Fun, Information and News about Cyprus!

The Avakas Gorge is a stunning natural feature quite unlike anything else in Cyprus. A small river has cut a deep, steep-sided gorge through the rocks as the water flows off the high ground near Arodes on its way to the sea. Grand Canyon it isn’t - fascinating it is.

For a long time the Akamas Gorge was one of Cyprus’ secrets - but more recently it’s been made more accessible by the Forestry Commission who have made a Nature Trail through the gorge. Now you can drive to a car park near the bottom of the gorge and walk from there - you’ll probably manage the drive in a normal saloon car - but a 4×4 would be better!

Finding your way to the car park is relatively easy. From the main road to Agios Georgios from Paphos, take the right turn at the Sunset Restaurant. Follow that road past the villas, down to the right, past the restaurant at the bottom, and then back up again. Continue on until you come to a turning on the right signed to Viklari Castle - that’s the way to the gorge.  Ignore the farm track to the right along the bottom of the valley - take the uphill road. The turning to Viklari Castle branches off to the left - keep straight on and the car park is about half a km along.

The steepest and deepest bit of the Avakas Gorge isn’t very long. If you’ve got the energy, you can walk from the car park at the bottom right up through the gorge to Arodes.  The path gets narrower and narrower until you’re pretty much forced to walk through the stream at the gorge’s bottom.

From a photography perspective it’s a bit of a challenge. If you want anything more than some snaps, a tripod is pretty much essential, as is a wide angle lens.

My favourite picture of our afternoon’s walk through the Avakas Gorge is above. Interestingly, the only way I could get into position was by going under overhanging rocks - that water was steadily and rapidly dripping through. Ah well - nice cold shower for me and the Nikon!

I guess that reinforces the advice about visiting the Avakas Gorge.  Don’t attempt it unless you’re fit. Carry water.  Wear strong - and ideally waterproof - footwear.  Many people wear a safety helmet to protect against falling rocks.  Expect it to take much longer than you expect.  At times of heavy rainfall, exercise extreme caution about going into the gorge - flash floods can happen in seconds.  Bear in mind there’s no mobile signal in the gorge.

To see more pictures on my photography website, click here.