A Drive Around North-East Corfu

Distance 80 km - (100 km if Mount Pantokrator is included). Time - 6 hours, with stops (7-8 hours if Mount Pantokrator if included). Start & end point - Corfu Town.

This is a route of dramatic contrasts, following Corfu’s scenic northeast coast and returning through mountains.

Start at the Old Port in Corfu Town. Drive west from  the Old Port along Xenofondos Stratigou and Eth. Antistasseos. Continue along the coast road for 3km to a big junction. Go right, and after 10 km, at Tzavros, turn off right, signposted Dassia. Pass through Dassia, Ipsos and Barbati. Pass through Nissaki and 5 km further on reach the turn off for Kalami.

Parking is limited at Kalami, but there is a large lay-by on the main road just before the turn off. From here it is just under 1 km to Kalami and its neighbour Kouloura.

Continue along main road to Kassiopi and on to Acharavi. Halfway through Acharavi’s wide main street, pass a walled roundabout with an old water pump at its centre. About 150 m further on, look out  for a signpost pointing left to Episkepsi and Agios Panteleimon. Turn left on a narrow road. Continue steeply and through many bends. In 5 km, you will reach Episkepsi.

Episkepsi is a traditional village at the heart of olive-growing country.

Continue for 9 km to reach Sgourades. After 10 km reach a junction with a road going off left, signposted Petaleia and Strinilas. This road leads in about 7 km to Mount Pantokrator. Divert if desired.

On the main route, continue downhill to Spartylas. In the 4 km descent to the coast road there are 25 hair-raising hairpins with stunning views all the way down. At the coast road, turn right and return to Corfu Town through Ipsos.