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4502

FILERIMOS HILL (1 hour) & VALLEY OF BUTTERFLIES (2 hours) (HD)

  • DAYS : MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY
  • DURATION: HALF DAY
    (09:00 am to 14:00 pm)
  • PICK UP TIME:
    From 08.20 am to 09.30 am
  • PRICE : 27€
Self guided bus tour with 2 stops: Filerimos Hill (1 hour) + Butterflies Valley (2 hours)

Excursion Details:

Are you ready to see a unique sight, hundreds of colorful butterflies flying around in a mesmerizing valley? This is the tour for you! First, we will have a short drive and ascend to the top of the 267 meters high Filerimos Hill, situated about 15 km from Rhodes Town, where we will stay for 1 hour. The hill overlooking the small town of Ialyssos and the bay of Ixia and Trianda is the place where once stood the Doric City of ancient Ialyssos. Ialyssos was one of the three most famous ancient Rhodes cities. An abundance of ruins dating back to the end of the 3rd millennium BC, as well as settlements and cemeteries dating back to the Mycenaean – Minoan period prove the surrounding area was inhabited.

   

Arriving at the top of the hill, you will see a well-organized parking lot. At the right side you will notice the ruins of the ancient Ialyssos and to the left side a small kiosk with souvenirs and beverages.  You are free to decide to either enter the Archaeological site (at the left) or walk (on the right) the path enjoying the panoramic view over Ialyssos. Either way, you won’t be alone! You will be accompanied by the mating cries of peacocks!

 You can visit the monastery of Our Lady and the remains of the ancient Acropolis of Ialyssos. (The entrance fee for visiting the church is 6 euros). Visitors can walk along the “Golgotha”, a tree sheltered pathway built during the Italian period of 1912-1945, with a series of shrines representing scenes of the Holly Passion. This path accessed on foot leads to the west edge of Filerimos hill, where an enormous imposing cross emerges. One can really appreciate the outstanding view of villages and bright green valleys that are generously stretched around from the top of the Hill. This site is famous because of the lovely and quiet walkways.

Leaving Filerimos Hill, we continue our tour, visiting the Valley of the Butterflies, where we will stay for 2 whole hours to marvel at one of the most unique destinations of Rhodes. The valley is hosted at the Canyon of Pelekanos River and it is named after the butterflies inhabiting it (Panaxia Quatripunctaria/Jersey tiger moth species). The Valley was found in the 1930s by Italians who developed a beautiful 1 km path that goes through the canyon to reach the areas most densely populated by butterflies. The first studies were conducted by a German entomologist Reinhard Eiger.

   

It’s a unique and peaceful ecological setting, the true pride and joy of Rhodes’ natural environment, with narrow rock walkways, lakes with water-lilies, rustic bridges, clear running waters, waterfalls and resting places packed with millions of brown-red butterflies. During July, August & September, thousands of butterflies of the Panaxia genus swarm into the valley in order to reproduce. The sweet smell of the resin attracts them and when you are walking around, you will see Liquidambar trees everywhere with hundreds of Butterflies on their trunk and leaves.

We will be stopping at the parking area No2 just 50 meters away from the main entrance-reception of the valley so you can be free to walk as long as you like, relax in one of the coffee shops or buy souvenirs. Visitors can witness a spectacular phenomenon rarely occurring in nature; swarms of butterflies congregating in the valley during the final stage of their life cycle.

   

Butterflies, attracted by the scent of the oriental sweetgum trees in the area at the end of the wet season, cover the entire landscape. They are actually adult insects that follow the waterways and migrate here to reproduce due to the high humidity of the area, while females look for other suitable locations to lay their eggs in the early fall.

So, the Valley is basically a resting place for the butterflies! The moths cannot eat during this final phase of their life cycle, so they rest here to preserve their energy. Any loud noise can force them to fly away; consuming this valuable energy can lead them to die. You can observe them as they sleep in the tree trunks well camouflaged in black and yellow, and when they fly you will be amazed by their cheery red underwings flashing. A sight for sore eyes!

(From October to the 31st of May the price for entering the Valley of Butterflies is 3 euros per person and from the 1st of June  to September the price is 5 euros per person).

PICK UP AREAS:

Kolymbia, Afandou, Faliraki, Kallithea, Rhodes City, Ixia, Ialyssos, Kremasti. Pick-up also available from Cruise Ships.

GUIDE:

Self – Guided tour.

Price Includes:

  • Hotel pick up & drop off
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Small groups only
  • Map of the area with useful information in English

HIGHLIGHTS:

Walking along Golgotha street at Filerimos where you can see an enormous High Cross!

Exploring the ruins of the Ancient City of Ialyssos!

Don’t miss the Church of our Lady!

Nature, narrow rock walkways, lakes with water-lilies inside the Valley!

Walking between thousand of flying Butterflies!

Amazing photo spots during your walk to the Valley!

PRICE EXCLUDES:

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Meals & Drinks
  • Not guided

DON'T FORGET:

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Hat for the sun
  • Sunscreen
  • Pocket money for entrance fees
Photos
FAQ

Where and how is it best to book my tour?

The easiest way to book is at our office. Come and meet our tour advisors, George & Maria and receive all the information, suggestions, tips, leaflets, maps… We like meeting our customers.
If you prefer to pre-book the tours but pick-up your tickets and arrange the payment upon your arrival, do not hesitate to get in touch with us by e-mail. We will make all the arrangements, and you can come to our office when you arrive in Rhodes.
If you prefer online booking, do check our Booking Engine (BOOK NOW). It offers real-time availability, an easy booking procedure, and instant booking confirmation to your email.
If you can not reach us out, you can always ask at your hotel front desk to give us a call and help you with your booking.
We also offer some of the tours through various Booking Channels, like Viator, Get Your Guide, Civitatis, Sunbonoo.

How early in advance should I book?

Booking early (shortly before your arrival to Rhodes or soon upon your arrival) is recommended for tours during peak season (July, August, September).
Travellers visiting Rhodes for one day or with a very limited time frame should consider booking their tour as far in advance as possible.

What is the latest I can book the trip?

We gladly accept last-minute reservations. You can pop into our office until 22:00 (in peak season you will find us there even until 23:00).
Our Booking Engine has live availability for reservations up to 12 hours before the departure on most of our tours.
But surely, to avoid any disappointment, especially during the peak season, it is recommended to check the availability & book your tour at least 3 days in advance.

The date I want to book the tour is blocked out/ not available?

If your preferred date is blocked out or you do not find it in the calendar, do not hesitate to reach out to us, we may be able to offer you an alternative.

Are tours available all year round?

At the moment, we operate only during the Summer Season (April to October). Some tours are also available in November.(Private Tours).

How do I choose the right tour for me?

We believe that nowadays travellers are very experienced and truly know what type of activities they prefer. All our tour descriptions are very informative and detailed so that it is easy to understand if the activity suites your taste and interests. You should check if the tour has a pick up from your resort, if the tour provides enough free time on sights, if the tour has a tour guide, if there are any additional expenses that are not included in the price of the tour (food, tickets), what language is the tour (mostly for non-English speakers), are there swimming stops, and so on. We want our customers to be well informed about the service/ product they are about to purchase.
If shared group tours seem not to suit any of your preferences, we also offer set and tailored private tours. Make sure to check them out!

I’m having problems with online booking. Are there any other options?

Yes, of course! You can email or message us, and we will provide you with alternative booking/ payment options.

How do I know that my tour is booked?

Your tour is booked only if you have received your Booking Confirmation. It is either a printed Voucher, a PDF Voucher or the Booking Confirmation e-mail for online bookings.

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