Cyprus


An unspoiled traditional way of life

A Mediterranean gem, Cyprus is an island of many faces - and many surprises. Few realise that it is so rich in flora and fauna (the number of endemic species is astonishing), that the central Troodos Mountains are so high that you can ski there in the heart of winter, or that the island was once settled by the Ancient Greeks, Romans and Byzantines and consequently boasts a rich and fascinating history.


Blue skies, blue seas and pristine white beaches

Reminders of the island’s colourful past are scattered across the herb-clad slopes and along the coast, and the possibility of stumbling across Greek and Roman archaeological sites or one of the ornately frescoed, Unesco-protected Byzantine chapels makes walking and exploring here amid this magnificent scenery all the more rewarding. The authentic, whitewashed villages are timeless, and each season has its special charms, be it Greek Orthodox celebrations or the bustling olive harvest.

Troodos Mountains


A walker's paradise

In the heart of the island, the Troodos Mountains - a walker’s paradise for which we provide route notes - are rugged and surprisingly green, their pine-clad slopes hiding traditional mountain villages and Byzantine chapels with intricate frescoes. In the foothills below, just 40 minutes from the coast, the authentic village of Lofou nestles amid the vineyards of the Commandaria wine region, a great base from which to explore the mountains, the chapels and the idyllic wine villages.

> Costas's Houses, Lofou (sleep 2 plus 2 children)

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