Artemis Trail around Mount Olympus — 7 km of panoramas, cedars, and a view of 3 seas

The Artemis Trail is a 7-kilometer loop, one of the official trails of the Department of Forests of Cyprus, leading around the Mount Olympus massif at an altitude of 1700–1950 meters. You don't climb to the summit — you go around it. The effect is better than if you stood on the peak: panoramas open up alternately in different directions of the world, the cedar forest is denser and older than on the main road to the summit, and the trail has a total elevation gain of no more than 150 meters.

If you have one day in Troodos and have to choose one trail — choose Artemis.

Basic Information

• Length: 7 km (loop)
• Elevation Gain: +/- 150 m (trail is relatively flat)
• Time: 2–2.5 hours (comfortable pace with stops for photos)
• Difficulty: Easy / Moderate — accessible to an averagely fit person
• Surface: Forest path, rocky, in places earthy-gravel
• Signage: Yellow-blue signs every 300–400 m, plus a trail description at the entrance

Starting Point and Directions

Start: Troodos Square, center of the village of Troodos. GPS: 34.9231° N, 32.8745° E. Starting Altitude: approx. 1700 m above sea level.

Directions from Limassol: B8 → Platres → Troodos, approx. 40–50 km, 55 min. Directions from Nicosia: B9 → Kakopetria → Prodromos → Troodos, approx. 65 km, 70 min.

Free parking at Troodos Square (large square). In season, on weekends, it may be full — arrive before 9:00 AM.

Trail Profile

The trail begins at an information board near the Troodos center and runs eastward:

0–1.5 km: Pine forest, the trail runs under trees, shade. Views are limited by the dense crowns. Good warm-up.

1.5–3 km: First open ridge. View to the south — Limassol and the coastline. With good weather, the hull of a ship is visible on the horizon.

3–4.5 km: Cedar section — forest of Cypriot cedars (Cedrus brevifolia). This is where it's worth stopping. The trees live for 300–500 years, with trunk thicknesses up to 2 meters. Forest litter smelling of resin and mountain thyme. Population of the Cypriot chaffinch (Loxia megaplaga, the only endemic terrestrial vertebrate of Cyprus) — watch out for rustling in the crowns.

4.5–5.5 km: North-western ridge — view of Morfou Bay (the Turkish part of the island) and, on clear days, Turkey. An intriguing contrast: Asia on the horizon, flowers under your feet.

5.5–7 km: Return through the pine forest, gradual descent. Near the entrance to the village — a small kiosk (water, coffee, ice cream).

Views of Three Seas — Myth or Reality?

Local guides claim that from Artemis you can see "three seas": the Mediterranean Sea (south), the Aegean Sea (northwest) and the Levant Sea (east). Strictly geographically, these are the same waters under different names — but the panorama encompasses three different coasts of Cyprus simultaneously, which is completely true with good visibility. Best visibility: March–April and October–November (no summer haze).

Fauna and Flora

• Cypriot Cedar (Cedrus brevifolia): Endemic species, smaller than Lebanese cedars, listed on the IUCN Red List. Grows only in the Troodos mountain range above 1000 m.
• Cypriot Chaffinch (Loxia megaplaga): Endemic bird, the only terrestrial vertebrate unique to Cyprus. Feeds on cedar seeds. Characteristic chirping voice.
• Cypriot Mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion): Rare wild mountain sheep, protected. Tracks of hooves and droppings visible along the trail. The animals themselves are elusive — early morning is the best time to observe them.

Children and Families

The Artemis Trail is one of the best family trails in Cyprus. Minimal elevation gain, good path, short time (2–2.5 h with children up to 3 h). From about 5–6 years old, a child should be able to manage the entire loop.

Useful with children:

• Binoculars for bird watching
• Hiking poles (help children balance on the rocky path)
• Snack for the 3.5 km point (bench near a group of cedars)

Season

Artemis is accessible year-round. In summer: ideal early morning (start 7:00–8:00 AM), the forest provides shade. Spring/Autumn: best visibility. Winter: possible snow (cedar forest with snow is beautiful, but the path can be slippery). In winter, be sure to wear shoes with good grip or snowshoes.

After the trail: Troodos Square has several cafes and restaurants. Recommended: Troodos Restaurant near the parking lot — Cypriot omelet (avgotaraho, eggs with roe), grilled halloumi 8 EUR, Cypriot coffee.

Looking for a base for hiking trips in Troodos? Hotels and guesthouses in Troodos/Platres on CyprusBooker — filters "Troodos" or "mountains", sort by "price ascending".