The Three Faces of Cyprus

Personal highlights were the Madari ridge walk, the Atalanta trail, the walk from the door at Lofou and the Aphrodonis Trail from Tavros. We would recommend a meal at Nous, when at Casale.

Overall, this was a brilliant holiday with some fine and challenging walks. It’s wonderful to escape the October gloom and spend a few days in the Cypriot sunshine. As always, the organisation and support from Inntravel was first class.

This was one of the best holidays we have ever had and it was much needed!! It was our first visit to Cyprus - one of the friendliest places we have ever visited. The three hotels and locations were excellent and provided a really good contrast from one place to another. The food and wine was wonderful albeit with huge portions!

A wonderful walking holiday, tough in places but with rewarding views. We also visited Kourion and Kykkos as recommended in the notes, both well worth a visit. The temperatures were in the 30s during our stay - best to start walking early! 

Cyprus is not a great walking destination.

The nine days spread over three locations worked really well Accomodation at Lofou and Neo Chorio were small and very personal. It was good to have the car for some extra hours to visit some of the archeological highlights on the coast on the way back to the airport. We did a variety of walks. Highly recommended trip. We find Inntravel a very professional organisation having used them three times. 

We very much enjoyed our first visit to Cyprus. The accommodation and walks were excellent. We were glad that we added an extra night at each location, which gave us the chance to visit some of the many local attractions, including the painted churches of the Troodos, monasteries, the Roman mosaics in Paphos and the ancient city of Kourion.

The settings and provision of the accommodation was very good, very interesting and definitely gave a feeling for the local culture.

Visited the archeological sites at Kourion and Paphos, well worth it. Driving easy, roads not crowded.Parking free.

Wild flowers lovely.

Tried the 'Nous' restaurant in Kalolanayiotis, which was excellent.

Not a holiday recommended for vegetarians, there was a great deal of meat served, and generally very large portions everywhere!

The contrasting locations and accommodation were a real bonus. I loved the archaeological sites in and around Paphos.

We wanted to walk in the mountains so we drove to the Troodos area. We really enjoyed the Pouziari and Kaledonia trails with the Persephone extension (despite the freezing weather - we were walking through snow while the UK had temperatures of 25!). We went back to this area on the next day and did the Atalante trail then on the way to the second hotel, we did the Madari Ridge - probably our favourite walk! The meals at Casale Panayiotis were excellent. We'd recommend the snack bar, but be warned, portions are big!

We loved the holiday. The walls are great, especially in the mountains. We were lucky to arrive at Easter after a wet winter and were thus rewarded with the most wonderful wild flower displays we’ve ever seen (in some cases whole hillsides covered in mauve and yellow), green landscapes and weather sunny but cool enough for walks. We also enjoyed the chance to see a little of Cyprus culture, through visits to the monasteries at Omodos (the museum of the independence struggle is a useful reminder that the British Empire could be as harsh as any other), Kalopanagiotis and Kykkos (the grandiose monument to Archbishop Makarios is bizarre but must be seen). Our favourite stopping place was Casale Panayotis, with its mountain location, comfort and good food (not always easy to find in Cyprus). We could have holed up there, away from the outside world, for quite a long time.

We were unlucky with the weather for the first week (end of March) so it was good to have a choice of walks including lower level ones when the cloud level was low. We particularly enjoyed the walk from Agios Theodorus through pine woods and glorious spring flowers. I think our favourite was the Goatherd walk - lovely flowers, good for birds and very peaceful (apart from a couple of off-road vehicles). We enjoyed a good fish meal at Molos in Latchi.

Overall and despite the appalling weather it was a a well balanced walking holiday. Unlike last year's review where people were walking in shorts in 24°, we needed woolly hat, gloves, thermals and waterproofs. The locals stated it was the worst winter for many decades. We stayed extra nights at all three centres and were able to do most of the walks (despite the snow on the Persephone trail). Lofou was an authentic taverna with a very nice family running it, with an entirely Cypriot menu. Also a very nice walk from the door in the best weather that we had. In Kalopanayiotis we would recommend the Old Cinema taverna on Saturday and Sunday nights for the 'meze' fixed menu; we were the only non Cypriots on the Saturday of a public holiday weekend. Booking advisable for the 'meze' nights. It is worth noting that the main street in Neo Chorio has been dug up and the works will last another 15 months. Smigies taverna did good, and large, meals. 

The choice of walks was a highlight of this trip as they offered spectacular Cypriot scenery and provided enough of a challenge with the varied terrains and stony paths. Enjoyed the warmth and generosity of the Cypriot people although that didn't always compensate for some lacklustre meals. Most of the restaurants and hotels use pre-prepared foods especially for the mezes. Staying at Lofou we enjoyed the ambience of the bar on the main road into the village run by Dimitri, Costas' son. From mid-March to early April we found that in all 3 of the villages there were quite a few of the restaurants still closed for the winter months. Likewise some of the museums and churches were locked up, but it is worth getting the keys from the locals where possible as suggested by the notes. Definitely worth visiting Kourion and the Sanctuary of Apollo Ylatis as is Kato Pafos Archeological Park and the Tombs of the Kings. The UNESCO painted churches are worth seeking out. The best meal we had was at a slightly more expensive restaurant in Polis called The Old Town Restaurant but well worth the price for the quality of the food where everything was fresh and made in-house. In the Neo Chorio Akamas peninsula area be prepared for 4 wheel drive SUVs and jeeps which tear up the shared paths and roads during the rainy weather.

I thoroughly enjoyed this varied and interesting holiday in Cyprus. The accommodation and the walks took us into areas where we really felt away from it all, enjoyed some beautiful scenery and were able to experience the wonderful local hospitality.

Despite a few negative issues, we enjoyed the holiday. Our favourite walks were: Pouziari & Kaledonia trails; Madari Ridge Circuit; Agios Theodorus to Panagia Asinou; and Smigies Nature Trail. Kykkos monastery was amazing, we were glad we arrived at opening time when it was (temporarily) quiet. 

We were pleased that we had 3 nights in Paphos before starting the Inntravel itinerary. It meant we saw the main sights in and near Paphos and could visit Kourion and Limassol en route to Lofou. The only disappointing ancient site was Palaipafos. 

A really varied holiday that lived up to our expectations (and exceeded them). Our favourite place was Lofou in the mountains, a really lovely place to stay and we felt that we had a really good local experience.

Excellent holiday and would like to repeat it again in the spring when the flowers would be out

The friendliness and food at Lofou. For veggies like us, it was quite excellent. Also we found a number of small tavernas offered to rustle something up spontaneously for us 'off menu' with the result that we had some of the freshest, best and most varied holiday food we have had for years in any country.  The quality of accommodation at Casale Panayiotis was superb. Tip: avoid the Akamas Peninsula walk at the weekend when - we assume - most of the four-wheel drive vehicles appear. 

We didnt attempt the longer walks, but found the 'nature trails' perfect. Some stunning scenery, and the three-centered stay worked very well. One couldn't help but contrast between the three hotels, but actually I enjoyed the Lofou Agravino most, as a friendly and authentic Cypriot experience.

This holiday is a great way to experience Cyprus for the first time. Lofou is being lovingly restored and while there the Pouziari, Persephone and Kaledonia Trails combine to make an excellent circular walk. It is also worth making time to visit the excavations at Kourion and to see the extraordinary fine mosaics in Paphos Archaeological Park. The Artimis Trail is perfect to provide a break during the drive to Kalapanayiotis where a very different restored village awaits. Set on the sides of a deep valley this village looks much like any other but the modern stylish interiors are most comfortable. An added bonus is the lift which whisks you up the hillside effortlessly. We didn't see another person on our walk around Kalopanayiotis and it was as if we had the whole of the Troodos Mountains to ourslves. Then on to Neo Chorio stopping at the Kykkos Monastery enroute. Words cannot do justice to the opulence and splendor of Kykkos, it is just wonderful. Tavros Appartments have a very welcome swimming pool, we enjoyed a delightful coastal walk and Smigies Trail provided a perfect finale. As we neared the end of this walk the thunder clouds were massing overhead but out luck held and we were back at the appartment taking off our boots when the rain came. 

Could have done with a good day to acclimatise to the weather, would book more next time.  Weather was changeable especially in the Troodos Mountains, need warmer clothing compared to the others, and waterproofs!!

Ask for early breakfast if possible so that you can start walking early before the weather gets too hot. In Casale Panayiotis, don't accept a room away from the hotel complex as it is necessary to use the village lift to get to the restaurant. With hindsight, we would have asked for an upper room with balcony rather than a courtyard room which was very hot and rather dark. Also the upper rooms at Tavros Apartments were very spacious and had large terraces, our room No 35 was excellent.

An excellent walking holiday. We strongly recommend staying at each of the three hotels for four, not three, nights as there are plenty of walking options and it is nice (from Lofou) to visit Kourian and the beach for a day off, and to have some relaxing time by the sea when at Neo Chorio before flying home. 

Our personal highlights were the walks in the Troodos Mountains. These beautiful pine forests are so tranquil and empty. We also enjoyed the serenity of Lofou and Costas playing his bouzouki. Loutraki is an excellent restaurant at Casale Panayiotis; definitely worth trying over the more conventional alternatives. The portions are huge so order one to share, and their wine is excellent. 

A very enjoyable holiday. There is a lot of uphill walking, so be prepared! The three locations provide a good contrast in scenery and type of walks. We travelled in the last week of March and the weather was generally sunny during the day, temperatures up to 24℃ (we walked in shorts most of the time), but quite cold at night - when we were grateful for our duvet jackets. It was a good time of year for wildflowers, particularly orchids in the limestone country. 

We had an extra night at both Lofou and Kalopanayiotis and had more than enough alternatives to keep us happy despite one of our party not being prepared to undertake any of the routes that indicated a risk of vertigo. Although views from the Troodos and in Neo Chorio were reduced by Saharan dust in the atmosphere the walks were good and would have been stunning if the sky had been clear.
Our favourite walks were probably around Omodos (while at Lofou), the walk around  Kalopanayiotis and the Goatherd’s Circuit (at Neo Chorio) - all of which had excellent views, varied scenery and not much on the road. We ended the Goatherd’s  Circuit by combining the first part of the short nature trail option from Smigies picnic site with the last part of the longer nature trail (route instructions from 9.5km) which makes quite a long walk but a very pleasant way of descending to the village.
The ‘painted churches’ in the Troodos are fascinating. It is well worth stopping off at the Church of the Archangel Michael in Pedoulas on the journey to Kalopanayiotos and walking at least part of the village’s churches nature trail (information near at the church).

The locations for this holiday were perfect and the walks just right for us. The welcome from people at the three locations was excellent and extremely friendly. Thoroughly recommend this holiday.

We really liked the mix of accommodation and enjoyed the walks described plus the general information.

Cyprus is a beautiful island with a good infrastructure (for traffic and hiking) and with wonderful nature. Coming from the deep middle European winter, Cyprus enjoyed us with a lovely spring, flowers everywhere, sunshine, mild climate.

The three accommodations showed us different sides of Cyprus. The first stay at Lofou Agrovino was in a traditional Greek-Cypriot village in the mountains. The hotel was family owned with very friendly owners. We got an impression how people lived and live in the Cypriot countryside. The second hotel “Casale Panayiotis” offered a lot of comfort and services and showed us the touristic side of Cyprus. We met people from countries that surround Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean area. We were surprised how much the cooking offered was influenced by Arab cooking. Our third station Tavros Hotel Apartments was a nice holiday home with a very friendly and helpful manager.

We very much enjoyed all walks. The material provided by Inntravel was just perfect for us.  We booked five extra days, which allowed us to perform almost all walks recommended by Inntravel. Our favorite tour was the 17 km walk from Aygios Theodoros to Asinou and back along the hills to Aygios Theodoros. This tour led us through wonderfully flowering spring meadows, allowed us to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Church of Panayia Phorviotissa (Asinou) and offered nice sights to the North coast of Cyprus and even to Turkey over the Mediterranean Sea. Another highlight was the Madari Trail through diversified types of landscapes with wonderful views over whole Cyprus.

A number of fellow travellers with you didn't realise that Kalopanayiotis was an option - your website seems to suggest 3+4 nights is the norm, whereas the brochure suggests 3+3+3 is the norm. We thought the middle hotel made the holiday by being quite special.

This was our first Inntravel holiday, and we would definitely consider doing another. The walks were all enjoyable and varied. We enjoyed the places we stayed. Inntravel pay a lot of attention to detail, and for a 'self-guided' trip, we felt very well looked after.

We travelled in mid November and it was perfect weather for walking at around 17 - 25 degrees throughout the holiday. The temperature did drop in the last 2 days however due to a storm. We had 1 extra night in Lofou and Kalopanayiotis, which meant we could cover more walks which we were glad of. Our favourite walks in Lofou were the Pouziari & Kalendonia trails (with extension) and the Omodos circuit. All the walks around Kalopanayiotis were very good in their own ways. We only walked the Aphrodonis trail in Neo Chorio due to the weather, however it was very good. We would also like to recommend Molos Restaurant in Latchi where we had 2 really good evening meals.

This was our first time in Cyprus, our first walking holiday of this type and our first time with Inntravel. The whole experience met and often exceeded our expectations. The accommodations we probably wouldn't have found for ourselves and all had good local food themselves or in nearby local restaurants at reasonable prices. We were pleased that the walks were varied and interesting with no repetition. We would not have been able to do many of them without the detailed route notes provided and all were as described. Well done to the Inntravel Team. 

It was our first trip to Cyprus, and by the end of the holiday, combining some excellent walking with sightseeing, we feel we have a much better understanding of this fascinating country.

A varied itinerary which we thoroughly enjoyed overall. Favorite walks were Pouziari and Kaledonia trails with extension, the Madari Ridge and the Akamas peninsula circuit.

The welcome in Lofou was warm and the set dinner menu was tasty, as was breakfast.

Our apartment in Kalopanayiotis was luxurious which was great for our only rainy day, but we were disappointed with the included meal. The place felt a little 'corporate' for my taste. Strongly recommend a visit to the monastery and museum.

Neo Cherio accommodation was spacious if a little tired. A warm welcome from Mr T, much higher temperatures and an interesting contrast with the mountains. We liked the Kouppas Taverna in the village which was lively and welcoming.

Overall, the beginning of November felt very end-of-seasonish. Sunset was 5pm which made for long, quite cold evenings. It would have been nice to stay therefore in places with more welcoming facilities for these evenings.

The holiday pack was comprehensive and informative which made both driving and walking very straight forward, personally I would recommend two faces of Cyprus but not the third, whilst it is nice to see the coast, the daily battle with quad bikes and scramblers whilst out walking is a negative element.

Omodos is a lovely town. The Lufou Circuit is wonderful. The short circuit back up the hill from Ayia Mavri is steep but has good footing. The Troodus Atalante Nature Trail gives good views. Pity there is no correlation between the Nature Trail Information Boards and the Atalante trail map. Smigies Nature Trail also gives good views with great examples of geology.

We loved all the walks, especially the Madari ridge and the Kaledonia ( we would advise people to do the extension).Visiting Pelendri church on the way to Agros was a highlight. We were impressed by the well maintained nature trails and the lack of rubbish, there s a feeling of pride in the beautiful countryside. We loved the beaches of the Akames peninsula as they were quiet and beautiful.We liked all of our rooms for different reasons,the personal touch and recommendations at Tavros made it a favorite.The Akravas gorge makes a lovely walk (4x4 not necessary to get to the nearer car park), we did it in hire car - but take note of warnings about falling rocks and do it at own risk!

Overall a very good holiday with superb accommodation in a lovely village. Excellent walks, with very good notes.

This was our first visit to Cyprus and the first time we have used Inntravel. We were delighted with the holiday. The accommodation was all very different and of a high standard and the included meals were all of a high standard. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. We particularly liked Lofou for its quiet location and the feeling of being part of the community. All the walking routes and directions were excellent and easy to follow but were at the limit of our comfort zone due to the very warm weather in the second week of May in the high 20's / early 30's which was hotter than normal for the time of year. We we will certainly be using Inntravel again for future holidays.

The three venues were very well chosen and reflected the title of the holiday.Lofou was particularly charming and I think the Agrovino aspect could have been highlighted even more.

Another very enjoyable Inntravel holiday with all the things I have come to expect - interesting accommodation, exemplary hosts, interesting and varied walking with accurate notes. I enjoyed the food - but not as much as on my trip to Crete last year.

Lofou Agrovino was my favourite accomodation - I loved the room and the food and service were also the best. But Casale Panayiotis was not far behind - just slightly let down by the restaurants which promise more than they actually deliver.

I was very glad I added on extra nights in all the locations - trying to do this trip in 9 days would have felt very rushed. Even with a 12 day trip I felt I was missing out on a lot of what Cyprus has to offer.

Personally I would have preferred the walking to be a little more challenging - but I knew this when I booked the trip so no real complaints.

The Madari Ridge Circuit was my walking highlight, although the Atalante Trail, Around Panayiotis and Goatherds' Circuit routes were also very enjoyable.

I feel like I only scraped the surface of the history of Cyprus but I will not forget Kourion and the Paphos Mosaics in a hurry.

A most enjoyable introduction to Cyprus. Three very different locations and accommodation styles. We received a very warm welcome at each location. Dora at Tavros Apartments was most helpful liaising with Hertz (not easy) when our hire car sustained a puncture. Some spectacular walks. We particularly enjoyed the Pouziari and Kaledonia Trails, The Madari Ridge circuit and The circuit of the Akamas Peninsula. 

Highlights: The long walk in the Akamas peninsula.

Cedar Valley was a lovely place to walk...it could be a suggestion for the travel day if you've already been to the Monastery.

Our highlight was the walk up the coast from Aphrodite's Bath.  We had previously been up on the Akama's ridge so decided to walk the coastal path both ways (the views are even better on the return trip).

It might be worth mentioning the need to be aware of rockfalls in the road following stormy weather in the mountains.

We certainly found the people of Cyprus very welcoming.