, so on the Akamas trails you may be walking a short stretch of it. Walking the whole of it takes several days and careful planning.
Hiking near Paphos: heat, water and safety
The heat is the main danger on a Cyprus walk. In July 2026 the Health Ministry advised staying out of direct sun from 11am to 5pm, drinking plenty of water even when not thirsty, wearing loose, light-coloured clothes, a hat and sunglasses, using sunscreen, and putting off strenuous exercise in the heat. On an exposed hillside that means starting early and finishing by late morning.
Carry all the water you need. On the Aphrodite and Adonis trails the fountains are not drinking water.
The Department of Forests also asks walkers to:
- check the weather before setting out
- tell someone their route and when they expect to be back
- wear non-slip shoes and stay on the marked trail
- never light a fire, and report any fire on 1407
- take all their litter home
The risk of wildfires is high from April to October. In an emergency, call 112.
The best months for walking
Spring is the best season for walking, and the climate figures agree. At Pafos Airport the average daily high is 19.2 °C in March, 21.8 °C in April and 24.9 °C in May. See our month pages for March and April.
Autumn is the other good window once the heat breaks. October still averages 27.0 °C, but November drops to 23.1 °C. High summer is hard going: July averages 30.4 °C and August 31.0 °C, before you allow for the sun on a bare hillside.
Winter brings most of the year's rain, about 97.6 mm in December and 89.5 mm in January, so paths can be wet and slippery and streams can rise quickly.
Where to stay
Villa Prasino is a private villa in Peyia for up to 6 guests, between the sea caves and the Akamas. After a morning on the trails, come back to a 6 × 12 m diving pool, a hot tub and an outdoor bar with a fire pit, in 1,000 m² of gardens, with air conditioning throughout. If you would rather swim than walk on a hot afternoon, our diving and snorkelling guide covers the sea. See our villa by the Akamas, check availability and rates, or send us a booking request.
