Walking in Cyprus

Our trip begins in Larnaka, a busy seafront town with a palm-fringed promenade, lots of cafes, tavernas, shops and a relaxed, leisurely atmosphere on the south of the island.

For those arriving on time, our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7.30pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Larnaca at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Larnaka Airport (Cyprus LCA). It is a short ten minute transfer to our hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

It's worth heading to Tassos Mitsopoulos Avenue running between Finikoudes (Palm Tree) promenade and Mackenzie Beach. There are several excellent dining options to choose from including traditional Cypriot dishes such as souvlakia (small chunks of grilled meat, kebab) and Kleftiko, a delicious lamb dish marinated in oregano, tomatoes and bulgar wheat, as well as fish restaurants. Stay: Livadhiotis City Hotel (Comfortable)

This morning we drive to nearby Lefkosia (Nicosia), the capital of Cyprus for more than 1000 years. The old city is enclosed by 16th century Venetian walls where winding alleys are filled with medieval buildings and ancient churches. The Laiki Yitonia area is particularly interesting, alive with restaurants, shops and galleries and many traditional crafts for sale, although it's likely to be quieter on a Sunday when we visit. Outside the city walls lies modern Lefkosia, with public gardens and colonial buildings and open air cafés that grace the elegant streets such as Makarios Avenue.

We include an orientation walk of the old town including walking up to the Green Line which separates its south and north sections. We then head for the fresh air of the Troodos mountains and the UNESCO World Heritage Byzantine churches of the Solea Valley.

Stopping at the 12th century church of the Virgin Mary of Asinou, also known as Phorviotissa, we have time to view some of the finest examples of Byzantine mural paintings to be found in Cyprus with inscriptions dating the earliest frescoes to 1106AD. These vibrantly coloured frescoes relate Christian stories, one depicts the harrowing scene of the Forty Martyrs of Saint Sebasto, blood oozing from their spear wounds about to be thrown into a frozen lake.

Later, we'll take our first walk through a forest to to the outskirts of the hamlet of Agios Theodoros before transferring to our mountain hotel in Troodos.

Today's five kilometre walk is expected to take around one-and-a-half hours with 300 metres of ascent and 275 metres of descent. Stay: Troodos Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

Troodos square is 1700m above sea level and the cool air is fragrant from the pine forests that swathe the rolling mountains. After a short transfer, we descend along winding tracks and paths to Pedoulas village (1100m) at the head of the Marathasa Valley.

The walk is easy paced and rewarded with great views of mountain villages where on the hillsides in late spring and early summer one can see colourful patches of wild flowers, mainly cistus. We pause at a viewpoint before taking a short steep descent which continues along the forest track to Pedoulas village in the heart of the Troodos. The region enjoys prolonged sunshine through the year, ideal for the cherry orchards around Pedoulas village, the main producer of cherries in the region. Be sure to try some of the splendid preserves and liqueurs!

Today's 20 kilometre walk is expected to take around six hours with 200 metres of ascent and 600 metres of descent. Stay: Christy's Palace Hotel (Simple) (B)

After a short bus transfer we continue walking west through the mountains and a forest setting with fine views. In autumn we should see crocus and on occasions see timid moufflon from a distance.

Another attraction of walking the mountain routes is the peacefulness of the countryside and friendliness of the local people many of whom still live in simple stone built houses passed down through the generations. They are resilient by nature, having withstood and accommodated the succession of invaders throughout their long history and are renowned for their hospitality.

Upon arrival in Milikouri we'll have the option of a picnic or lunch in a simple Taverna before transferring to the richest monastery in Cyprus, Kykkos, which enjoys prestige throughout the whole Greek Orthodox church. It possesses a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary reputedly painted by St Luke which has survived the four fires that destroyed the monastery itself. Next, we'll drive to Stavros tis Psokas Forest Station. This region of Cyprus is famous for mouflon (fawny brown mountain sheep with huge curled horns) which can be found roaming wild. We'll continue on our final descent through the forest to the Akamas Peninsula and our accommodation in Latchi.

Today's 14 kilometre walk is expected to take around four hours with 400 metres of ascent and 700 metres of descent. Stay: Souli Beach Hotel (Comfortable) (B/L)

The Akamas Peninsula is a protected wilderness area where nature has taken over. Walking in this unspoilt region affords wide sweeping views down to the craggy coast. Today we'll visit the Baths of Aphrodite, where the goddess Aphrodite bathed after her liaisons with Adonis. We'll also follow a circular nature trail around the Baths. The region is host to a number of the 300 species of birds to be found on the island, many of which are migratory stopping on their route between Eurasia and Africa during the spring and autumn migratory periods.

Today's 12 kilometre walk is expected to take around four hours with 575 metres of ascent and descent. Stay: Souli Beach Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

Transfer to the village of Kathikas on the Laona Plateau from where we walk down to the west coast fishing hamlet of Agios Georgios tis Pegeias. The quiet tracks, mostly through carob trees and low juniper forests offer good views of the rugged west coast and Agios Georgios tis Pegeias and Geronisos, its offshore island. The area is characterised by densely wooded gorges, most notably the Avagas Gorge, with their steep canyon walls allowing little natural light into the dark valleys. We will walk up to the entrance of Avagas to view into it as the gorge is not safe for walking through.

Today's 18 kilometre walk is expected to take around six hours with 175 metres of ascent and 750 metres of descent. Stay: Souli Beach Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

Today we leave traditional rural Cyprus and head first to the seaside town of Pafos. It is now a busy town but reminders of its ancient history are still in evidence. Aphrodite, the Goddess of Spiritual Love and Sensual Lust, was born 16 miles off the coast, out of the foaming waves of the sea to the sound of thunder claps. She would meet the youthful Adonis in the hills round Pafos and when he was killed by a wild boar while hunting, her tears of sorrow turned into abundant springs and waterfalls, whilst his blood became the red anemones that colour the hills.

We'll visit the Tombs of the Kings, the ancient necropolis of Nea Pafos. Belonging to the wealthier people of Pafos and hewn from the sandstone, the tombs date from the 4th century BC, when Cyprus was governed from Alexandria and held by the Ptolemies.

Next we'll visit the Roman remains at the House of Dionysos where the best mosaics on the island are to be found. Leaving Pafos we head for Larnaka but first make a stop at Kourion, the most spectacular archaeological site on the island, where excavations are still bringing new treasures to light. A magnificent Greco-Roman theatre built in the 2nd century BC commands a wonderful view out to sea.

We arrive back in Larnaka in the late afternoon. Stay: Livadhiotis City Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Larnaka.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Larnaca at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Larnaka Airport (airport code LCA), a short ten minute transfer away. (B)