17.1
PDI
12.5 mi
DISTANCE
3,521 ft
GAINED
4.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Switzerland
INTRO
Pano Panagia sits at around 850 to 900 m in the hills behind Paphos, and it's known for two things. Archbishop Makarios III, Cyprus's first president, was born here in 1913, and the vineyards around it - the Vouni Panagias zone - grow some of the most highly regarded grapes on the island. This climb takes you up to the village and then keeps going, onto Vouni itself, the hill the vineyards are named after.
It's 20.1 km (12.5 mi) with 1073 m (3521 ft) of climbing, from 224 m to 1130 m. The first 10 km climb steadily at 5 to 8% out of the valley to Choulou and on to Statos-Agios Fotios. Then the road rolls for about 6 km, dipping past the 12th-century Chrysorrogiatissa monastery, before the last 4 km - the hard part - kick up through Pano Panagia and onto Vouni, with the steepest kilometer at 11.7%.
Near the top, the asphalt gives way to a dirt track between the vines. It leads to a small stone chapel, an information board and a forest fire lookout, with views across the Paphos hills and the pine-covered ridges of the Troodos. The track is fine on road tires when it's dry, just loose in places.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Vouni climbs 20.1 km (12.5 mi) from 224 m (736 ft) to 1130 m (3708 ft), with 1073 m (3521 ft) of total climbing and an average of 4.5%. About 168 m (550 ft) of descending is mixed in, almost all in the middle.
0 to 5 km: About 5.8%, climbing out of the valley through Choulou, with one kilometer near 8%.
5 to 6 km: A short easy stretch.
6 to 11 km: About 6.7%, steady climbing to Statos-Agios Fotios.
11 to 16 km: Rolling, with short descents and climbs past the Chrysorrogiatissa monastery - you finish this section slightly lower than you started it.
16 to 20.1 km: The finale, close to 8% on average through Pano Panagia and up Vouni, with one kilometer above 10%.
5 to 6 km: A short easy stretch.
6 to 11 km: About 6.7%, steady climbing to Statos-Agios Fotios.
11 to 16 km: Rolling, with short descents and climbs past the Chrysorrogiatissa monastery - you finish this section slightly lower than you started it.
16 to 20.1 km: The finale, close to 8% on average through Pano Panagia and up Vouni, with one kilometer above 10%.
The steepest kilometer averages 11.7%, the steepest 0.5 km 14.1% and the steepest 2 km 10.6%.
Roadway: Paved from the bottom to Pano Panagia, mostly on good country roads with newer asphalt in places and some tight hairpins. Above the village the climb turns off onto narrower lanes up Vouni, and the final stretch to the chapel and lookout is a dirt track through the vineyards - rideable on a road bike when dry, with loose stones in places. Cyprus drives on the left.
Traffic: Light. The roads through Choulou and Statos-Agios Fotios are quiet rural routes. There's more traffic around the monastery and in Pano Panagia, especially on weekends and around the 14-15 August festivals. Vouni itself is farm tracks.
Parking: Choulou, near the bottom, is the easiest spot to park - park on the roadside without blocking the narrow streets. Riders based in Paphos can ride out via Letymbou. Another option is to drive up to Pano Panagia, ride down the route and climb back.
Gear: A compact with a 30 or 32 at the back for the ramps above Pano Panagia, which reach 10 to 11%. If you plan to ride the dirt to the top, 28 mm or wider tires help.
Provisions: Bring what you need from Paphos or stock up in the villages on the way. Pano Panagia, the biggest, is your last chance before Vouni; there's nothing on the hill itself. Cyprus is very hot from June to September and there's little shade on the lower slopes, so ride early, carry two bottles, and consider doing this one in spring or autumn.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Paphos, about 33 km from Pano Panagia, is the obvious base, with plenty of places to stay and eat.
Chrysorrogiatissa monastery, founded in 1152 and sitting at about 820 m, is on the route and worth a stop: it has an icon treasury, and its old winery reopened in the 1980s and now makes wine from the monastery's own vineyards. In Pano Panagia you can visit the family home of Makarios and a second museum about his life. The village also has several wineries, including Vouni Panayia on the edge of the village.
If you'd rather walk the last bit, the Vouni Panagias nature trail starts at the village square and takes about three hours. Plan around the 14 and 15 August festivals - the village and monastery get very busy.
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