FOOTPATHS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN
	FROM KARYES and KOUTLOUMOUSIOU TO PHILOTHEOU
	Distance: 9.2 km Journey Time: 2½ - 3 hours
© The Friends of Mount Athos, 2008 -- v. 0.21

This route mostly follows the contours of the mountain, although there are one or two steep places. While the initial and final sections are mainly along traditional kalderimi paved stone paths, there is a long middle section along a road. But there are fine views from the road down to Iviron and along the adjacent coast.

Notes: Be aware that, while the paths themselves do not move, over time it is possible for other details to change (e.g. signposts disappear, new roads or tracks appear). Distances (in metres) have been measured by GPS and thus are horizontal measurements, without allowance for ascents or descents. They should be taken as an indication, rather than an exact measurement, of distance.

Abbreviations: L = Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;

FP = Footpath; K = Kalderimi (stone-paved FP or track)

Description of Route:

Walk (m)	And then. . .
From Karyes
0	From the Main Square in Karyes, follow the main street, passing the fountain, bar, Epistasia and Protaton on the R. Bear R following main street.
210	Ignore lane (K) up R; KSO, go L past bakery, down out of town.
170	At the outer gates into Koutloumousiou monastery, take FP on R (signed Philotheou).
270	Arrive at monastery wall and turn R to follow wall. Path from monastery joins from L. (Continue at ‘Combined Routes’ below.)
From Koutloumousiou
0	On leaving the monastery entrance, turn L and L again, with the monastery wall on the L.
50	Path from Karyes joins from R. KSO following wall.
Combined Routes
80	Fork up R away from monastery.
50	Bear R after buildings (signed Philotheou and Karakalou) and descend to cross stream.
150	Reach road & turn R along it; ignore small paths/tracks off L.
190	Ignore track diagonally down to L.
400	Ignore another track diagonally down to L; KSO (signed Philotheou and Xeropotamou).
490	Ignore two adjacent tracks off L.
140	Turn L down track (straight on signed Xeropotamou and Simonos Petras).
40	At clearing, with building to far L, bear R onto FP/K signed Philotheou and Iviron. Path continues through trees and across stream (tricky crossing - care needed).
540	Pass Fountain on R.
110	At kellion gate (on L), turn R and immediately L round building and KSO on track. (Ignore road up to R).
70	Take small path (unsigned) diagonally R off track. This soon becomes Kalderimi.
200	At gate, downhill on L, bear R on level. Cross stream.
380	Emerge at road. Turn R immediately, ignoring track straight ahead, then L at major road within 10 metres.
700	Ignore minor road L to kellia; KSO on road, crossing watercourse.
400	After building on L, ignore FP off L signed Iviron. KSO on road.
1000	Ignore minor road to kellia back L.
1200	At major junction, take first road up R, signed to kellia and Philotheou (NOT second road down R, signed Iviron).
300	Ignore track up R and track L; KSO on road.
500	Cross watercourse and KSO, now uphill.
160	Ignore track up R.
600	At junction, fork L off road onto track leading gently downhill, signed Philotheou.
160	Take FP diagonally R off track (signed Philotheou). Path contains stretches of K and descends into valley.
560	Cross bridge with fountain and waterfall, both on R. Path then climbs steeply up other side of valley.
250	At top, turn R to arrive at track and buildings; KSO on K between buildings ahead, ignoring tracks to L and R.
70	Reach walls of Philotheou monastery on R; follow wall to L to. . .
40	Philotheou Monastery entrance.

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This description has been produced by The Friends of Mount Athos, a charitable organisation which, among other activities, works with monasteries to keep this, and certain other footpaths on the Holy Mountain, open. Copies of this and similar descriptions are available, free, from the Friends website, www.athosfriends.org and in a number of places on or associated with the Holy Mountain.