Contrasts of Cyprus Walking

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Contrasts of Cyprus Walking Trip Notes

Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Programmes: Walking & Trekking
Activity Level:
2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
4 out of 7 - Moderate & Challenging
8 Days: Land Only
Ages: 12+
Trip Code: W07YA

Trip Overview

This self-guided multi-centre walking holiday combines the best walking in Cyprus – with routes in the Troodos Mountains and the Akamas Peninsula.

Start off the week in the Troodos Mountains and the stone-built village of Kakopetria, with its narrow, cobbled streets and the nearby 11th century painted church, Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, one of ten that make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Painted Churches in the Troodos Region. Enjoy fabulous views across the Solea and Marathasa valleys to the sea as well as the northern slope of Mount Olympus – the highest point in Cyprus and home to both a long-range British radar installation and a ski resort in winter.

The next part of your trip heads towards the Northwest and Droushia with walks across the Laona Plateau with its picturesque stone-built villages. There’s also the possibility of visiting a local winery. Enjoy fabulous panoramic views as you head towards the coast at delightful Lara Beach and the dramatic Avakas Gorge Nature trail. As your luggage is transported to your final hotel, you’ll walk from Droushia to the Baths of Aphrodite cave, enjoying spectacular views of Cyprus’s Northwest coast with the whole of Chrysochous Bay laid out before you, from the northwest tip of the island at Cape Arnaoutis, all the way to Pomos village in the northeast. You’ll also walk stretches of the Smigies, Adonis and Aphrodite Trails with stunning views from the Moutti tis Sotiras peak and enjoy a walk along the North coast, visiting some of the best beaches and coves including Fontana Amoroza, the Blue Lagoon, Manolis Beach and more.

At a Glance

7 nights in 3 star hotels, all rooms en suite
5 or 6 days of walking – longer/shorter options most days
Luggage transfers
Walking transfers on days 4 and 5
GPS Navigation App

Highlights

Enjoy fantastic panoramas of the island from the Troodos Mountain trails, including views of Mount Olympus
A mix of walking in the mountains with traditional villages, stunning beaches and coastal walks
Visit UNESCO World Heritage churches, the Blue Lagoon and the Baths of Aphrodite cave
Some of the walks have longer or harder options, giving walkers a choice to do an average of 10km or 20km each day

Is This Trip for You?

This is a triple-centre independent walking holiday with a choice of walks on most days so the average daily distance is either 10km or 20km, which is why the overall rating is Leisurely/Moderate and Moderate/Challenging. The walking is along varied terrain footpaths, in the Troodos Mountains in open landscape and through forests, in inland areas with views of the coast and also on coastal paths. There are moderate ascents or descents on most days. Walkers should have a good fitness level and be confident on uneven terrain. Some of the walks are not suitable for vertigo sufferers due to the .

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. You are provided with route directions to follow on a smart phone app. Your documentation will contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service. Due to limited family rooms at the hotels and the terrain on the walks, we advise this holiday is for those over 12 years.

Adult min age: 12

Max group size: 6

Itinerary

Land Only

Start City: Kakopetria
End City: Polis Chrysochous

Land Only Itinerary

Arrive in the stone-built, mountain village of Kakopetria.

Stay at the Mill Hotel (or Crystal Boutique Hotel) on a bed & breakfast basis for 3 nights

A circular walk to the West of Kakopetria, today’s walk is mainly on sparsely forested slopes with fabulous views towards the Solea Valley, as far as Morphou Bay and the sea. The route takes you past a reservoir, the village of Galata and close to a UNESCO World Heritage painted chapel.

Activity hours: 3hrs

Meals included: Breakfast

This circular walk is mainly on the slopes to the East of Kakopetria, offering great views towards the Solea Valley and the village of Kakopetria as well as towards nearby peaks and the northern slope of Mount Olympus.

Activity hours: 2hrs

Meals included: Breakfast

After a transfer to the beginning of today’s walk, you’ll head towards your next stop at Droushia. Along the way, walk past a crescent lake, an abandoned village and a medieval bridge. Stop at the charming, medieval chapel at Agia Paraskevi and the Kremiotis Waterfall.

Stay at the Droushia Heights Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis for 2 nights

Activity hours: 4hrs

Meals included: Breakfast

Descend from the Laona plateau to the Lara coast with an optional stretch of the walk along the Avakas Gorge Nature trail. Pass by the beaches of South Lara and Toxeftra, ending in Agios Georgios tis Pegeias with its medieval church. Return transfer included to the hotel.

Activity hours: 5hrs

Meals included: Breakfast

Enjoy fabulous views of the Lara coast then head north for spectacular views of the north coast and the whole of Chrysochous Bay from Cape Arnaoutis, the northwest tip of the island, up to Pomos in the northeast. Today’s longer route includes stretches of the Smigies, Adonis and Aphrodite Trails.

Stay at the Aphrodite Beach Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis for 2 nights

Activity hours: 4hrs

Meals included: Breakfast

Today you have the option to just relax on the beach, close to the hotel, or you can enjoy more views of Cyprus’s north coast as you walk along the eastern part of the Adonis Trail. The route passes most of the north coast’s beaches including highlights of Fontana Amoroza and the Blue Lagoon.

Activity hours: 3.5hrs

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast on your last morning, depart the Akamas Peninsula.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation

The hotels you stay in are all three-star properties with a mix of styling – you start with rustic charm in Kakopetria, to a more modern feel with contemporary styling and an outdoor swimming pool in Droushia and then contemporary beachfront to end in the Akamas Peninsula. Each of the hotels have their own restaurant but are also within walking distance of a choice of restaurants so you can enjoy the local cuisine each evening.

Single supplement from £ 114

Food & Drink

All breakfasts are included.

For dinners you have the choice of either the hotels’ restaurants, or there is a good choice of restaurants nearby so you can choose to eat out and enjoy the local Cypriot cuisine.

Transport

We have included walking transfers on day 4 (from the hotel to the beginning of the day’s walk) and day 5 (return to the hotel at the end of the walk).

Weather & Seasonality

Cyprus has a subtropical climate, one of the warmest climates and warmest winters in the Mediterranean. The climate is of a semi-arid type with very mild winters (on the coast) and warm to hot summers. Snow is possible only in the Troodos mountains in the central part of the island. Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry. The average annual temperature on the coast is around 24°C (75°F) during the day and 14°C (57°F) at night. Generally, the warm season lasts about eight months, from April, with average temperatures of 21-23°C (70-73°F) during the day and 11-13°C (52-55°F) at night, to November, with average temperatures of 22-23°C (72-73°F) during the day and 12-14°C (54-57°F) at night. In the remaining four months of the year, the temperatures tend to remain mild, while sometimes exceeding 20°C (68°F) during the day.

The middle of summer (July and August) is usually hot, with an average maximum coastal temperature of around 35°C (95°F) during the day and around 25°C (77°F) at night. In the centre of the island (the highlands/Troodos mountains) the average temperature exceeds 35°C (95°F)). In June and September on the coast the average maximum temperature is usually around 28-30°C (82-86°F) during the day and around 18-20°C (64-68°F) at night. While large temperature fluctuations are rare on the coast, the centre of Cyprus has more variations – typically colder winters and hotter summers.

Weather Charts

Kyrenia, North Cyprus

Joining Instructions

The tour itself normally begins at the start hotel in Kakopetria on the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Flights and arrival and departure transfers from/to Paphos airport can be arranged.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Kakopetria
Location end: Polis Chrysochous

What To Take

Essential Equipment

Sturdy walking boots (although good walking trainers will suffice)
Small daypack for camera, guidebook etc.
Water bottle to use when walking and sightseeing (2 litre)
Sun cream
Hat
Sunglasses
Waterproofs
Warm clothes

Optional Equipment

Walking poles
Swimwear

GPS Route Navigation

We’ve teamed up with RideWithGPS to provide our carefully researched and checked itineraries in a convenient format, similar to a car satnav, with turn-by-turn instructions all along your route.

Before you travel we’ll send you everything you need to download your route notes and the free RideWithGPS app. It’s available for iPhone and Android and the routes can also be used on any regular GPS device such as the Garmin Edge bike computers or Forerunner fitness devices.

For more details and to watch the demonstration video, please visit our GPS Route Navigation page.

Practical Information

Visa

The Republic of Cyprus

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Cyprus. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccinations and Health

The Republic of Cyprus

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Local Time

The Republic of Cyprus's time zone: Asia/Nicosia (UTC +02:00)

Electricity

The Republic of Cyprus's electricity: Plug type G (three rectangular pins) – 220/240V, 50Hz

Money

The Republic of Cyprus's currency: Euro (EUR)

ATM Availability

ATMs are available and usually the most convenient way of obtaining Euros. As some of the smaller villages in the Troodos Mountains may not have an ATM it’s worth taking some Euros with you or getting some from the airport ATM on arrival.

Travellers cheques are accepted in banks. Credit cards are widely used.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

Lunches and dinners are not included in the itinerary as there are good restaurant choices. Please allow some spending money for this – we recommend approximately €5-15 (US$4.50-13) for lunch and €20-30 (US$18-27) for dinner per day.

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Important Information

Your safe participation

When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.

By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.

Seatbelts

All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.

How to Book

Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
Complete your booking and payment

When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.

After booking

You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.

Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.

Trip Note validity

These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

Licensing

Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.

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