National park · Cyprus
Avakas GorgeΦαράγγι Αβακα
Walk the gorge floor from the Akamas car park (1 km (0.6 mi) approach, 3 km (1.9 mi) inside, 2–3 h return) between March and May or October and November; skip it after heavy rain, when the path is closed and the stream is high.Walk the gorge floor from the Akamas car park (0.6 mi (1 km) approach, 1.9 mi (3 km) inside, 2–3 h return) between March and May or October and November; skip it after heavy rain, when the path is closed and the stream is high.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
3 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (3 km²)
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 3
- Cyprus ↗Cyprus is in the EU but not in the Schengen area: a Schengen visa is not valid; check the entry rules for your nationality.
- Cyprus ↗Crossing the Green Line: carry your passport, cross only at the official points, and do not photograph the buffer zone or soldiers. Check that your hire-car insurance covers the north.
- Cyprus ↗Traffic drives on the left; hire-car roundabouts and junctions take practice.
At a glance
- Country
- Cyprus
- Area
- 3 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (3 km²)
- The protected area covers the gorge and its juniper grove at the entrance; the wider Natura 2000 site extends across the southern Akamas (check).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- Not needed
- Base
- Paphos
Avakas is a limestone slot canyon cut by the Avgas river on the south side of the Akamas peninsula, in the Paphos district. It is narrow — 2–3 m at its tightest — cool even in midsummer, and walkable on foot only. The approach is a gravel road from Agios Georgios Pegeias; the gorge itself is a there-and-back walk, not a loop, unless you arrange a pick-up at the north access above Pano Arodes. Entry is free; the risks are flash floods after rain and heat on the open approach.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national sitePart of the Natura 2000 network; the Phoenician juniper grove at the entrance is a protected habitat.
Size and age
3 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (3 km²) · national park since 2000
The protected area covers the gorge and its juniper grove at the entrance; the wider Natura 2000 site extends across the southern Akamas (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Paphos.
Why go
- A genuine slot canyon you can walk through in a couple of hours, with walls that block the sun even in July.
- The locally endemic Centaurea akamatis cornflower grows on the rock faces here and nowhere else.
- Spring wildflowers on the plateaux above: asphodel, crown anemones and Ophrys orchids.
- Free entry, no booking, and a taverna (Viklari Peyia) on the gravel road in.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecCaution
- JanRain; the gorge path is often closed
- FebWettest stretch; check before driving out
- MarWater low enough, wildflowers starting
- AprPeak flowers; mild; busiest weekends
- MayWarm, dry underfoot, still green
- JunHot approach; the canyon itself stays cool
- JulGo early; no shade on the 1 km (0.6 mi) approachGo early; no shade on the 0.6 mi (1 km) approach
- AugStream nearly dry; start before 9:00Stream nearly dry; start before 9:00 AM
- SepDry feet on the stepping stones; hot
- OctCooler, clear, quiet
- NovGood walking; first rains late in the month
- DecRain can close the path without notice
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centaurea akamatis (endemic cornflower) in flowerMar–May · Grows only on these rock faces; do not pick or step on ledges. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Crown anemones, asphodel and Ophrys orchids on the plateauxFeb–May | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Cyclamen and meadow saffronOct–Nov | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Sea onion in flowerAug–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Goats grazing the canyon wallsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Paphos
Drive north-west via Pegeia and Agios Georgios Pegeias, then the gravel road into the Akamas to the hikers' car park.
40–50 min
Open the page →
From Pegeia (Coral Bay area)
Same road; the taverna Viklari Peyia sits on the gravel stretch before the car park.
20–25 min
From Pano Arodes (north access)
Gravel road to the north rim; needs reasonable ground clearance. Not a signposted loop — arrange a pick-up or walk back through the gorge.
30–40 min
From Paphos district plan
Where Avakas sits among the Akamas coast, the sea caves and the Blue Lagoon.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance and juniper grove | The protected stand of Phoenician juniper at the mouth of the canyon, plus the last stretch of gravel road. | Open; stay on the path. |
| The narrows | The 2–3 m slot section, with dripstone on one wall and the endemic Centaurea akamatis on the rock faces. | On foot only; closed when the stream is high. |
| Lower exit to the coast | The stream leaves the canyon and reaches the sea about 1 km (0.6 mi) further down.The stream leaves the canyon and reaches the sea about 0.6 mi (1 km) further down. | Open; rough ground, no facilities. |
| Plateaux above the gorge | Cultivated land and spring wildflowers on both rims, reached from Pano Arodes. | Open; farm tracks, respect fences and crops. |
Sketch map
- 1Hikers' car park · Gate≈34.920, 32.338Approximate; 1 km (0.6 mi) from the gorge entrance on the gravel road.Approximate; 0.6 mi (1 km) from the gorge entrance on the gravel road.Map ↗
- 2Gorge entrance and juniper grove · Trail≈34.925, 32.346Approximate; from the Wikidata coordinate.Map ↗
- 3The narrows · Cave≈34.927, 32.352Approximate; the 2–3 m slot section.Map ↗
- 4North access · Gate≈34.926, 32.375Approximate; reached by gravel road from Pano Arodes.Map ↗
- 5Viklari Peyia taverna · Town≈34.920, 32.335Approximate; on the gravel road in.Map ↗
- 6Agios Georgios Pegeias · Village≈34.906, 32.321Approximate; coast village at the turn-off to the Akamas road.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the gorge and its approach roads, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry to the gorge | Free | person | No ticket and no gate; you pay only for parking, food or a guided trip. |
| Guided jeep or walking tour from Paphos | EUR 35–60 (≈ US$45–70) | person | 2026 estimate; includes transport, usually with a stop at Agios Georgios or the Blue Lagoon. |
| Car hire, one day, small car | EUR 30–55 (≈ US$35–65) | day | 2026 estimate, low season; the gravel approach is fine for an ordinary car in dry weather. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
None no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- €35–60≈ US$45–70
- €30–55≈ US$35–65
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Natura 2000 — Akamas and Avakas protected area (European Environment Agency) before you go.
Park rules
- No entry when the path is closed
- After heavy rain the stream rises fast inside the narrows. If the barrier or a notice is up, turn around — do not walk past it.
- Plants
- The endemic cornflower and the juniper grove are protected. No picking, no climbing on vegetated ledges.
- Litter and fires
- Carry everything out; no fires or stoves anywhere in the gorge or on the rims.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a lead and out of the narrows; goats and wildlife are present (check).
- Driving the approach
- The gravel road is passable for an ordinary car in dry weather; slow down for walkers and oncoming jeeps.
Where to stay
Near the park
Pegeia and Coral Bay
Closest hotels and apartments, 20–25 min from the car park.
Near the park
Paphos
Widest choice, from hostels to resorts, 40–50 min away.
Near the park
Pano Arodes and the Laona villages
Quiet village guesthouses on the plateau above the gorge.
Safety
Flash flood inside the narrows high
Rockfall and loose ground medium
Heat on the open approach medium
Getting lost above the gorge low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The gravel approach and the gorge floor are rough, rocky and uneven; not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
- The first stretch from the car park to the entrance is the easiest walking; the narrows require stepping over rocks and stones.
Visiting lightly
- Walk in small groups and keep voices down; the canyon carries sound and disturbs goats and birds.
- Do not pick the endemic cornflower or any wildflower; photograph it instead.
- Take your rubbish back to Paphos or Pegeia — there are no bins at the car park.
- Park only in the marked hikers' car park, not on the verges of the gravel road.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Avakas Gorge?
Nothing. There is no gate, ticket or booking — entry is free. You pay only for transport, parking is free at the hikers' car park, and guided jeep or walking tours from Paphos run about €35–60 per person (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Avakas Gorge?
The standard walk is the gorge floor: 1 km of gravel road from the car park to the entrance, then about 3 km inside the canyon and back, 2–3 hours, easy but rocky. A longer option is the through-walk to the north access above Pano Arodes, 3–4 hours, which needs a pre-arranged pick-up because it is not a signposted loop. In spring, the tracks on the rims above the gorge make an easy 2-hour wildflower walk.
When is the best time to visit Avakas Gorge?
March to May and October to November. Spring brings low water, wildflowers and mild temperatures; autumn is dry and quiet. July and August are passable but the 1 km approach is fully exposed — start before 9:00. After heavy rain in winter the stream rises and the path is usually closed.
Can I drive to Avakas Gorge in a normal car?
Yes, in dry weather. The gravel road from Agios Georgios Pegeias past the Viklari Peyia taverna reaches the hikers' car park without needing a 4x4. The north access from Pano Arodes is rougher and suits vehicles with better clearance.
Is Avakas Gorge safe after rain?
No. The catchment above the gorge is large and water arrives quickly; the narrows have no escape route. If the path is closed or a barrier is up, do not enter, even if it is sunny where you are standing.
Do I need a guide for Avakas Gorge?
No. The route is straightforward on foot and many people walk it independently. A guide or jeep tour is only worth it if you want transport from Paphos and stops at the Akamas coast on the same day.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go