FOOTPATHS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN
	FROM VATOPEDI TO PANTOKRATOR
	Distance – 8.5 km. Journey time 2½ – 3 hours
© The Friends of Mount Athos, 2008

This is an attractive journey, with some fine views and scenery, for the most part along historic kalderimi or paved mule tracks. The first section involves a steady climb through the forest from Vatopedi, near sea level, to the ridge at around 450m. The route then descends to Pantokrator, again at sea level, latterly with fine views down to the monastery and along the coast, with Mount Athos in the background.

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 or appear, 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. . .
0	Leave Vatopedi Monastery entrance and turn L along paved road.
50	At fork with covered well on L, bear L along walled K (signed Karyes).
100	Where wall turns L, turn L (signed Karyes).
150	At crossroads, go forward up road.
100	At junction, bear L along road. Ignore minor tracks to R.
70	At major junction at top of small rise, bear R, uphill on road (not L, downhill).
300	As road bears L, fork R onto FP, signed to Karyes.
[Alternative route along main road which is less steep:]
740	KSO on road (FP to Kolitsou leaves to L).
230	KSO on main road, which bears L. (R is to Agios Dimitrios and Agios Prokopios).
610	KSO at T-junction. (Road to L leads to Kolitsou.)
1200	KSO on road (FP to Kolitsou on L, along cables).
160	Turn L along track, through white bar gate to rejoin route at † below.]
970	FP emerges at track. Turn L along track.
50	At T-junction of track with road, KSO on FP which continues across road.
1300	Turn L onto road and immediately R off road onto FP.
160	FP emerges at road. For Pantokrator, turn hard L along road (R continues towards Karyes).
† 110	Turn R, through white bar gate onto track. [Approx time to this point: 1½ hours]
740	Turn R onto track (signed). [Straight on also leads to Pantokrator using track rather than FP, rejoining at ‡ below.]
2240	Continue on track, which becomes FP. Soon pass stone fountain (dry) on R.
300	KSO ignoring FP on R.
70	KSO over open area. Ignore track to L.
40	Keep to L along K, ignoring FPs to R.
130	Emerge onto road and turn L. (Care is needed with final descent from FP onto road.) Continue on road.
‡	[Alternative track from Vatopedi soon joins road from L.]
460	At fork in road bear R. (Follow direction indicated by road sign arrow.)
170	At fork in road bear L. (R goes down to harbour.)
40	Go round to Pantokrator 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.