Home › Mountain Villages Lefkada Mountain Villages: The Ultimate Driving Route Beyond the famous turquoise beaches, Lefkada car rental visitors can explore the interior mountain villages of Lefkada by road. The Lefkada mountain villages sit at altitudes of 500–1,015 metres, including Karya at 500m and Profitis Ilias at 1,015m, and the villages offer panoramic Ionian Sea views plus a traditional way of life. In Karya, tavernas commonly serve full meals for under €12, and a rental car remains the best way to reach Lefkada's inland villages. This complete Lefkada interior driving route covers a loop of approximately 50–60 kilometres. The driving time is 2–3 hours, and a full day allows time for coffee stops, lunch, and sightseeing. The roads are winding but fully paved, so a standard economy car such as a Hyundai i10, VW Up, Fiat Panda, or Kia Picanto is suitable. During July and August, mountain temperatures are often 5–8°C lower than on the coast. Lefkada mountain villages by car: Lefkada Town to Karya The route starts in Lefkada Town, the capital of Lefkada, and continues to Karya on a road that measures 15 km and usually takes 20 minutes. The road is wide, paved, and climbs through olive groves. Karya is Lefkada's largest mountain village at 500 metres altitude and is known for Karsaniki lace-making, a traditional embroidery stitch developed in the village. The Folklore Museum of Maria Koutsochero charges approximately €2.50–€4. Karya's central square is shaded by plane trees and surrounded by tavernas. Every August, Karya hosts the Village Wedding festival. Travellers based in Nidri can also reach Karya on a 13 km mountain road. Karya to Englouvi The road from Karya to Englouvi is 7 km and usually takes 15 minutes. Englouvi is the highest village in the Ionian Islands at 730 metres altitude. Englouvi is famous for Englouvi lentils, and the lentils are cultivated on the nearby Agios Donatos plateau. On 7 August, the Feast of Agios Donatos includes communal lentil cooking in the village square. From Englouvi, a narrow road continues to the Profitis Ilias church at 1,015 metres, the highest point on Lefkada. The summit offers a 360° panorama of Lefkada and the Ionian Sea. The hilltop area also includes an abandoned US Air Force antenna installation, historic shepherd huts known as voltos, and old threshing floors known as alonia. Exanthia: sunset views and Rachi restaurant Exanthia is a mountain village near Drymona in northwest Lefkada, and Exanthia may date back to the Byzantine era. The village faces west, which makes Exanthia a strong sunset viewpoint over the Ionian Sea. Rachi restaurant and bar in Exanthia is a well-known sunset dining venue and a paragliding launch point above Kathisma beach. Drivers should expect very narrow village streets in Exanthia, and some vehicles need folded side mirrors to pass between stone walls. More Lefkada mountain villages to visit A longer Lefkada mountain villages by car route can include Vafkeri, Drymona, Komilio, and Agios Petros. Vafkeri stands near the Asomaton Monastery ruins. Drymona has spring blossom views from Judas trees. Komilio is a small stone-built hamlet with few permanent residents. Agios Petros offers views across the channel to Kefalonia and Ithaca. Mountain driving tips for Lefkada car hire Main roads in Lefkada's mountain area are paved, but many roads are narrow and winding. Drivers should use engine braking on descents to reduce brake overheating on steep slopes. The narrowest routes are the road to Englouvi, the road to Profitis Ilias, and the road between Karya and Vafkeri. GPS reception is generally reliable in Lefkada's mountain villages. A practical schedule is 09:00 departure from Lefkada Town, 11:00 arrival in Englouvi, and lunch in Karya or Exanthia before an afternoon return.