Karpathos is a wonderful island for walkers and the north of the island around Diafani is especially interesting.
There are many paths and the walks range from easy walks to nearby bays or more arduous but very rewarding walks in the hills. You can return to the home base of Diafani every evening.
Organised walking groups come here every year from France, Switzerland and Germany but many people prefer to discover these beautiful walks in couples or small groups of friends. The paths around Diafani are well marked with red or blue dots or stone cairns. Some paths are rocky: good sports shoes or lightweight hiking boots are recommended. In Diafani you can get expert advice on all of these paths by talking to the village priest, Papa Minas, or to Manoli N. Hartofilokas in the "Environment Management and MOM Monk Seal Preservation" office near the seafront.


Below you will find a list of some of the walks:

DIAFANI to VANANDA BAY
Approx 30 minutes : Sports shoes
A warm-up stroll through pine trees and up and down some gentle slopes to a pretty bay and pebble beach and a spring of fresh montain water.

DIAFANI-VANANDA to AVLONA
Approx 1 hour : Sports shoes or Hiking boots
Up through the dry river bed and valley of Vananda through pine trees and across an ancient paved way to the agricultural hamlet of Avlona.

DIAFANI to OLYMBOS
Approx 1 hour : Sports shoes or Hiking boots
Through the dry river bed of Diafani and up the mountain path through pine trees and scented wild herbs and bushes to the spectacular mountain top village of Olymbos. ( It is possible to take the local bus up to Olymbos and enjoy this walk more leisurely going down ! )

OLYMBOS-AVLONA-VANANDA to DIAFANI
Approx 1 ½ hours : Sports shoes or Hiking boots
From Olymbos take the path down behind the windmill restaurant and follow the red dots to Avlona, then the path down to Vananda and home to Diafani.

DIAFANI-AVLONA to VROUKOUNDA
Approx 2 hours : Hiking boots
A long walk but well worth the effort to see the amazing ancient plateau above the often wild sea of the west coast of the island and visit the incredible subterranean church. A huge 2-day festival is held here every year to celebrate the feast of St John the Baptist. The walk down from Avlona is reasonably easy going but the return can be rather arduous. It is sometimes possible to arrange for a kaïki boat to pick you up at the small stone landing stage of Vroukounda.

DIAFANI to PAPA MINA BAY
Approx 45 minutes : Sports shoes
A lovely walk up and down some gentle slopes, through pine trees and past olive groves and wheat fields to the pretty bay of Papa Mina with its pebble beach and shady Tamarisk trees.

OLYMBOS to FOROKLI BEACH
Approx 1 hour going down : Good sports shoes or Hiking boots
It is possible to take the local bus up to Olymbos and take the path from there down to the pebble beach of Forokli. It may be possible to arrange for a kaïki boat to pick you up at Forokli after you have enjoyed a swim in the beautiful clear sea there.

DIAFANI to TRISTOMO
Approx 3 ½ hours : Hiking boots
Tristomo is an almost deserted village and natural harbour set in a protected bay on the north-west coast.
This path has recently been cleared and re-marked with red spots.
Although an arduous walk, it is well worth the effort for serious walkers and lovers of natural countryside.
It may be possible to arrange for a kaïki boat to pick you up after you have enjoyed a swim there.

THE ISLAND OF SARIA
Approx 3 hours : Hiking boots
This is one of the most beautiful walks but should only be done with good shoes and by experienced walkers. It is necessary to arrange for a kaïki boat to take you to the nearby island of Saria and drop you at the small stone landing stage in the passage between the two islands. You will then walk up and along the island and down to the lovely bay of Palatia where you can enjoy a swim in the beautiful crystal clear sea.
Your kaïki will come to pick you up there and bring you back to Diafani.
It may be possible to arrange, with the captain of your kaïki, for a barbecue-picnic on the beach of Palatia.