Walking In Northern Cyprus

Our trip begins at our hotel, a small resort located around 1.5 miles from the centre of Kyrenia. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 8pm 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 Kyrenia at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into either Ercan Airport (North Cyprus ECN) a 25 minutes' drive from the hotel or Larnaca Airport (Cyprus LCA) and 1.5 hours' drive. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you could choose to head into Kyrenia to sample some excellent North Cyprus food and explore the town's eclectic mix of Venetian facades, mosques and minarets. Kyrenia is particularly famous for its 'picture postcard' vista of its striking Crusader castle and old harbour set against the dramatic backdrop of the Besparmak Mountains. Please note that the harbour area is undergoing renovations until summer 2023 and access is restricted. Our base for the week is The Ship Inn, located around 1.5 miles from the centre of Kyrenia, a 45 minute walk or can take a local bus. The hotel facilities include an outdoor pool, bar and restaurant, the comfortable rooms are all en-suite with air conditioning and a balcony or terrace.

Our main briefing will be after breakfast this morning before we drive along the coast to Kantara Castle, through a beautiful rural landscape of green fields, olive groves and small villages. En route, we will stop off at Cyprus' largest cavern, Incirli Cave, to see its impressive collection of stalactites and stalagmites along its 100 metre passage. Kantara Castle has seen its fair share of conflict over the centuries. Indeed, Richard the Lionheart won a famous victory here when he defeated the self-proclaimed king of the island, Isaac Komnenos, after the latter's ill-judged slight against Richard's fiancee. After visiting the castle, we have lunch and then enjoy a walk around the varied landscape of the stunning Karpaz Peninsula upon which the castle stands. The descent is gradual with spectacular coast views and it is possible to see Turkey on a clear day. Before driving back to the hotel, we will have the opportunity to swim and relax on the beautiful sandy Kaplica beach. Today's leisurely seven-and-a-half kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours with 50 metres of ascent and 450 metres of descent.

Today a short drive takes us to the start of our first walk in the Besparmak Mountains. From the Arapkoy area, we will walk through the mountains to Bellapais village, taking a picnic lunch en route in the forest. Made famous by Lawrence Durrell in his 1950s award-winning autobiography, Bitter Lemons, much of Bellapais village still retains the easy charm of those Durrell days. The village's main attraction is Bellapais Abbey. Now an imposing ruin with spectacular views of Kyrenia and the Mediterranean Sea, it was founded by Augustinian canons fleeing Palestine in 1200. The abbey flourished until it was looted and vandalised during the 14th century Genoese invasion. It went on to earn a reputation for scandal and corruption, eventually shutting down in the 16th century. After visiting the abbey and the famous Tree of Idleness, under which Durrell would often drink coffee, we return by bus to our hotel. Later this afternoon, we will drive into Kyrenia for an optional visit to Kyrenia Castle and the Shipwreck Museum, which houses the remains of a 4th century BC merchant ship, with time to stroll around the harbour. Today's moderate 12.5 kilometre walk is expected to take around four hours with 300 metres of ascent and 350 metres of descent.