Seven Springs Rhodes is a shaded valley of springs, a dark water tunnel and a lake on the east coast of Rhodes. It is one of the stops on the Greece tours listed on Greece VIP.
This post covers the valley, the tours and the tunnel. It also covers the lake and waterfall, the wildlife, the trails, the taverna, what to bring and pairings with Lindos and Butterfly Valley. Weather, the best season and common questions come last.
Each section ends with a tour from Rhodes that can be booked online.
What is Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes, or Epta Piges in Greek, is a forest valley on the island’s east coast. Seven springs on a hillside feed a stream, a tunnel and a small lake behind an old dam.
The springs draw water from the Loutanis river and flow all year. Their water runs through a narrow tunnel into the lake.
The valley lies about 28 km from Rhodes town, between Kolymbia and Archipoli. It sits about 5 km inland from Kolymbia, in the foothills of the Tsambika range.
Pine and plane trees shade the paths, and the air stays cool on hot days. A stream tumbles over rocks and roots beside them. The area belongs to the Natura 2000 network.
- Name: Epta Piges means seven springs.
- Parking: A free car park sits beside the taverna.
- Facilities: Free public toilets and a small play park.
Seven Springs Rhodes therefore suits a short stop or a slow half day in the shade.
How do tours reach Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes appears on coach tours that pair it with Lindos or with Butterfly Valley. Each tour collects guests from hotels and resorts around the island.
The Lindos combination stops at Seven Springs first, then drives on to Lindos. It holds 3,949 reviews and lists 94 pickup points. Reviewers praised its good timekeeping and smooth organisation.
A Butterfly Valley combination gives free time at each valley. Its driver hands out a map with directions for both stops. Reviewers mention plenty of walking and steep steps.
A third tour adds an English-speaking escort who walks guests through Seven Springs and Lindos. Its 65 pickup points include the cruise terminal in Rhodes town. It hands out a map too.
- Not included: Entrance fees on the Lindos combination.
- Butterfly Valley tour: 1,740 reviews.
- Escorted tour: 1,357 reviews.
Seven Springs Rhodes is also easy to reach by car, with free parking on site.
What is the tunnel at Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes has a 186 m tunnel that carries spring water through the hill to the lake. Visitors walk it in the dark, through cold water up to the ankles or knees.
The tunnel runs 13 m underground and stands about 2 m high. Its old concrete walls are narrow, and the middle is pitch dark.
A well about halfway along lets air in. From the road above, a small concrete shaft with a grate looks down into it.
Walking it barefoot is the local custom. Water shoes also work, and touching the walls helps with balance.
Work on the tunnel began in 1920 and took 11 years. A footpath above ground leads to the lake for anyone who skips it. The waterfall lies across the road from the tunnel exit, down a short slope.
One visitor who walked it called the tunnel creepy but fun, and disorientating. Nobody can see their feet inside, so a brushing leaf can make walkers jump.
- Not for everyone: One visitor warned that it does not suit claustrophobic people.
- Sound: The walls echo every splash and voice.
- Exit: The tunnel opens at the lake and dam.
Guests who want the clifftop village too can compare the Lindos tours.
What are the lake and waterfall at Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes has a small artificial lake behind a dam built by the Italians. Where the lake spills over the dam, a curtain of water forms. It stars in photos of the valley.
The dam was built to supply water to nearby Kolymbia and its farmland. The spring water still runs through the valley today.
The lake runs between 1 and 8 m deep. Its level changes with the season, and on a clear day it shows a turquoise colour.
After heavy rain, the water can turn brown and murky for a while. The waterfalls also run at their strongest then.
The tunnel ends right at the lake. From the road, a short slope leads down to the face of the dam.
A second, natural waterfall lies deeper in the forest. A viewpoint on the trail looks over its pool.
- Built for: Irrigation and water supply, not for visitors.
- Best colour: Turquoise water when no heavy rain has fallen.
- Photo spot: The face of the dam below the road.
Seven Springs Rhodes turned a water project into a favourite photo stop on Rhodes.
What wildlife lives at Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes is home to free-roaming peacocks, Muscovy ducks and geese. Squirrels, turtles and fish live around the lake, among them a small fish found only on Rhodes.
Peacocks wander through the trees and across the car park. The Indian peafowl comes from the Indian subcontinent, and only the males carry the long fanned train.
Muscovy ducks swim and waddle near the banks and gather by the taverna. They are not native to Rhodes; the species comes from the Americas.
The males have black plumage with white wing patches. A red knob sits at the base of the bill. The females are smaller and plainer.
The Rhodes minnow, or gizani, lives only on Rhodes. An Italian scientist first described it in 1927.
- Geese: Seen near the taverna tables.
- Birdsong: Heard from the moment visitors leave the car.
- Turtles: Live in the lake with the ducks and fish.
Seven Springs Rhodes stays lively with animals even on quiet days.
Which walks start at Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes has a gentle path along the stream and a rougher forest trail behind the taverna. The rough trail climbs over rocks and roots to a natural waterfall.
Small wooden bridges cross the stream near the taverna. The path beyond them leads into the forest under a canopy of plane and pine trees.
Behind the taverna, the ground turns uneven, with rocks, roots and patches of mud. Walkers sometimes use their hands to climb larger rocks.
After rain, the trail gets muddy and slick. Fallen branches can block the way, so walkers climb over or duck under them.
The forest path above ground also links the stream with the lake. It is the route for anyone who skips the tunnel.
- Footwear: Non-slip trainers or water shoes.
- Season: Drier months mean less slippery ground.
- Route: An Epta Piges loop is listed on a trail app.
Guests who want a rougher ride into the hills can look at the jeep safaris on Rhodes.
What food is there at Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes has one taverna, set beside the stream under the trees. A family has run it for five generations, since a small hut opened there in 1945.
The family grandfather built the hut to cook omelettes for the workers at nearby watermills. It also kept a large water tank for their donkeys.
Tables now sit on both banks of the stream, so guests eat in the forest itself. The spacious tables sit under enormous plane trees, within earshot of the springs.
One family visiting the taverna ordered fruit and vegetable smoothies, sparkling water and a glass of prosecco. The menu leans toward meat, so that vegan family stuck to the drinks.
An open-air café also serves drinks and lunch in the shade of large plane trees. A small souvenir shop stands next to the taverna.
- Snacks: Visitors who skip the taverna bring their own water and food.
- Picnics: Benches along the paths suit a packed lunch.
- Café: The Butterfly Valley tour suggests it for lunch.
Seven Springs Rhodes makes a cool lunch stop on a hot day out.
What do visitors bring to Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes calls for non-slip shoes, water shoes for the tunnel and something to drink. Coach tours add swimwear and a towel for the beach at Lindos.
The forest trail gets slippery after rain, so grippy trainers or water shoes help. One visitor recommends non-slip footwear for any hike in autumn.
Inside the tunnel, the cold water reaches the ankles or knees. Visitors take off their shoes or wear water shoes.
The Lindos combination lists comfortable shoes, a sun hat, a camera and water shoes. The Butterfly Valley combination asks for water too and does not suit guests with low fitness.
Afternoon visits feel quieter and cooler, one visitor found.
- Footwear: Non-slip trainers and water shoes.
- Drinks: Water, since food options are limited away from the taverna.
- Camera: For the dam, the peacocks and the lake.
Seven Springs Rhodes rewards visitors who come ready to get their feet wet.
How does Seven Springs Rhodes pair with Lindos and Butterfly Valley?
Seven Springs Rhodes pairs with Lindos for a nature and history day. It also pairs with Butterfly Valley for a day of shaded forest. Both pairings run as coach tours with hotel pickup.
On the Lindos pairing, guests explore the whitewashed lanes, swim at the beach or climb to the Acropolis. Donkeys carry visitors up the hill as a local taxi.
The escorted tour lets guests join the escort at the Acropolis or stay in the village instead. One reviewer valued skipping the queue with the escort.
Butterfly Valley has shaded paths, wooden bridges and streams. From July to September, thousands of Panaxia quadripunctaria rest in the cool valley, its listing says.
Food, drinks and an escort are not part of the Butterfly Valley combination. Its driver gives each guest a map of both valleys.
- Lindos viewpoint: A photo stop on the way back.
- Kallithea Springs: Added on one full-day island tour.
- Accessibility: None of the three tours suits guests with reduced mobility.
Guests who want food stops instead can look at the food tours on Rhodes.
How does weather shape a visit to Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes sits in the hot east of the island, where summer highs pass 35 °C. Model weather data for the valley gives a 35.7 °C July average this year. July peaked at 40.8 °C on 21 July.
August averaged 35.8 °C, with a high of 38.9 °C on 13 August. Summer stayed nearly dry, with just 4.0 mm of rain in July and 1.4 mm in August.
Visitors describe the air under the trees as cooler and fresher than on the dry coast. The tour listing calls the valley cool even on the hottest days.
Autumn rain returns in September. This year it brought 51.5 mm, 37 mm of it on 17 September.
Spring storms hit hard. A gust of 109.1 km/h struck on 1 April, and that day alone brought 48.1 mm of rain. A gust of 101.5 km/h hit on the same date last year.
Last August averaged 33.4 °C, and last June brought only 1.0 mm of rain.
- Last July: The valley peaked at 42.6 °C on 25 July.
- February rain: 155.6 mm this year.
- Coldest morning: 3.9 °C on 2 January this year.
Seven Springs Rhodes after rain shows a stronger waterfall but a muddier trail.
When is the best season for Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes suits spring and autumn best. Monthly highs then sit between about 18 °C and 31 °C. October averaged 24.5 °C this year, and September 30.6 °C.
Last October averaged 24.4 °C but brought 66.3 mm of rain, 31 mm of it on 22 October. Last November averaged 21.8 °C.
April averaged 21.1 °C this year. March averaged 17.5 °C, and last March 19.2 °C.
Last April brought 146.4 mm of rain, 63.2 mm of it on 1 April. The springs and waterfalls run strong after such rains.
June averaged 32.0 °C this year and 32.7 °C last year. June rain totalled 18.7 mm this year.
Winter averaged 15.2 °C in January this year and 16.9 °C last December. The tunnel water felt cold even in late October, one visitor noted.
- Last September: Just 5.5 mm of rain.
- Last December: 95.8 mm of rain.
- Butterfly season: July to September in the nearby valley.
Guests planning a sea day as well can compare the day trips to Symi from Rhodes.
What do travelers ask about Seven Springs Rhodes?
Seven Springs Rhodes raises questions on the tunnel, children, access, parking and tours. The car park and toilets are free, and free cancellation on tours runs up to 24 hours ahead.
How far is Seven Springs Rhodes from Rhodes town?
About 28 km, on the east coast between Kolymbia and Archipoli.
Can children walk the tunnel?
One family’s ten-year-old walked it with a parent. The tunnel does not suit claustrophobic visitors of any age.
Is the valley accessible?
The trails are uneven, and none of the three coach tours suits guests with reduced mobility.
Do tours include entrance fees?
No. The Lindos combination leaves entrance fees out of the price.
What wildlife can visitors see?
Peacocks, Muscovy ducks, geese, turtles and fish live around the lake and the taverna.
What do visitors wear?
Non-slip shoes for the trails and water shoes for the tunnel.
Can visitors eat on site?
Yes. The family taverna by the stream serves meals, and a café serves drinks.
Can visitors skip the tunnel?
Yes. A footpath above ground leads to the lake and the dam.