Dafnata: Hikes to Stavros Hill and the Pantokrator Chapel

Dafnata can be explored along several hiking trails: one leads from the port in Benitses to the settlement, while others start there and head for Stavros Hill or the Pantokrator Chapel. The tours differ in their starting points, destinations and approximate walking times, helping you plan active days.

Hiking from Benitses to Dafnata

Hiking route No. 13 leads from the port in Benitses to the settlement of Dafnata in about 55 minutes. The trail climbs through olive groves and runs in places along gravel and/or asphalt roads. It combines the journey to the settlement with a hike through olive groves. The approximately 55 minutes is a guide: your actual pace and conditions may affect the walking time.

To Stavros Hill and back

Hiking route No. 3 starts in Dafnata and heads east through woodland and dense vegetation to the summit of Stavros Hill. The walk to the summit is estimated to take about 25 minutes. Compared with the approximately 55-minute route from the port of Benitses, this is a shorter estimated time, but it is a different route to a different destination. These times therefore provide guidance on the duration of each route, not on an identical itinerary.

You can return to Dafnata by heading west along a gravel road and then continuing on hiking route No. 16. The starting points also differ for the circular walks: one recommended loop starts in the old settlement of Benitses and passes through or near Dafnata. By contrast, routes No. 16 and No. 12 together form a circular walk from Dafnata to the Pantokrator Chapel.

Different routes to the Pantokrator Chapel

Hiking route No. 16 connects Dafnata to the Pantokrator Chapel via a gravel road. It can be combined with route No. 12 to make a circular walk. Route No. 12 first follows the road towards Komianata for about five minutes; an old path to the chapel begins there. This path has no significant elevation changes. The approximately five minutes refers to the road section up to the start of the path, not the entire route to the chapel.

An alternative route from Dafnata to the chapel follows a gravel road and is estimated to take about 50 minutes. Along with the combination of routes No. 16 and No. 12, this route offers another way to include Pantokrator in a hike. Approximate walking times depend on your pace and conditions.

The different starting points provide a practical comparison when choosing where to stay: several routes begin in Dafnata, while the recommended circular walk starts in the old settlement of Benitses. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Dafnata, you can consider whether the hikes starting there suit your planned walking days.

Corfu as a wider travel destination

In the wider destination of Corfu, ancient trails in the municipal unit of Achilleion wind through the forested mountains of Agii Deka, Stavros and Garouna and are suitable for hiking. The 180-kilometre Corfu Trail passes through several settlements; Benitses is one of its 13 overnight stops.

Corfu Old Town has retained almost all of its historic urban fabric; its buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Old Town and its two fortresses are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Museum of Asian Art in the Old Town houses more than 11,000 objects from China, Japan, India, the Himalayas and Central Asia. From the port of Corfu, you can reach the museum on bus route 2, which runs between Mantouki and Kanoni. Check the timetable before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Acharavi, Argyrades, Episkepsi, Agios Mattheos, Erikoussa, Corfu, Lakones, Potamos

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