Description
The Moutti tis Athasias trail, often referred to as the Spilia (Cave) tis Athasias, is a nice trail tucked away near the picturesque village of Vavatsinia in the Larnaca district. This route remains a quite path, chosen among locals, offering a peaceful escape far from the more crowded hiking spots. Perfect for beginners, the path transitions seamlessly from a scenic forest road into a traditional winding trail, rewarding hikers with charming views of the surrounding countryside. The true highlight awaits at the journey’s end, where a mysterious cave emerges from the landscape, adding a touch of intrigue to this tranquil nature walk.
This easy, linear route spans approximately 2.25 km each way, making for a manageable and rewarding excursion. The journey begins with a gentle stretch along a scenic forest road for the first 1.5 km before transitioning into a more traditional, narrow nature trail for the final leg. With a modest elevation gain of 174 meters, the path is accessible to most fitness levels, typically requiring about one hour to complete the full 4.5 km round trip.
Table of Contents
Viewpoints
The trail can be split into two legs.
- The initial 1.5 km stretch follows a steady gravel road that, while straightforward, serves as a scenic balcony overlooking the region. Though this segment is modest in terrain, it rewards walkers with expansive, sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and the rolling green ridges of the neighboring Machairas Forest.
- Transitioning from the open road, the second half of the journey leads you onto the actual nature trail, where the landscape shifts into a much more intimate and enchanting woodland setting. The wide gravel path gives way to a narrow, winding forest trail that dives deeper into the greenery, offering a significantly more picturesque and immersive atmosphere. This scenic stretch culminates at the trail’s end, where you are greeted by the sight of a small, mysterious cave opening tucked into the natural rock formations.
Starting points
The trail head is found in the road between Vavatsinia village and Kionia. It is found on your right side of the main road, while driving towards Kionia picnic area and the beginning of the route is a gravel road. The exact GPS location is provided in the nature trail information table.
Personal comments
While much of the route follows a steady gravel road, it provides exceptional views of the surrounding mountainous terrain. The landscape then shifts as you enter a shorter, more intimate trail sheltered under the cool shadows of towering trees. This atmospheric path leads directly to the Athasia Cave, a historic site believed to have been used during the Venetian era for the exploration of gold and copper mines.
The cave has a small opening and goes really deep. It is not recommended to go inside as it is no longer maintained. The cave also signifies the end of the trail and you have to return back.
The trail is easy and a good choice for beginners! The parking though is limited!
Moutti tis Athasias nature trail information table
| Description | |
| Starting points | 34.899, 33.22314 (link) |
| Ending point | – |
| Distance | 4.5 km |
| Difficulty (1 – easy, 2 – moderate, 3 – difficult) | Easy |
| Trail type | Linear |
| ETA finish time | 2 hours |
| Elevation Gain/Loss | 174 metres |
| Maximum Altitude | 1038 metres |
Elevation Stats
GPS map
Gallery
5 nearby trails
- Karvounarka Natural Trail
- Pavliades – Dyo Mouttes Natural Trail
- Kionia to Prophet Elias nature trail
- Kakojefalos natural trail
- Kionia – Drys nature trail
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