Vasiliki-Roupakias Valley Loop

A hike from the Vasiliki beach town along tracks up into the olive trees and pine forests along the valley leading up to Mount Elati. The halfway point is the almost abandoned village of Roupakias with its pretty church and a rock ravine cut by the river. The trail then heads back to Vasiliki along quiet roads in the base of the valley.

The route is pretty easy along tracks and quiet roads with some gentle hills. It would make a good mountain bike route too. There is quite a lot of shade but, as usual, carry plenty of water. There are quite a few turnings on the trail so we advise, as always, to download the GPX file into your phone app, so you can easily follow along. Route “R” signs mark all but the last section of the trail.

The trail starts 1km from the centre of Vasiliki, easily walked if you are staying in the village. Take the small road turning up the west side of the river running down the centre of the valley (near the Wildwind hotel). After 700m a track goes off left by a white shrine. There is space to park a car taking care not to block any access. The trail starts up the track.

The route has been well signed by the Vasiliki mountain race organisers. So, for almost all of this trail you will follow the red route “R” signs and red painted dots and arrows. As far as Roupakias you also follow the very clear signs saying “Race”. The race was the 2025 42km marathon from Vasiliki – but take care as race routes sometimes change – while route “R” is less likely to change.

The trail soon becomes pretty and rural running through old olive tree groves and then pine forest. At a T junction bear right and immediately right again at a fork. At a cross roads bear right yet again. After 1km you come to a white painted plane tree in the middle of a track junction with a spring running from the rock behind.

Keep straight on up the track passing to the left of the spring. For the next 1.5km keep straight on along the wonderful track. It climbs gently as the scenery becomes better and better. Some of the olive trees are huge and must be many centuries old. The views of Lefkada’s highest mountain Stavrotas, across the valley, become closer and grander. This flank of Stavrotas, with huge screes, thrown up by the geological fault running along the west of Lefkada, is too unstable to be climbed safely, but looks magnificent.

After 1.5km you reach a quiet road. Turn left and climb up a few zig-zags of the road. After about 400m another track goes off right heading directly at Stavrotas. Take the track and enjoy the view.

The track continues for another 1.5km running across the hillside going gently up and down as it heads along the side of the valley. Ignore all turnings and keep straight along the main track. You pass a huge boulder sitting on one edge at the side of the track.

Shortly after the boulder the track becomes a little narrower and part overgrown, but the way through is clear. The track becomes wider again and joins another track coming in from the left. Head right down the slope. After 300m going down take a sharp left. Continue again through huge pines, climbing again a short way until meeting a quiet road. Turn right down the road. After 250m you pass a very pretty church as you start entering the ruined buildings of Roupakias.

Just past the church you reach the bottom of the valley and loop start heading back down the valley. After 100m you pass a few buildings on the right that are still occupied, along with a fine wooden signboard for Roupakias. On the left opposite the sign is a bridge over the stream, well worth a short detour to view the gorge below. The “Race” signs leave us here crossing the bridge.

Beware, there is no handrail or parapet of any kind, just a big drop to the worn rock gully and pools below. If you have young children grab their hands. For much of the second half of summer the stream is dry – in early summer it is possible to swim in some of the pools. There is a track to the river a few hundred metres downstream of the bridge down the road. Take great care on the rocks.

Returning back across the bridge, head down the valley on the road. It zig-zags a couple of times and then runs straight down the valley for about 3km. It is very quiet and rural. Eventually the road turns sharp right and then left again after 200m. The road starts to pass various villa building projects. Keep going for another 1km. A sign for route “R” indicates right – but we now leave those signs behind -so go straight on instead. After another 400m take the road fork right. After another 1km the road turns sharp right at a huge double electric pole and transformer – take the track going half-left instead. After 200m you reach a track cross roads beside a smaller single electric pole – go right following the metal fence.

Follow the track as it wiggles left and right ignoring the minor turnings into fields and yards. You pass some huge piles of concrete demolition so keep your eyes on the mountains and trees. After 300m or so you return to a road – turn left and follow it.

Keep on the road for 1km through more building projects (perchance finished when you do this walk). You return to the white shrine box at the start of this trail. If you didn’t park your car here keep on for another 700m to the main Vasiliki road.