Petaloudes

Introduction

The Valley of the Butterflies is a secluded, beautiful natural valley on Rhodes where thousands of butterflies gather in summer—a clear-stream, green-shaded beautiful valley that becomes a haven for thousands of butterflies (tiger moths) each summer, a unique and cool natural sight on Rhodes. The Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes in Greek) sits in a secluded valley in western Rhodes, a cool, beautiful nature reserve. The valley itself is pleasant: a clear stream babbles through the valley floor, forming little waterfalls and pools; both banks are dense, lush greenery (especially a kind of sweetgum tree emitting a unique resin scent—the key to attracting butterflies), full of green vitality, cool and beautiful; wooden bridges and paths wind through the stream and shade, a cool spot to escape the summer heat and stroll. What makes the valley famous and most unique is its summer wonder—each summer (about June to September, peaking in July–August), thousands of butterflies (more precisely, a red-brown and black Jersey Tiger Moth) are attracted by the unique scent of the sweetgum trees, flocking to the valley to rest and breed. Then, the tree trunks, rocks and leaves are densely covered with clusters of butterflies (folding wings and showing dark color when resting, but spreading wings to reveal bright red when flying)—a spectacular sight, like a kingdom of butterflies. Visitors stroll the secluded valley, admiring the babbling stream and green shade, and the summer wonder of clustered resting butterflies. (Watch butterflies quietly, don't disturb them, to protect these fragile creatures.) Visiting Rhodes, strolling the secluded Valley of the Butterflies and enjoying the summer butterfly wonder is a unique, cool sight on Rhodes.

✨ Highlights

🛈 Practical Info