Profitis Ilias Mountain Trail

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Profitis Ilias Mountain Trail: Rhodes Forest Summit Hike

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

579

Ranked #579 of 974

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HikeList Score

Profitis Ilias Mountain Trail scored 79/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 98
Varied terrain 71
Accommodation 57
Food & support 81
Path quality 80
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Profitis Ilias Mountain Trail is a moderate half-day hike on Rhodes in Greece, climbing from Salakos village into the wooded interior of north-west Rhodes. The full Salakos circuit is about 7.2 km, takes roughly 3.5–4 hours, and gains about 450 m. It suits reasonably fit walkers, including families on the easier lower section, who want shade, old mule-track walking and views near the 798 m summit. For longer Greek routes, compare the E4 Trail on Crete or the Andros Route.

Route Overview

Start and finish in Salakos village, near the Nymph springs and fountain square. The route follows an old cobbled mule track through dense cypress, Aleppo pine and holm oak woodland, zig-zagging below cliffs before continuing on dirt path and forest track. Key places on the climb include the Chapel of the Archangel Michael, the Italian-era Elafos and Elafina hotels, Villa de Vecchi, the small church of Profitis Ilias and the accessible summit viewpoint. The true 798 m top has communications masts and is fenced off, so walkers use the nearby viewpoint at about 750 m. The walk is commonly done as a loop, though out-and-back variants also exist. Transport details to Salakos are not verified here.

Italian-era heritage on Mount Profitis Ilias

Mount Profitis Ilias is named for the Prophet Elijah, as are many Greek high summits with a chapel or church near the top. Its most distinctive built heritage comes from the 1912–1943 Italian occupation of the Dodecanese. The alpine-style Elafos and Elafina hotels were built around 1929 and 1932 by architect Rodolfo Petracco as a mountain resort for Italian officials. Nearby Villa de Vecchi was built in 1932 under Governor Mario Lago and later associated with Cesare Maria de Vecchi. Elafos was used as a German military hospital in WWII, and the buildings were largely abandoned from the late 1960s.

Notable highlights

Nymph springs at Salakos: Cool natural springs and a fountain in the village square mark the traditional start of the cobbled mule track and are a useful place to pause before the climb.
Cobbled mule track and forest: The lower route uses an old stone mule path through dense cypress, Aleppo pine and holm oak, giving unusual shade for a Rhodes hike.
Chapel of the Archangel Michael: A small chapel set on large boulders beside the route, adding a clear landmark on the old mountain path.
Elafos and Elafina hotels: Twin Italian-era alpine-style hotels, known as “stag” and “doe”, built as a mountain retreat and now mostly derelict reminders of the Dodecanese occupation period.
Villa de Vecchi: A 1930s governor’s villa near the summit area, often nicknamed “Mussolini’s villa”, and another striking relic of the Italian period.
Profitis Ilias church and viewpoint: The true 798 m summit is fenced, but the nearby accessible viewpoint gives open views over the wooded interior of Rhodes and towards the Aegean.

Challenges to expect

Expect a steady forest climb rather than a technical mountain day. The harder sections are the steeper zig-zags below the cliffs, rocky or uneven ground, and occasional fallen trees near the top. Waymarking exists, with finger-posts and stone markers, but junctions in dense woodland need attention. Summer shade helps, but midday heat can still be tiring; spring and autumn can bring showers or mist.

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Ranked #579 of 974

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