This article may contain affiliate links. This site is reader-supported, meaning when you purchase something we recommend, we make a small commission. You don’t pay anything extra. 💘 For more details, check out our Terms of Use page.
Let’s say you are in Rhodes and you’ve done all the famous attractions like Lindos. You now want to do something other than lying on the beach. Maybe you’ve heard that Rhodes has a lot of interesting hikes and nature, so you want to explore some of that.
One of the hikes that surprised me the most so far was Profitis Ilias near the village of Salakos. Located on the greener and more mountainous side of Rhodes, this trail combines forest scenery, sea views, local history and some very unexpected Italian-era buildings hidden in the mountains.
It is also quite accessible to most visitors, so if you are keen on doing a short but enjoyable hike, this is the one for you.
🥳 TESTED TOP PICKS FOR RHODES
- 🚌 Airport transfer: Rhodes to City Centre — easiest option from Rhodes Airport to City for $39 (private taxi)
⛴️ Ferry tickets: There are a lot of ferry providers but I prefer Ferry Scanner for their simple UI.
- 📱Grab an eSIM to stay connected. I’ve tested several options. Use my code BACHELOR10 for 10% the plan from Simbye. They are really well priced.
This article is part of my things to do in Rhodes series, where I explore and share activities and ideas. I moved to Rhodes a few months ago and have been exploring both the off-season and summer side of the island ever since. You can find more guides to Rhodes, here.
Where is Profitis Ilias
Looking at the map of the island of Rhodes, you’ll find Salakos a bit toward the west coast, about 40km from Rhodes Town.
To reach the area, you’ll want to take the west coast road toward Theologos, where kite surfers gather, and keep driving past the resorts. Before you reach the site of Ancient Kameiros, you’ll turn and head up to the village of Salakos.
This is also the starting location for the hike.
If you keep driving south, you realize that Rhodes is surprisingly mountainous and everything starts to feel wilder and greener than most visitors expect. This is one of the reasons I really recommend doing a hiking activity during your trip. It adds another layer to the beaches and medieval streets you already expected.
The path that starts just outside the village is marked on Google Maps (in German), so it is not so easy to find.
🚗 Rhodes is a big island, which means you’ll need to rent a car. Why do I recommend Discover Cars? Because I think it is easier for most people to deal with a big company and their robust insurance coverage plans, and paperwork. If issues come up, it makes the process smoother.
Solo or guided?
I was lucky to do this walk as part of a guided experience, which you can book directly or through GetYourGuide.
Whether or not you do it with a guide, I would say depends on your fitness level, mountain experience, and if you have a rental car in Rhodes.
The main reasons I would recommend booking it as a guided tour are:
- You get to meet new people
- You don’t have to worry about logistics
- You get a tour as well as a walk
- You don’t have to drive
- You have peace of mind by having a professional mountain guide
- You get gear from the company ( 🔥 PLUS)
- You get a snack and photos of the tour
- You can have a cheeky alcoholic drink while watching the sunset 😉
The company I went with is known for being super professional, and my experience definitely supports that. The guides I went with were friendly, sincere, and organized. They also had a lot of interesting facts to share with the people in our little group.
One of my favorite moments of the tour was while we were waiting for the sunset and some goats approached us. One curious goat kept coming closer (probably because we were munching on spinach pie), and a lady from France who was in our group slowly reached out her hand and the goat came to eat the leftover pie. It was one of those moments that are hard to find nowadays unless you seek out experiences like this one.
One of the guides captured it perfectly in the photos they shared with our group after. Just incredible!
Mountain info
Profitis Ilias is the third-highest mountain on Rhodes, at 798m. The trail starts at 220m and goes up to 610m, so this is not a summit hike.
Compared to the tallest mountain on the island (Mount Attavyros, where the Sanctuary of Zeus was) and Akramytis (825m), Profitis Ilias is more manageable according to some people. I’ve yet to find out for myself.
One of the things I loved about the trail is how dense the vegetation is, with thick pine and cypress trees that provide shade and cover in the summer.
The only “challenging” part of the hike is the beginning, as it hugs the mountain in a continuous rocky incline.
I definitely recommend bringing your hiking shoes or sneakers. But if you don’t have walking sticks or a backpack, this is where booking a guided tour comes in handy.
What to expect
I purposefully avoided looking up the route before my tour, so I could enjoy as much of the experience as possible without any expectations.
After a few hours of slow walking to the top, you reach a lovely viewpoint area that opens up toward the Aegean Sea, and you can even spot the Turkish coast in the distance.
Since I opted for the sunset version of the tour (which I highly recommend), we continued onward through the trees for another 20 minutes or so until we reached the iconic hotels Elafos and Elafina.
I had no knowledge of these buildings or their history, which starts in 1929 during the Italian occupation of the island, when they were built to resemble chalets in the Alps. Elafos (meaning male deer) was originally called Albergo del Cervo (Deer’s Hotel) and housed Italian officers.
A lot of the original pieces are intact to this day, so if you get to visit while the hotel is open, you’ll also be able to walk inside and admire it up close.
Other points of interest are the Villa de Vecchi and the Byzantine church of Profitis Ilias. Make sure to bookmark those on your phone if you’re going on your own, so you don’t miss them.
How long does it take?
This really depends on your fitness level. The total distance is about 5.5km or 3.4 miles, with a 400m altitude change.
I would estimate at least two and a half hours if you plan to stop for photos and rest, go into the church and hotel area, or watch the sunset.
Not to forget
Of course, you’ll want to bring water, a phone, a flashlight if you’re staying for sunset, good shoes, and a windbreaker (even in the warmer months).
The best months to visit are autumn for the cool weather and spring if you want to see the wild orchids. I visited in mid-May and it was the perfect setup, but definitely a bit on the cold side at night.
The weather can be tricky here, since the days are hot, but the mountain does get windy on that side, so bring at least one layer in the summer and more in the other months.
Ready to book your trip to Rhodes?
📲 Best eSIM for Greece: The easiest way to stay connected in Greece is with an eSIM you install before departure. I’ve tested several options. Use my code BACHELOR10 for 10% the plan from Simbye. They are really well priced.
⛴️ Ferry tickets: There are a lot of ferry providers but I prefer Ferry Scanner for their simple UI.
❤️ Best Tours in Rhodes
These are some of the tours I’ve done and love.
