Corfu Trail Section: Paleokastritsa to Lakones

This section of the long-distance Corfu Trail links the resort of Paleokastritsa on the northwest coast with the traditional hilltop village of Lakones, covering approximately 7 kilometres one way with 350 metres of elevation gain. The walk is typically completed in three to four hours at a relaxed pace.

The trailhead begins at Paleokastritsa Beach, one of the most celebrated bays on Corfu, flanked by dramatic limestone cliffs and the 13th-century Paleokastritsa Monastery perched on a promontory above. From the beach the route climbs almost immediately through ancient olive groves that have been tended for centuries, following stone-paved kalderimi paths and earthen tracks between twisted silver-leaved trees. The ascent is steady but never brutal, with regular pauses for views back over the impossibly blue bays below.

Midway up the path passes through the hamlet of Gardelades before joining a wider track that leads to the outskirts of Lakones. The village sits on a natural terrace at around 350 metres elevation, and the final approach reveals the Bella Vista viewpoint — widely regarded as one of the finest panoramas on Corfu, overlooking the curving coastline, the monastery on its promontory, and the surrounding olive-covered hills rolling toward the sea.

Lakones village retains much of its traditional Corfiot character, with stone-built houses, a small plateia, and several kafeneio where walkers can rest. The one-way nature of the route requires planning for the return; local buses and taxis connect Lakones with Corfu Town and Paleokastritsa.

The trail surface is a mix of old cobbled mule paths, compacted earth, and occasional short stretches of asphalt through the villages. Shade is limited in the upper section above the olive canopy.