Kalymnos Grande Grotta

Big roofs ! The showpiece of Kalymnos is understandably very popular, and queueing for routes is not uncommon. Lots of stamina and technique required giving inspiring, exposed and often 3D climbing. Gets the sun early afternoon in the Spring and Autumn, later in the summer

Region

Greece - Kalymnos

Rock Type

Limestone

Altitude

200m

Number of routes

Range of Routes

7a-8b

Faces

South

Climbing Area

Kalymnos

Directions

From Masouri go North and park after a few hundred metres by the Philoxenia hotel. A steep path leads up to Grande Grotta.

Sport and bolted routes

Topo Ref	Route	Sport Grade	Length	Quality	Description
01	Massalia	6b	100m	***	Four good pitches that traverse above the Grande Grotta. Descent is by abseil, either by walking from the last pitch a few metres to an abseil point that will take you right over the lip of the Grande Grotta (two 80m ropes required, tie a knot). Or walk 150m further to above Panorama for two 35m abseils. A 70m rope just reaches, again, tie a knot!! 1) 6b. Climb the technical slab. 25m 2) 5c 25m. 3) 5c 25m. 4) 5c 25m.
02	Zenith	8b+	40m	***	A briliant long hard line up the left hand side of the cave
03	Aegialis	7c		***	Not so hard technically, but very sustained. The most photographed climb in the world.
04	Kopalization	8a+	55m	***	Extension to Aegialis
05	Kopalization Extra	8b+	65m	***	extension to the extension
06	Zawinal syndrome	7c+	30m	***	Long, steep and impressive. Be careful of rope drag
07	Aphrodite	7a+	12m	**	A short technical pitch between Aegialis and DNA.
08	DNA	7a	20m	***	An excellent introduction to the steep routes in the cave. Climb the tufas on big holds, finding as many recovery spots as possible, before a difficult clip of the last bolt before the belay. Classic.
09	DNA extension	8a+	50m	***
10	Ivi ole	7b+	20m	***	A direct on "Ivi" with an interesting dyno
11	Ivi	7a+	20m	***	Another pumpy jug fest
12	Priapoas	7c	37m	***	Incredible and very impressive. A long three dimensonal adventure through the huge stalactites. Likened to going for a 15 minute run. Pumpy and hard. A 70m rope JUST reaches, tie a knot because if it doesnt you need to panic.
13	Super Priapos	8a	55m	***	extension to Priapos
14	Fun de Chichunne	8a	40m	***
15	Happy girlfriend	5c+	15m	***	A small slab and tufa that gives a beautful view of Telendos from the back of the cave
17	Elefanthimmel	7a		***	A first 5a pitch leads pleasantly up the slab, then climb the huge roof with equally huge features, and some final hard moves
18	Punto Caramelo	8a	30m	***	Steep!
19	Tufantastic	7b+	40m	***	Ignore the awful pun in the name, and climb for ever through the stalactites. Careful with the length of your rope
20	Trela	7a	40m	***	A looong pitch through the stalactites. A 70m rope just reaches the ground. Tie a knot