Kionia - Profitis Ilias

Kionia to Profitis Ilias is a scenic 7.3km linear trail through Machairas National Forest connecting two picnic sites with outstanding views of the Mesaoria plain below. The walk passes through dry valleys and sparse pine forest, featuring perennial strawberry trees and arar conifers, and reaches Profitis Ilias with its modest stone church and monastery-like buildings. This easy-to-moderate route offers peaceful forest walking within a NATURA 2000 protected area at the heart of Cyprus's central highlands.

The trail begins at Kionia Picnic Site, where a fountain provides fresh drinking water and facilities welcome visitors. From this starting point, the walk descends into a dry valley system characteristic of the Machairas forest region. Unlike river valleys, these dry valleys show the shapes and patterns that seasonal water flow has created over millennia, though they remain parched during most of the year. The forest vegetation includes distinctive perennial strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo) with their characteristic reddish bark and small fruits, alongside arar conifers (Tetraclinis articulata), a Mediterranean species found only in scattered locations across the region.

The destination, Profitis Ilias, sits on a ridge within the forest landscape, marked by a small stone church with traditional Orthodox iconography. The surrounding area features monastery-like stone buildings and manicured grounds, suggesting historical use as a religious retreat or hermitage. Views from this vantage point extend across the Mesaoria plain (the island's central lowlands) toward the north, providing a striking contrast between the upland forest environment and the agricultural landscape below. The entire route falls within the Machairas National Forest Park, designated a NATURA 2000 site for its ecological significance. The combination of marked trail, accessible terrain, and genuine mountain character makes this one of Cyprus's most popular and rewarding forest walks.