Tag: Nidri

Vafkeri lower loop

A wonderful loop walk above Nidri taking you up to the pretty mountain village of Vafkeri, past the charming Agios Asomati monastery and back down by a different track. Along the way are wonderful views back to Nidri and beyond to the islands and Inland Sea.

This makes a great day walk on the mountain above Nidri – through thick forest and across steep slopes. The walk is on a very good track for all but one short section washed away by the rain. There is a taverna at Vafkeri at about half-way along the trail (reports Aug 25 that it is now closed, hopefully not for long).

The trail can be extended along the high level track to Neochori and back to Nidri that way, or as far as Alatro. If on foot from Nidri I suggest getting a taxi to the start and then walk back via Neochori. This is also a route for a mountain bike ride if you can get past the rain damaged section, or if you avoid that by routing via Neochori or Alatro.

8.75km (or 14km via Neochori back to Nidri) moderate
630m ascent.

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You need a car or taxi to take you to the start. It is 6km up from Nidri.

Accomodation and taveras in Nidri. Also a taverna in Vafkeri.

The trail starts 5km up the road from Nidri to Vafkeri – just after the big zig-zag section. You pass one or two villas beside the road and a concrete track goes off left, signposted to several villas. Park without blocking anything and take the concrete track.

The concrete track goes left off the Nidri-Vafkeri road.

After a short distance there are two forks one after another – keep right at both towards Villa El Aquila. Keep climbing up the concrete track. After 850m the concrete track goes up left to the villa itself and an unsurfaced track continues right. The unsurfaced track starts to climb zig-zags up through the rocks and trees. After 1km you start to come into Vafkeri village. Keep going straight on into the village, past a church on your left into the village centre. There is a taverna in the village where you can take a refreshment break.

Just as the track starts to descend steeply a concrete and stone track goes off left sloping down to the road. Go down to the road and turn left.

The concrete and stone track sloping left from Vafkeri just before joining the road.

The road goes round bends to the right then the left to a big spring area on the left with a road going left immediately after. Take that road signposted to “Monastery of the Taxiarches” (another word for Archangel Michael). The spring has some old stones where villagers used to wash clothes, worth a quick look.

Walk up the quiet road through peaceful forest for 1.5km until you get to the semi-abandoned monastery (in the trees off to the left). It is very pretty and worth a short diversion to look around, or even a picnic (leave no litter, OC). If you pass on the 6th September the church will be open for services.

Agios Asomati Monastery

After looking at the monastery continue on the road, through vineyards, for 700m until an unsurfaced track goes off sharp left just after a bend to the right. Go down the track.

An unsurfaced track goes off sharp left after a bend right.

You now start to descend back towards Nidri, with the path zig zagging down the very steep slope. You get great views ahead.

The track zig zags down the steep slope back towards Nidri.

After 1km the track reaches a saddle below a low hill, where there is a junction with another track going sharp left. Take the track left. (If you go straight on you come to another track junction above Neochori – and back to Nidri by an alternate route – or on along the high-level track as far as Alatro).

This trail goes left and down. After going round a few more zig-zags you reach a section where a stream has gouged away a big section of the track. On foot it is possible to get past keeping to the left and climbing down.

The stream has gouged away the track, but still passable on foot.

Continue down the track keeping right, right then left until you reach the road where you started.

If you haven’t got a car or taxi arranged, it is 5km to Nidri downhill all the way along the road. If walking to Nidri it is less road-walking, and nicer, to take the Neochori alternative route.

Nidri – Dimosari waterfall – Neochori loop

Hike from the port of Nidri, to the nearby Dimosari waterfall at Rachi, and then up the hills coming back down through the pretty Neochori village. You can use this route just to go to the waterfall and then back to Nidri – or hike up above Nidri for great views. Most of the route is shady running through trees. You need good walking shoes both for the clamber over rocks to reach the waterfall and for the short very steep ascent going up from the waterfall path.

11.8km
406m ascent
Moderate (Easy if just going to the waterfall).

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Nidri is a good base to stay in Lefkada. Many boats moor on the town quay. There is a regular bus from Lefkada Town.

Numerous hotels, tavernas and accommodation in Nidri.

The walk starts from the port in Nidri near the statue of Onassis. Head 50m south along the quayside and then right through the alley to Nidri main street. Cross the main street and take the road opposite with a small yellow sign to the “waterfall”.

Take the road from Nidri high street following the small “waterfall” sign.

Keep going straight up the road, past a parking area, until you reach the Nidri bypass. Carefully cross this road (cars go very fast) and take the road on the other side, to the right of the coffee shop. You keep straight on along this road following occasional signs to the waterfall. Keep straight on through the small Rachi village. Pass olive and lemon groves, a small football pitch, and a delightful stream – until you get to the waterfall parking area. If you are driving to Nidri you can park here as an alternate start for this trail.

Head up the path past the Plane Tree café and shop (a nice peaceful spot for a refreshment break) and on up the path towards the waterfall. The path runs over and under impressive big boulders until it reaches the waterfall. People bring swimming costumes and swim in the pools. It can get quite busy in summer. After enjoying the waterfall head back the way you came until just before the Plane Tree café.

Very steep path heading up on left of large water tank

Just before the Plane Tree café, as you head back from the waterfall, there is a large concrete water tank on the right of the track. On the left side of the tank a path starts climbing straight up the very steep slope. There is a rope to help with the first steepest part. It is a bit daunting but the very steep bit is short and you soon join a wonderful monopati to take you safely up through the remaining cliffs. If you can manage the start you will have no problems with the rest.

The monopati climbs up out of the waterfall gorge.

The monopati climbs up and out of the waterfall gorge until it meets a track. Turn right up the track and go for about 200m until another grassy track goes right into an olive grove. Follow the track through a few hairpin bends until you reach a quiet road. Turn left and follow the road going under a massive plane tree near a spring.

The road passes under a massive plane tree near a spring

Follow the road until you reach a T junction with a larger road. Turn right about 50m and take the first unsurfaced track going left slightly up by a house. After 50m the track forks and you take the left fork. The track traverses across the hill through the trees with great views down to Nidri. After 500m the track forks again, take the left track going slightly down almost parallel to the right-going track. After 80m the track turns into a rough path over rocks descending towards a stream in the trees. Cross the stream and take the path going up the opposite bank (marked by blobs of red paint). The path wiggles through the trees to a more open olive grove. Head diagonally up and left until the path becomes a track again. That track joins another and then traverses across the hills above Nidri.

The track traversing towards Neochori with great views down to Nidri

Ignore turnings save for one upward zig zag until you reach Neochori village. After the first few houses you reach the village hall on your left. Immediately after the hall take the road left. This runs down to a pretty church where you turn left again following the road running down from Neochori. Follow the road as it sweeps round to the right and then takes a first hairpin left. Fully around the hairpin a monopati heads right steeply down from the road (ignore the larger track at the hairpin itself). The monopati runs down below the road until it ends at a concrete track. Go right down the steep slope to a track at the bottom, where you go left. The track soon rejoins the road and heads down though the village of Paleokatouna (Ag. Christopher on some maps).

When you reach the taverna take the small road going right (appears straight on as the road turns left). Walk straight down the road going slightly right, then left, then left again (although generally straight on). You meet the main Lefkada-Vasaliki road at the Nidri bypass turning. Take the road heading directly into Nidri and then the first track off right heading down to the sea. Go left and follow the road back into Nidri along the waters edge to your starting point.