Atavyros
1,215 m
Greece
Also known as Attavyros, Αττάβυρος, +5Also known as
Attavyros · Αττάβυρος · Monte Attavyros · Ἀτάβυρον · Atawiros · Атавирос · Atávyros Óros
- Elevation
- 1,215 m
- Prominence
- 1,215 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Apr–May
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Difficult (AllOverGreece)
The standard ascent of Rhodes' highest summit: from the wine village of Embonas (about 450 m) a farm road through vineyards leads to a red-marked path that climbs a steep, loose limestone gully on the north side to the summit plateau, with a military radar station and the ruins of the sanctuary of Zeus Atabyrios. About 800 m of ascent on scree and sharp rock.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 2.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +743 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,215 m
- Time Up
- 2h 47m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 48m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at the south edge of Embonas (about 450 m), where the trail is signed near the wine-tasting rooms. Follow the paved and then dirt farm road south-east for about 1–1.3 km through the vineyards. Where the vineyards end the red-marked path crosses a fence and climbs into the main gully on the north face, at first under a few trees. The gully is the crux: steep, loose and full of sharp limestone and scree. The path winds up mostly on its left side and then turns right to cross the rocky barrier at its easiest point at roughly 1,000–1,100 m. Above, the slope eases but the path is faint; follow the red dots and cairns over the last 150 m of ascent to the summit (1,215 m). The highest point lies just outside the fence of a military radar and telecommunications installation. The remains of the sanctuary of Zeus Atabyrios and a later monastery lie on the summit plateau a few hundred metres south. Most people descend the same way, which is harder than the ascent on the sliding scree; the markings are painted to be seen from below. The RW14 loop instead descends south-west to the Alonous plateau and the Monolithos–Attavyros road and returns north to Embonas. Allow about 1.5–2.5 hours up and a little less down; the summit area has no shade.
Start
Έμπωνας472 m
- Buses run from Rhodes town to Embonas (limited timetable).
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Έμπωνας → Αττάβυρος | 2.5 | 743 | 0 | 2h 47m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Έμπωνας472 m
South edge of Embonas; parking and trail sign near the wineries
- Feature: Vineyard road end and fence642 m
Farm road ends above the vineyards; path crosses a fence
- Crux: North gully914 m
Steep, loose limestone gully; path mostly on its left side
- Feature: Rocky barrier exit1,029 m
Path turns right to cross the barrier at its easiest point
- Summit: Αττάβυρος1,215 m
Highest point outside the radar station fence; Zeus sanctuary ruins nearby to the south
Key Passages
- Vineyards and fence crossing above Embonas
- Steep, loose north gully
- Rocky barrier crossed on the right
- Faint path on the upper slopes
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
Attavyros (1,215 m) is the highest point of Rhodes, a bare limestone dome above the wine village of Embonas. A steep, loose marked path climbs 800 m to a summit shared by a military radar station and the ruins of the ancient sanctuary of Zeus Atabyrios, with views over the whole island to Halki and beyond.
Attavyros rises in the west of Rhodes, directly south of Embonas, and is the island's only true mountain. The lower slopes carry Turkish pine, cypress and maquis; above about 700 m the mountain is open, stony limestone with almost no shade. Since 2008 it has been part of a Natura 2000 site with neighbouring Akramitis, important for raptors and for the endemic Rhodes peony.
The summit is not wild: a military radar and telecommunications station with antennas and a fence occupies the top, served by a road from the south. The true high point lies just outside the fence, and the remains of the sanctuary of Zeus Atabyrios, one of the oldest cult sites on the island, lie on the summit plateau a short distance away. The view takes in most of Rhodes, the islands of Halki and Alimia and, according to legend, Crete on the clearest days.
The usual ascent from Embonas is short but rough: a steep gully of scree and sharp limestone that is more unpleasant than dangerous, and harder to descend than to climb. Summer heat is the main issue; it is a good outing from autumn to spring.
Climbing Notes
A half-day hike of about 800 m ascent for fit walkers with some experience of loose ground. Trip reports give 1.5–2.5 hours up and 1.5 hours down; guidebook times are longer (4.5–6 hours for the round trip or loop). Wear boots with good grip, take poles for the descent and carry at least 2 litres of water, as there is no water and little shade. Start early in summer: temperatures above 30 °C make the open slopes very hard work. Avoid the gully when wet, as the limestone becomes slippery.
Markings (red dots and cairns) are adequate on the way up but hard to see on the way down; a GPS track helps. Embonas has tavernas and wineries for afterwards.
History
In legend Althaemenes, a Cretan prince, founded the altar of Zeus Atabyrios here because it was the only place on Rhodes from which he could see his homeland. The sanctuary on the summit was an important cult site in antiquity; its ruins, together with those of a later monastery, remain near the top. In modern times a military radar station and an OTE telecommunications installation were built on the summit, with an access road.
Season
Best Apr–May- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Good
- July: Possible
- August: Possible
- September: Good
- October: Best
- November: Best
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Cool and often windy or wet; rare snow on top; avoid when wet
- Feb
- Rain likely; slippery rock
- Mar
- Good on dry days
- Apr
- Best season; spring flowers
- May
- Best season; warming up
- Jun
- Hot; start at dawn
- Jul
- Very hot and exposed; only at first light
- Aug
- Very hot and exposed; only at first light
- Sep
- Still hot; start early
- Oct
- Best season
- Nov
- Good on dry days
- Dec
- Wet and windy spells; avoid when wet
Access & Permits
- Fees
- No fee for the trail or the summit ruins
- Rules
- Military radar and telecommunications installation on the summit: do not enter the fenced area or photograph the installation
- Natura 2000 site (Attavyros–Akramitis)
- Getting There
Embonas
Rhodes Diagoras (RHO)
- Bus from Rhodes town to Embonas (limited service)
- Car: about 1 hour from Rhodes town to Embonas; parking in the village
- A road to the summit installations runs from the Monolithos side; reports differ on whether it is open to the public, and a high-clearance vehicle is advisable
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Weather