Enjoy a combination of nice hikes and beautiful drives on the Island of Cyprus
This tour allows you to experience Cyprus' beauty as you immerse yourself in its ancient culture and the myth of the goddess Aphrodite.
Enjoy the freedom of a rental car and a mild climate year-round while staying in village houses and scenic hotels. Stay in traditional houses in the southern hills, hike in the Troödos Mountains, and relax in luxury near Aphrodite on the Akamas Peninsula. Discover diverse landscapes, cultural sights, and delicious cuisine.
Highlights of the Cyprus Active Self-Drive Tour
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Cyprus Active Self-Drive Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Cyprus
From both Larnaca airport and Paphos airport you can quickly get to your first accommodation
location if desired. With early arrival, there is plenty of time to do some sightseeing along the way. Near Larnaca airport lies an impressive salt lake and the impressive Hala Sultan Tekke mosque, with surrounding park. During summer the salt lake dries up, but if there is water you can find flamingos. From Paphos, you can make stops at the "Rock of Aphrodite" and the Roman excavations of Kourion.
Overnight Location: Traditional house in Tochni
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Exploration of rural Cyprus
This day lends itself well to a first exploration of rural Cyprus. The villages of Tochni and Kalavasos
have been partially restored and are fun to wander around; you can do so on a circular walk. In the immediate vicinity there are many excavations to visit. Tenta (near Kalavasos), the Neolithic excavations at Chirokitia and antique Roman Amathous and Kourion (near Lemesos) are the most impressive sights within a 40-kilometer radius. After that, you conclude by the sea, such as by Governor's beach and the nearby white cliffs of Cape Dolos.
Overnight Location: Traditional house in Tochni
Distance: 3.5 hours, 9km, 220m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Nature trails of Nicosia
From Tochni you walk to the small village of Chirokitia, where, via a nature trail, a UNESCO Neolithic
excavation can be admired. After a nice terrace in the square, you walk back through the fields. Outside Kalavasos, you hike near the abandoned ancient village of Drapia through a wide valley. Beautiful views and an old copper mine accompany you on the trail.
Prefer a day with lots of culture? Then head to the ancient capital of Nicosia in an hour's drive, possibly via the "embroidery village" of Lefkara. Or perhaps to the beach today?
Overnight Location: Traditional house in Tochni
Distance: 2-2.5 hours, 6-7 km, 100-170 m ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 To the Troodos Mountains
From Tochni you head toward the Troödos Mountains, a UNESCO Geopark, where you will stay at Pano Platres. You can drive via a beautiful mountain route, but also via Limassol. The old center is nice to visit briefly and near the city are still the excavations of Amathous of Kourion. If you are in the mountains on time you can still visit the visitor's center or take a walk through the refreshing coolness to a beautiful waterfall, back and forth or a more strenuous variant as a circular walk. Or do you feel more like wine tasting? Then Omodhos is the place to be!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Platres
Distance: 1-4 hours, 3-10km, up to 450m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Artemis nature trail
A hiking day in the mountains. There is a beautiful circular hike at altitude (about 1850 m) near the summit of Mount Olympos: the Artemis Nature Trail. You walk mostly along the contour lines, so, even dodging major ascent and descent you have beautiful views. Because the hike is relatively short, you can still make it to Omodhos in the afternoon for a varied day. Forests, views, nice mountain villages, beautiful churches with frescoes and special rocks are then be part of your day. Of course you can also do one of the lower shorter hikes described at day 4, to the Millomeri waterfall or the Kaledonian waterfall.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Platres
Distance: 2 hours, 7km, 120m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 To the Akamas Peninsula
From Troödos to the Akamas Peninsula, there are several options to fill the day. You can go to Stavros tsis Psokas, where there is a beautiful short nature trail with cedar trees and maybe mouflons along the way. Then you can also go to admire the unique antiquities of Paphos (Kings tombs, the Roman mosaics circling the ruins of the ancient Greek city and the Crusader castle built next to it). If there is still time and energy left then visit the impressive Avakas Gorge, which you can venture quite deeply into from a beach, depending on the water level. Afterwards, a good swim awaits at Lara beach. From here it is just over half an hour to your next accommodation.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Polis
Distance: 1.5-2 hours, 3.5-4.5km, up to 260m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Walks or Paphos
Today you have a choice of two short walks or to still go to the excavations of Paphos, if there was no time the previous day. For a varied walk, you take the Smigies nature trail near Neo Chorio over dirt roads and rocky paths through a park landscape, then through pine forests. Later you get beautiful views of the Lara coast and walk back through the forests of Smigies to a picnic area. Lots of orchids in the spring! Another hike starts at Baths of Aphrodite. There you have a choice between taking a dip, enjoying the terrace and a nice walk along the Aphrodite Trail.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Polis
Distance: 2.5-3 hours, 6.5-7km, up to 320m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Departure
You drive to the airport of Paphos or Larnaca to drop-off your rental car and depart from Cyprus.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Cyprus Active Self-Drive Tour Price and Dates
This self-guided tour to Cyprus is always run as a private tour for your group only and the pricing depends on the type of rooms required.
The prices below are per person.
Departures on April 1st – October 27th:
- Price per solo traveller: $795 USD
- Price per person in single room (group of 2+): $725 USD
- Price per person sharing a double room: $495 USD
- Price per person sharing a triple room: $450 USD
- Price per person sharing a quadruple room: $450 USD
Accommodation on Cyprus Active Self-Drive Tour
This tour is based in hotels and country homes. Hotels on this trip are 2 and 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Countryside house in Tochni region
Enjoy the stay in a traditional renovated house in Tochni or Kalavassos region to enjoy the countryside of Cyprus.
Hotel New Elvetia in Pano Platres ★★★
This cozy and romantic hotel is located close to the best amenities of Platres town. Ejoy restaurants and bars within the walking distance.
Hotel Natura Beach in Polis
The Natura Beach Hotel and Villas is situated in an exquisite location, right in the heart of Polis Bay, with a vast expanse of sandy beach and enchanting Mediterranean orchards and gardens surrounding it.
What’s Included in the Cyprus Active Self-Drive Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
There are no transfers included in the tour package as you will be driving everywhere with a rental vehicle. The vehicle rental is included in the package.
Also Included
- 24-hour telephone assistance, just a phone call away
- Detailed road book in English (electronic format)
- Vehicle rental
Not included
- Air conditioning when staying in Tochni or Kalavasos (optional, approx. €3.50 per day)
- Flights, public transportation and ferry tickets
- Travel insurance
- Admissions and entrance fees of any kind
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, phone calls, extra transfers etc.
- Any items that have not been specifically mentioned in the program
- Vehicle insurance
Optional Extras
- Extra nights at any accommodation along the route
Frequently Asked Questions about Cyprus Active Self-Drive Tour
S-Cape Travel Greece is a Greek outdoor company, established in 1994 and member of the S-Cape Group of companies since 2010.
At S-Cape Greece you find a varied portfolio of active and adventure trips that offer you a hands-on experience of Greece, having time to slowing down and appreciate the details: view the sites and landscapes, savor the specialties, meet and mingle with the locals and learn about the culture.
All our trips and itineraries are developed by our team of professional walkers and cyclists who have a keen eye for great trails, exciting itineraries, breath-taking scenery and good quality accommodation that share our vision on sustainable travel.
If you travel on one of our self-guided trips, you receive a Destination Manual with information on the country and a state-of-the-art Road Book with detailed route description, turn by turn diagrams of each crossing and explanatory text. On top, you can navigate the route in your own smartphone via our excellent S-Cape Travel App.
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Maria has worked in the Athens office of S-Cape for nearly 4 years. She’s discovered an even deeper love for her country through the process of helping others explore it.
- Q: What is your favourite trip to lead and why?
- A: My favourite trip is Crete “Coast to Coast” because you discover unspoiled Crete while following walking paths through wildflowers, lush valleys, and gorgeous gorges. You get to know the locals, drink wine with them, and taste the famous Cretan food in local taverns. You meet the locals of this village in the “kafeneion” and drink a “Raki” with them. You get to stay in a beautiful old restored house and enjoy views of the White Mountains whilst having breakfast. Explore the White Mountains and walk at an altitude of 1,300m gazing at the white peaks surrounding you. On the south coast, you walk through beautiful gorges. It’s just wonderful!
- Q: What are guests most surprised about in visiting your country?
- A: You hear how good the food, the sun, and the people are. It’s even better in real life!
- Q: What is one local dish anyone visiting should try?
- A: Greek salad, tzatziki, stuffed tomatoes, fried zucchini, and traditional souvlaki, of course!