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Cyprus' Scented SlopesAn island of many surprises Nights: 7
Starting point: Rodon Mountain Hotel (3*), Agros. Set on the edge of the traditional village of Agros, this friendly mountain hotel has wide-ranging facilities, including coffee lounges, a gym, two saunas, a tennis court, a piano bar, a large terrace with sweeping views to the south, and two outdoor swimming pools (open October and May). The 123 simply decorated but comfortable bedrooms all have a balcony and air-conditioning. Accommodation: Rodon Mountain Hotel, as above. Day 2: today’s walk starts with a transfer to the monastery at Trooditissa, 1,300 metres above sea level, from where you descend through a forest, past a waterfall, to Phoini, which nestles at the foot of the mountains. Beyond the village, you ascend through the terraced vineyards to a pass in the limestone ridge. Admire the great views of Mount Olympus before winding downhill through more vineyards and orchards to the wine-making village of Omodos, one of the most beautiful villages in the Troodos, where women can often be seen embroidering in the shade of mulberry trees. It is worth visiting the now abandoned monastery to see the outstanding wood-panelled cloister ceiling if you have time to kill before your taxi arrives to take you to Lofou, a once large and wealthy Byzantine village whose population has dwindled to just 60 inhabitants. (13km, 4hrs) Day 3: our suggested circular walk from Lofou takes in the heart of the 'Krasochoria', some of the most traditional wine villages in Cyprus, as it winds through the vine-covered hills past the chapel of Ayia Mavri. Built into the rock next to a centuries-old plane tree, the chapel is well worth a visit to see its 500-year-old frescoes. (12km, 3.5hrs) Accommodation: Agrovino Lofou, as above. Day 4: after a transfer out of the mountains towards the west coast, you rise to some curious rock formations, among them Eagle Rock, which boasts an excellent panorama of Chrysochou Bay on Cyprus’ north coast. You then pass through cornfields and meadows grazed by roaming herds of goats, skirting Pittokopos, the first of three villages you pass that were once occupied by the Turks but long since abandoned and now eerily silent, the only noises those made by the goats which wander between the old stone buildings. To reach Neo Chorio, the gateway to the Akamas Peninsula, you cross the limestone crag framing the Petratis 'Gorge', which is particularly pretty in spring, when the surrounding meadows are lit by yellow oxeye daisies and myriad orchids. (8km, 3hrs) Accommodation: Tavros Hotel Apartments (A-class), Neo Chorio. These studios and apartments are peacefully located just outside Neo Chorio on the edge of the Akamas National Park, and are built around an outdoor pool, where you can enjoy breakfast on warm mornings. For dinner, we recommend the nearby restaurant (pay locally), a short stroll away. Day 5: for your day at Neo Chorio, we suggest a fairly easy circular walk in the Akamas National Park. Leading initially through orchards of carob trees with gnarled trunks, it soon rises through a pine wood to join a nature trail which affords far-reaching views over arching bays and the west coast as it winds through pine trees, juniper and and expanses of scented herbs. (12km, 4hrs) Accommodation: Tavros Hotel Apartments, as above. Day 6: on your last day, you have the chance to explore the Akamas Peninsula further, including the famous Baths of Aphrodite. According to mythology, it was here that Akamas, one of the sons of the Greek hero Theseus, surprised Aphrodite as she bathed and fell in love with her. The walk starts by retracing the first part of the previous day's route, then follows a different nature trail over several small crests that reward you with spectacular views of the sea on both sides. At the end of your walk, you are collected by taxi for a transfer to your last hotel. (16km, 4hrs) Recommendations for extra nights: Neo Chorio makes a good base for extra walking. Alternatively, to discover more of the beautiful Paphos region, you can stay on at the Natura Beach Hotel (Polis) with a category C hire car. A third option is to stay in exquisitely restored village house apartments (some with shared pools) in Tochni, with meals at the delightful taverna. These make charming bases for exploring the archaeological and natural treasures in the south of this enthralling island with your hire car. Walking chart: the chart gives the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved each day. If comparing holidays, please note the scale of each chart as this can differ.
Other information: If you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. You can also read our website travel diary for a personal account of the holiday. Prices & travel 2007/08:
Room upgrade: Agros, presidential or honeymoon suite £28pppn; executive suite £22pppn > Any queries? Let us call you back |
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Cyprus, a real Mediterranean gem and the meeting point of different cultures, is an island of many faces – and many surprises. Few realise that it is so rich in flora and fauna, or that the Troodos Mountains, which rise from the hot southern plains, are so high that January brings a covering of snow. Byzantine chapels and other treasures are scattered across the herb-clad slopes, but perhaps the best surprise of all is the Cypriot hospitality, some of the warmest you will ever encounter. 
Day 1: offering breathtaking views that stretch right across northern Cyprus to the sea beyond (and even the Turkish mainland in very clear weather), this is an excellent first walk. After a 15-minute transfer, you follow a nature trail, enjoying good vistas of Cyprus’ two highest peaks, Mount Olympus and Mount Adelphi, as you wind in and out of oak and pine woods on the ascent to the panoramic, Alpine-like Madari Ridge. You follow this for a while, before returning past volcanic rock formations to Agros, where, time permitting, you can visit the village’s famous rose petal distilling centre, which makes use of the hundreds of rose bushes that surround the village to produce rose water and rose liqueur. (19km, 6.5hrs)
Accommodation: Agrovino Lofou (agrovino), Lofou. Owner Costas has converted this traditional village house with real love and attention to detail, and the result is handsome, highly praised accommodation that is full of character – the studio bedrooms have exposed stonework, beamed ceilings, old fireplaces and attractive furniture. Breakfast and dinner are taken in the welcoming, intimate taverna with its stone-flagged floor and arched ceiling.
Accommodation: Natura Beach Hotel, Polis. Set in gardens that are in turn surrounded by orchards and olive groves, this boasts a superb location right by the sea, a 15-minute walk from the centre of Polis. It makes an ideal spot for your last night. The air-conditioned bedrooms all have a balcony or a veranda from which to admire the coastal or mountain views, and the hotel terrace makes the perfect place from which to watch the sunset after a dinner of local cuisine. The facilities include a private, sandy beach, an outdoor pool (usually open during the months the holiday operates), a cocktail bar, sun room, tennis court, gym, sauna and mountain bike hire.