Mountain tracks and crusader trails encompassing stunning sea views of the azure coast, beautiful castles and abbeys, plus delightful, traditional Cypriot villages, makes North Cyprus a walkers’ paradise. Our four fantastic guided walks will take us on an incredible journey discovering one of the Mediterranean’s unspoilt regions.
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Extras
After arriving at Larnaca Airport, we will transfer by private coach to Lapta (Girne region) – a picturesque village spread along the mountain side and surrounding forests and mountain peaks. Your home away from home, this family-run hotel awaits you for the next 7 nights.
After a good night’s sleep and leisurely breakfast, we will meet for a welcome drink with our walking guide and to get to know each other. After, we enjoy a free afternoon to relax and familiarise ourselves with our surroundings.
We drive to the Geçitköy Dam water project, which is connecting the island via an 80 km long underwater pipeline with Turkey (Anamur). At the moment the three biggest cities in North Cyprus (Famagusta, Nicosia and Kyrenia) are supplied with water by this project, which will soon extend to the Mesaoria plain farming area as well. This project is calculated to eliminate North Cyprus’s water problem for the next 50 years.
Today we head out toward the West, through one of the most fertile agricultural regions in Cyprus. From the small village of Kalkanli, our walk takes us through the pretty countryside, past many ancient olive trees (up to 850 years old). We continue our walk and descend towards the coast where we finish by the sea (depending on season – swimming opportunity).
Enjoy a day at leisure, where we have the option to book an additional walk at the village of Hisarköy (area famous for wild flower & orchids when in season), along mountain trails and through pine tree forests. Wonderful panoramic views, fauna and flora await you.
Starting from the hotel, today we walk towards Lapta Village. After a long forest walk, we reach the ruins of the Sinai Monastery (Coptic). The monastery was built in Byzantine times and active until the 1950s. In 1953, the Greeks were using this monastery as a hiding place against British soldiers and it started to slowly fall into ruins. During this easier walk through forest and open terrain, we experience beautiful scenery and nature, and in March, many orchids. We finish in a small mountain village.
Approx Walking Time: 4 hours
Approx Distance: 13km
Approx Ascent: 400m
Starting from the hotel, we walk through the village of Lapta and go up to 400m into the forest above the villages of Lapta/Alsançak.
During this easy walk through pine tree forest, on mostly forest tracks, we pass through the old Greek farming areas. and experience panoramic views upon the Lapta coastal region. We may be able to collect some wild sage and thyme while walking. Our walk will finish at the vineyards with a beautiful winery of the pretty village of Ilgaz, located on a hillside. Here you have the opportunity to rest and try some locally produced wine (extra cost) before returning by bus to the hotel. Picnic lunch included.
Approx Walking Time: 5 hours
Approx Distance: 13km
Approx Ascent: 670m
Today we say goodbye to North Cyprus and return to the airport for our return flight.
A small and friendly family-run hotel offering guests peace, tranquillity and good old-fashioned hospitality. Set and located within tranquil and scenic mountain surroundings, just outside the village of Lapta, we will find the Lapida Hotel, a great base for our walking week.
Facilities include large gardens filled with citrus and various fruit trees, together with an immaculate swimming pool, sunbathing and patio areas, and a bar and restaurant offering a wide range of cuisine where local Turkish Cypriot dishes are a speciality. WIFI is available in public all areas.
All our comfortable rooms come with shower, air conditioning (please note that this unit can also heat the room), TV, Mini-bar, hair dryer and balcony with a view of the mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer time from Larnaca Airport to Lapida Hotel is approximately 90 minutes.
Four guided walks are included in the programme. Your walking guide will advise you in resort of the daily programme. The walking programme is graded as Easy to Medium and you can expect to walk between approx 13 to 14 km per day, with some ascents/descents, rough underfoot terrain and high altitudes involved.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking. You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it. Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solos Holidays cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort. Whilst we would hope for good weather during your holiday, it is of course impossible to guarantee this. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
There may be optional activities available to you during the course of your holiday, full details of which will be given out at your Information Meeting by your Tour Leader. All tours should be paid for in Turkish Lira. The exact amount will be given at your Information Meeting. Your Tour Leader will help arrange these for you but may not necessarily accompany you.
Turkish Lira
We suggest a Group Collection to cover transfer drivers, and hotel staff of €25.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate percentage on.
Passports and visas
To enter North Cyprus your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; The Turkish Cypriot Embassy
If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.
Compulsory vaccinations: None.
All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January - February | 14 °C | 5 °C |
| March | 18 °C | 7 °C |
| April | 22 °C | 9 °C |
| May | 28 °C | 14 °C |
| June | 33 °C | 19 °C |
| July | 36 °C | 21 °C |
| August | 34 °C | 21 °C |
| September | 31 °C | 18 °C |
| October | 26 °C | 14 °C |
| November | 21 °C | 10 °C |
| December | 16 °C | 7 °C |
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“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
