ST722 Dikaia - Edirne

The ST722 Dikaia – Edirne is an approximately 30 km point-to-point stage of the Sultans Trail in the Thrace borderlands of Greece, crossing into Turkey with only about 150 m of cumulative elevation gain across flat river-plain terrain. Rated expert, its difficulty comes not from climbing but from a sensitive international frontier crossing, long exposed farm tracks and limited services.

About the ST722 Dikaia - Edirne

The ST722 Dikaia – Edirne is one of the final stages of the Sultans Trail, a 2,500 km cultural long-distance route that links St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna with the Süleymaniye Mosque complex in Istanbul. The full trail retraces the 1529 march of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, who departed Istanbul on 10 May 1529 and reached the gates of Vienna 141 days later. Today the path is managed by the Sultans Trail Foundation, a Netherlands-based NGO, and is promoted as "a path of peace and a meeting place for people of all faiths and cultures."

This particular stage sits deep in the Evros river plain, the easternmost corner of the European Union. It begins at the Greek village of Dikaia, only a few kilometres from the tripoint where Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey meet, and finishes in Edirne, the former Ottoman capital and one of the most monument-rich cities on the entire route. As a frontier stage it carries an unusual character: walkers leave the European Union, cross the Evros/Meriç river border zone, and arrive in a city whose skyline is dominated by the 16th-century Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The trail belongs to the International Walking Network (IWN), the OpenStreetMap classification reserved for routes of cross-border significance, and partly overlaps the pan-continental E8 European long-distance path. Because the section involves a guarded international boundary, military zones and very limited public transport, it is graded expert despite being almost entirely flat. Planning, documentation and timing matter far more here than fitness.

Route Overview & Stages

The ST722 is most usefully understood as three connected segments: the Greek approach through the Evros farmland, the formal border crossing, and the final walk into Edirne past Ottoman monuments. The table below breaks down the stage as typically walked in a single long day of roughly 30 km. Distances are approximate and should be confirmed against the official Sultans Trail GPX, since field detours around military areas are common.

The cumulative gain across the whole 30 km is therefore only around 150 m, almost all of it on the gentle rise into Edirne's old town. The hard limit on the day is not energy but the border: the Kastanies–Pazarkule crossing has restricted hours and is occasionally closed to foot traffic, so the schedule must be built backwards from when you can realistically pass through control.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Dikaia village — the Greek trailhead, a quiet farming settlement in the Orestiada municipality close to the Greece–Bulgaria–Turkey tripoint.
• Evros / Meriç river dykes — long flood-defence embankments offering open views over Europe's easternmost wetlands and important bird migration corridors.
• Kastanies — the last Greek village before the frontier, with the rail line that once carried the Orient Express toward Istanbul.
• Pazarkule–Karaağaç border zone — the formal EU exit point and the area ceded to Greece and then returned to Turkey under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.
• Karaağaç district — home to the Lausanne Treaty Monument and Museum and the historic former railway station now used by Trakya University.
• Meriç (Meriç Köprüsü) bridge — a long 19th-century Ottoman stone bridge spanning the river on the approach to the city.
• Selimiye Mosque — Mimar Sinan's masterpiece, completed in 1575, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the visual climax of the stage.
• Edirne old bazaar & Üç Şerefeli Mosque — the historic commercial core of the former Ottoman capital, full of covered markets and early imperial architecture.

Best Time to Hike the ST722 Dikaia - Edirne

Thrace has a transitional climate: hot continental summers and cool, damp winters. The Evros plain bakes in July and August, when shadeless farm tracks regularly exceed 35 °C and water sources are unreliable. Winter brings river flooding, mud and frequent closures of low-lying paths, plus the risk of the border crossing operating reduced hours.

The two viable windows are spring and autumn. April to mid-June delivers green fields, peak bird migration along the Evros, and daytime highs around 18–24 °C. Mid-September to October offers stable dry weather, harvested fields that are easier to walk and comfortable 15–22 °C days. As of 2026, Thrace continues to see hotter, longer summers, which pushes the comfortable shoulder seasons slightly earlier in spring and later into autumn.

The single best month is May: mild temperatures, low rainfall, long daylight for the 30 km push, and a border crossing that operates on normal daytime hours. Always confirm crossing times before committing, as schedules can change at short notice.

Practical Information

Accommodation

There is no formal trekking infrastructure—no mountain huts—on this lowland stage, so plan around village guesthouses and city hotels. On the Greek side, Orestiada (about 15 km from Dikaia) is the practical base, with small hotels from roughly €40–60 per double room. Camping is technically possible on the Greek farmland but discouraged near the militarised border; wild camping inside the frontier zone is prohibited.

Edirne, by contrast, has plentiful and affordable lodging: budget guesthouses from about €25, mid-range hotels around €45–70, and several restored Ottoman-era boutique stays near the Selimiye Mosque. Because the day is long and the crossing time-sensitive, most walkers sleep in Orestiada the night before and book a room in central Edirne for the finish.

Getting There & Back

The Greek end is served by the railway and bus network through Orestiada station, roughly 4.5–5 hours by train or coach from Thessaloniki; from there a local taxi covers the final 15 km to Dikaia in about 20 minutes. The nearest airports are Alexandroupoli (ABE), about 1.5 hours south by road, and Thessaloniki (SKG) for wider connections. From Edirne, frequent intercity buses reach Istanbul's main bus terminal in roughly 2.5–3 hours, making it easy to close the loop or continue toward the trail's official Istanbul finish.

Permits & Fees

No hiking permit or trail fee is required, but this stage involves a real international border. Carry a valid passport (EU/Schengen ID alone is not sufficient to enter Turkey), and check current Turkish visa or e-visa requirements for your nationality before travelling. The Kastanies–Pazarkule crossing must be used at an official control point during its published hours; crossing the Evros river anywhere else is illegal and dangerous. Photography of military installations and personnel along the frontier is forbidden.

Gear & Packing List

This is a hot, exposed, single-day lowland walk, so prioritise sun protection, water capacity and a light load over heavy mountain kit. Two to three litres of carrying capacity is sensible because reliable refills are scarce until Edirne. A streamlined 30–40 litre pack is ideal; the Abisko Hike 35 handles a day's food and water comfortably, while ultralight walkers may prefer the minimalist Arc Scout 37L. If you are linking several Sultans Trail stages and carrying camping gear for the Bulgarian or Hungarian sections, a larger frame such as the Arc Haul Ultra 60L gives the volume without much weight penalty.

Beyond the pack, bring a wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen, electrolyte tablets, and trail shoes suited to hard-packed gravel and tarmac rather than alpine boots. Because the route runs through farmland and a border zone, keep documents in a waterproof pouch and carry a printed copy of your itinerary. For fuelling a 30 km day in the heat, planning your intake matters—our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you pack the right food weight. If you are still choosing a pack, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven tested options.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the cultural depth of the Sultans Trail appeals but you want more dramatic terrain, Greece offers several outstanding alternatives ranging from gentle waymarked paths to serious mountain routes. The Menalon Trail in the Peloponnese is Europe's first European Ramblers Association–certified Leading Quality Trail and a far greener, hillier counterpoint to the Thracian plain. For raw scenery, the Samaria Gorge Trail in Crete descends through one of Europe's longest gorges, while the Mount Olympus Trail rewards strong hikers with the country's highest summit. Walkers who enjoy point-to-point cross-border challenges may also like our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the ST722 Dikaia – Edirne?
May is the single best month, with mild 18–24 °C days, low rainfall, long daylight and a border crossing running normal daytime hours. The wider spring window of April to mid-June and the autumn window of mid-September to October are both excellent. Avoid July and August heat and winter river flooding on the low-lying Evros plain.

How difficult is this stage really?
The terrain is almost flat, with only around 150 m of total elevation gain over roughly 30 km, so physically it is moderate. It is rated expert because of the international border crossing, military zones, long exposed sections with little water or shade, and limited public transport. Careful documentation, timing and self-sufficiency matter more than climbing ability here.

How long is the stage and how many kilometres is that per day?
The Dikaia to Edirne stage covers approximately 30 km and is usually walked in a single long day. That makes for a demanding 30 km on hard-packed farm tracks and tarmac. Slower walkers can split it by overnighting in Kastanies near the frontier, though accommodation options on the Greek border side are very limited.

Where can I sleep along the route?
There are no huts. Most hikers base in Orestiada the night before, where small hotels cost about €40–60 per double, then finish in Edirne, which offers budget guesthouses from around €25 and mid-range hotels at €45–70. Camping near the militarised border is discouraged or prohibited, so plan to sleep in towns rather than in the field.

Do I need permits or a visa?
No hiking permit or trail fee is required, but you cross a real international border between Greece and Turkey. Carry a valid passport, check current Turkish visa or e-visa rules for your nationality, and use only the official Kastanies–Pazarkule control point during its published hours. Crossing the Evros river elsewhere is illegal, and photographing military sites is forbidden.

For full route management, history and the official GPX tracks, consult the Sultans Trail Foundation, and verify current border opening times and entry rules with the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel.