Seven Springs Rhodes Valley Guide: Detailed Review of Epta Piges Attraction with Tunnel Walk, Azure Lake, Getting There Options and Essential Tourist Advice
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Rhodes is one of the large and most fertile islands of Greece. The Valley of 7 Springs, also known as Epta Piges, is located 25 km from Rhodes and 3 km from Kolymbia. A powerful spring emerges to the surface in 7 places at once; the flow from it enters the Loutanis River, which heads into a concrete tunnel built in the 1930s, and then into a reservoir. This only freshwater body in Rhodes is used for irrigating Kolymbia and the surrounding areas.
I also decided to visit this attraction. And in today’s article, I’ll share my impressions from this trip. I’ll tell you where these springs are located and the best way to get to them, about excursions, tips, and other information useful for tourists.
May be useful: Previously, I’ve already written articles about Rhodes Island and local attractions, excursions, shared important information and advice that will be interesting to curious tourists. You can read them via the link below.
How to get to the Valley of Seven Springs?
- Car Rental or Taxi. GPS coordinates: 36.254988, 28.116040. Highway: From Rhodes 26.3 km via EO95
Location of the Seven Springs on the Map
May be useful: Previously I wrote a large article about car rental in Greece, as well as a separate article about car rental on Crete Island, which you can view and read by following the links
- By Bus. From Rhodes by bus, which departs daily from Rimini Square at 10:30.
Fare: 3.50 Euros.
Carrier: KTEL Rodou.
Opening hours: 24/7, free entry.
3. Transfer. You can order a transfer, essentially the same as a taxi, only you book the trip time in advance, choose the transfer pickup location and destination. You can book a transfer online on the Gettransfer.
Signpost located on the southern side of Rhodes Island highway, directing to the Valley of the Seven Springs
What can you see in the mysterious Valley of the Seven Springs (Epta Piges)?
Here, in the fresh forest, a spring beats from underground, which divides into 7 springs on the surface. The water in them is clear and cool. Walk along the small river. The water runs into a tunnel built during World War II by the Italians who occupied the island.
View of the artificial azure lake shrouded in mysteries and riddles
The lake with unusual water color is surrounded by majestic plane trees and fragrant pines. A long and mysterious tunnel leads to the lake, surrounded by many secrets and legends. According to one of them, if a man passes through the dark tunnel, wading ankle-deep in cold water, it will give him liberation from seven sins.
For women, such a test is no less tempting: having passed through this two-hundred-meter gloomy tunnel, she will become ten years younger. You can limit yourself to drinking water from the springs, which promises an increase in vigor and health.
So, people come to the valley to walk through a narrow, half-flooded 150-meter tunnel where only one adult can pass. The road is not lit; only halfway through there’s a ventilation shaft that has broken through 13 m of earth. This is the only source of daylight.
Collection of “water” photographs: The cave mentioned in the article (photo 1); The beginning of the spring where tourists usually like to drink water, considering it magical (photo 2); Here the springs converged into one stream; before entering the tunnel, the water settles in a small dam (photo 3); A waterfall in the valley that makes you hold your breath (photo 4).
For walking through the tunnel, it’s better to choose comfortable shoes that can get wet. There’s also an option to climb into the valley via a paved road. Visiting children is the responsibility of the accompanying adult.
Before entering the tunnel, you can wander around the picturesque surroundings. Among the coniferous trees, peacocks, turtles, ducks, and mountain goats roam. And you probably won’t be able to see the springs themselves: in summer they dry up. You can have a bite at the Epta Piges tavern located right here. The food is tasty and inexpensive.
After a walk through the valley and swimming in the freshwater lake, you can visit the local restaurant, have lunch, and feed the local geese, ducks, and peacocks that leisurely stroll between the tables. Or you can visit the souvenir shop and meet a 16-meter python.
There’s a restaurant at the springs; I didn’t check the prices, but I think they’re higher than in other places (photo 1). Wildlife of the Valley of the Seven Springs that you can feed at any time—they’ll only be happy (photos 2-3)