Mountain biking in Rhodes: The 6 best routes

Before we get into it, there’s a few things worth knowing if you’re going to make the most of mountain biking in Rhodes.

Best time to ride: May–June and September–October are the best months to go. Temperatures sit in the low-to-mid 20s, the trails are quieter and the light is still good. July and August are fine for easy coastal rides early in the morning, but longer inland climbs above 400m in midday summer heat are a different proposition entirely. And not a fun one.  

Start early: on the harder rides, being on the trail before 8am means cooler air, better visibility and the whole mountain to yourself. Save the big breakfasts for a cafe stop or the return leg.

Road surfaces: main roads in Rhodes are well-maintained and fine for mountain bikes. Once you head into the backcountry, expect loose stone, dry riverbeds and the occasional surprise.  

Navigation: signage away from the main tourist routes is patchy at best. Download your GPX file before you set off or go out with a guide who knows the trails. It'll save a lot of head-scratching at unmarked forks. 

Choosing where to base yourself on the island shapes what kind of riding you'll get. Here's a quick breakdown of where to base yourself.  

North Rhodes — centred around resorts like Afandou and Kolymbia, which have more developed trail networks. The access into the pine forest interior is quick, loop options run from one to three hours and the terrain suits mixed-ability groups well. If you're travelling with a partner who's newer to MTB, or you want variety without long transfers, the north is the place for you.

South Rhodes — the south is a different world. Fewer tourists, wilder terrain, longer routes and the kind of ancient tracks that feel like they haven't changed much since the Byzantine era. It suits riders looking for technical challenge and full-day epics over convenience. Think solitude over social. There’ll be barely a soul in sight, but the riding will be epic.

The verdict: north for convenience and variety, south for adventure and proper wilderness.

Interested in cycling in Greece? Check out our complete guide to cycling in Greece. 

We've put together a mix that covers all abilities and most of what makes riding on this island special — coastal views, epic climbs, ancient ruins and a few ice cream stops along the way. Something for everyone.

Anthony Quinn Bay Loop (Easy)

Start: Levanted Beach Club | Finish: Levante Beach Club | Difficulty: Green / Easy  |  Distance: 19km  |  Time: 1–2.5 hours  

Named after the Hollywood actor who apparently loved this stretch of coast so much, he tried to buy it. This loop is the perfect entry point for riders who want scenery without the suffering. The route starts just outside Levante Beach Club just north of Kolymbia. It heads north before turning right for a short descent toward the coast, before settling into a long, largely flat stretch of coastal riding with the kind of sea views that make you want to stop and stare rather than pedal.  

There's one proper climb mid-route before a rewarding drop back down, but nothing here will trouble anyone. The 19km loops comfortably in under two and a half hours, and there's a café stop built into it — because it’d be rude not to, wouldn't it? A great first-day ride to get your legs going a little bit.

Afandou Olive Groves

Start: Levante Beach Club | Finish: Levante Beach Club | Difficulty: Green / Easy  |  Distance: 11.5km |  Time: 1–1.5 hours  

This is the gentle one. The Afandou loop starts at Levante Beach Club near Kolymbia and rolls through some of the most peaceful terrain on the island — old olive groves, wide open tracks, almost completely flat for the first 4km. The only real climb comes around the halfway point, a short push of about 16 metres, which is barely worth mentioning. After that, it's a pleasant descent and a long flat cruise back through the groves to the start.  

At 11.5km, this ride is well inside 90 minutes for most people. There's a waypoint marked on the route for Artisti di Gelato. That alone is a good enough reason to be on a bike in Rhodes.

Monte Ataviros + Monolithos circular

Start: Embonas village | Finish: Embonas village | Difficulty: Hard   |  Distance: 61 km |  Time: 3.5 - 5 hours

Let's be straight with you... this isn't a ride isn’t for the faint hearted. The full Attavyros circuit is 61km, 1,800m of climbing, with some pretty tasty gradients. It's properly, stubbornly hard. And it's also, for the right rider, the type of sufferfest that will have them smiling from ear to ear.

The route starts in Embonas, which sits on Attavyros's south-western slopes. Well-surfaced roads give way to mountain tracks almost immediately, and within the first 9km you've already climbed to the route's high point of 672m on the western flanks. Those early gradients are a little wakeup call to your legs.  

From there it drops into a technical descent through rocky, winding terrain before settling into the undulating interior of south-west Rhodes. This mid-section, from about 15km to 24km, is where you get your breath back, elevations sit in the 270–390m range and the heart rate eases just enough for you to remember that this supposed to be fun.

After you’ve got your breath back, you head towards Monolithos. The clifftop castle is the natural halfway point. Stop here. Take it in. Eat something. You've earned it.  

After Monolithos the route swings south before heading east and beginning the long climb back into the mountains. Elevations build back into the 420–500m range as you re-enter the interior — and from the 42km mark, the eastern slopes of the Attavyros offer rolling terrain with enough climbs to keep the legs honest.

The final 6km return you to Embonas at almost exactly the same elevation you started, which is the loop's one small mercy. The other mercy? Embonas is a wine village. A glass of whatever's local is not optional at this point. It’s an essential part of the recovery process.

Best attempted in April–June or September–October. In summer, the exposed upper sections can feel like you’re relentlessly turning the pedals while you’re being cooked by the sun.  

Profitis Ilias

Start: Kalavarda village | Finish: Kalavarda village | Difficulty: Moderate - Hard   |  Distance: 47 km |  Time: 3 - 4 hours

If you’re into type 2 fun and the idea of cycling from sea level to 664 metres and then descending back down to it sounds like a good time... then this is perfect route for you.  

The opening 14km works south through scrubby foothills before the terrain shifts and the air cools. It’s a gentle start until you get to Agia Eleousa, a quiet village with an atmospheric Italian-era building at its centre, where things start to get tough. From here, the climbing gets serious. The route grinds steadily upward through pine forest for the better part of 13km, with gradients that are consistent rather than savage, building through 300m, 450m, 600m until the trees open out at the summit plateau.

At 664m, you’ve earned your stop at Profitis Ilias to take in views across the whole island.

Once your heart rate has settled and your legs are no longer screaming at you, the fun can begin. The western descent off the summit drops 500m through dense pine forest on flowing mountain tracks. It spits you out in Salacos, a traditional village tucked into the hillside at around 175m, which is as good a place as any for a coffee and a quiet moment of self-congratulation. The final 10km back north to Kalavarda are mostly downhill, and the sea reappears on the horizon right on cue.

Plimiri Beach Loop

Start: Plimiri Beach | Finish: Plimiri Beach | Difficulty: Easy - Moderate   |  Distance: 10 km |  Time: 1.5 - 2 hours

Tucked away in the far south of Rhodes, the Plimiri Beach Loop is a 9.8km circuit that is a perfect introduction to mountain biking in Rhodes. Starting and finishing near Plimiri Beach, the route keeps things accessible with a modest 201m of total elevation gain and a high point of just 45m. The first half rolls gently along the coast, dipping to sea level at points for views of the Mediterranean sea, before turning inland and building gradually toward the ride's most rewarding section.

The real highlight comes between kilometres five and six and a half, where the route kicks upward through Rhodes' classic rocky scrubland to its summit at around 45m. With an estimated ride time of one and a half to two and a half hours, it's a brilliant option for intermediate riders or confident beginners looking to explore the island's quieter southern tip. And with the beach waiting at the finish line, the post-ride reward is a dip in the sea to cool off.

Butterfly Valley - Kalopetra Monastery - Koutrouvelos Loop

Start: Koutrouvelos area | Finish: Koutrouvelos area | Difficulty: Moderate - Hard   |  Distance: 18 km |  Time: 2.5 - 4 hours

Butterfly Valley – Kalopetra Monastery – Koutrouvelos Loop is one of the most rewarding mountain bike routes in Rhodes. At just under 18km with 795m of elevation gain, this is a proper route, set entirely in the rugged interior hills of western Rhodes. The ride opens with a long, flowing descent of some 130m into the valley below, threading through the landscape surrounding the famous Petaloudes (Butterfly Valley), one of the island's most celebrated natural sites. From there, a sharp 150m climb punches you back up into the mountains.

The section between kilometres seven and eleven is where this route earns its reputation, riding along the mountainous spine of western Rhodes at up to 456m with sweeping views across the island. The terrain is rugged and exposed, with rolling climbs and descents that keep the legs working all the way back to the finish. With most people taking between two and a half to four hours to complete it, this ride demands a solid level of fitness and bike handling.  

Neilson Levante Beach Club sits right on Afandou Beach on the north-east coast — about 30 minutes from Rhodes airport and ideally placed for everything in the northern trail network. It's where you want to be based.

Mountain biking here is fully inclusive. Your bike and helmet are all provided — you show up, get sized, and ride. The bike team runs multiple guided rides daily across all four difficulty levels: green, blue, red and black.

And when you're off the bike, there's a full water sports programme, tennis, padel and a spa if your body has taken a beating and you need a little R&R.

Find out more about mountain biking holidays at Levante Beach Club.

Is Rhodes good for mountain biking? Yes. And it's still flying well under the radar. The trail variety is huge: from easy coastal loops you can knock out before lunch to full-day summit epics that'll leave your legs angry at you for the rest of the week. The history, the terrain and the backdrop make it a proper mountain biking destination, not just a holiday add-on.  

Whether you're a first-timer who fancied giving mountain biking a go or an experienced rider chasing your next big climb, Rhodes delivers. Go in spring or autumn for the best conditions. Start early. Download your GPX. And book yourself somewhere with a bike team who know these trails.  

We'll see you on the mountain.  

If you’re looking for more cycling content then check out our posts on cycling in Greece, four cycling routes in the Peloponnese and mountain biking vs road cycling.