
Troodos Walks - self-guided - five walks -three accommodations - average 12.5 km per day
This is a weeklong, three accommodations walking route that offers many of the best walking experiences on the top of Troodos, in Cyprus, the island of Aphrodite. The average walking distance per day is abt 12.5 kilometers. The trip is a combination of a hotel to hotel route with a couple of circular trails. One of the linear walks is strenuous as walkers ascend in total 1,250 meters (we do have an alternative easy route for that). This programme is recommended especially from April to the end of May and from the middle of September to the middle of December. From the middle of December until April it is fine provided there is no snow cover, while during the hot season, it can be fine especially if walkers time some of the walks early in the morning or later in the afternoon. The trip has a high ingredient also of cultural heritage in the island, especially in the form of two picturesque villages (Kakopetria and Omodos) as well as one of two of the ten Unesco World Heritage Troodos painted churches (both are within walking distance of Kakopetria). The package includes a free day in Kakopetria. Travellers could use the free day to explore the village and the vicinity, possibly take a trip to medieval Walled Nicosia or if they prefer they can do an optional circular walk in Kakopetria.
Below one can see most the standard walks in the program. In some caves (Day 4) it would be possible to replace the walking route.
Day of Trip
Distance in km
Total ascent (m)
Total descent (m)
Average elevation (m)
Description
Day 3
12
850
850
1,300
Madari circular trail - Peculiar rock formations and vistas
Day 4
14.5
1,250
200
1,200
A strenuous ascent - there is an easy alternative if preferred
Day 5
13.5
550
550
450
Atalanti trail - Second highest circular trail on Troodos
Day 6
11.5
300
900
1,550
Descend via Persephone trail and Caledonia Waterfalls trail
Day 7
10.5
300
600
900
Pano Platres to stone-built Omodos village - can be easily reverersed if prefered
Average
12.5
650
600
1,350
Higher Troodos + picturesque mountain villages
The itinerary (summary) - please remember that we have other options for shorter or even different routes in the package
Day 1 - Arrival to Kakopetria village (overnight in Kakopetria)
Day 2 - Free day for a number of options, explore Kakopetria and vicinity, visit (by frequent bus) Walled Nicosia, do a circular walk around Kakopetria, etc. (Overnight in Kakopetria)
Day 3 - Taxi to start and from end of walk - Walk the Madari circular trail (overnight in Kakopetria)
Day 4 - Ascend from Kakopetria to Troodos Square (luggage transfer - overnight at Troodos Square) - alternative walk, be transported to do Artemis trail and end at Troodos square
Day 5 - Do the circular Atalanti trail (overnight at Troodos Square)
Day 6 - Descend via Persephone trail and Caledonia Waterfalls trail to Pano Platres village (overnight in Pano Platres village)
Day 7 - Descend from Pano Platres village to Omodos village (transport by taxi back to Pano Platres village - the opposite route is also possible - overnight in Pano Platres village)
Day 8 - Finish
Detailed Itinerary
On Day 1, those travellers that book the transfer from the airport, are transported to the old part of Kakopetria village where they stay for three nights. Depending on the time of arrival visitors could relax and explore the old part of the village and/or visit upto two Unesco World Heritage Troodos painted churches within walking distance from their accommodation.
Day 2 is a free day. Travellers have various options with regards to spending their day:
a) Relax around Kakopetria, explore the villages very picturesque old part and the trail by the stream, possibly visit on foot Agios Nicolaos tis Stegis Unesco World Heritage painted church, possibly upto three watermills nearby, Panagia Podithou Unesco World Heritage painted church and another medieval church nearby.
b) Go by public bus to Nicosia. Explore the divided medieval city inside the Venetian walls and visit a plethora of cultural attractions in the old city. Experience the ambiance of both parts while strolling on the narrow streets, seeing a mixture of old and new, delapidated and restored.
c) Do a circular walk from Kakopetria village (shorter and longer options are available)
Inside Walled Nicosia
Madari Circular Trail
On Day 4 walkers ascend from Kakopetria village upto Troodos Square. The walk is largely in the forest and the total ascent is significant at 1,250 meters. For those who prefer a less strenuous experience, there is the option instead to be transported to a place to walk the flat Artemis trail, the highest elevation trail in Cyprus and end again in Troodos Square.
On Atalanti trail - view towards the coast of Limassol
On Day 6 walkers descend from Troodos Square to Pano Platres village. They walk first on Persephone trail, with views at some stretch towards a 'hidden' manmade lake and later do Caledonia Waterfalls trail. The route combines flat stretches inside the black pine forest, parts on the slope with excellent vistas all the way to the coast and a steep downhill trail that criss crosses the stream a few times and introduces a different habitat dominated by plane trees and alter trees.
Vineyards near Omodos village
On Day 3, we propose a walk on Madari mountain peak (short videoclip here). The walk is on the circular nature trail that offers a combination of habitats (including a Cyprus Cedar forest), excellent panoramic views, and the very extraordinary rock formations in the area (appropriately named ‘Teishia tis Madaris’ meaning ‘Madari’s walls’). At many points there are excellent views towards Mesaoria plain and Pentadactylos mountains towards the north. At the highest stretch of the route there are also vistas towards the south, including mount Olympus and the south villages of the Pitsilia area.
Ascending from Kakopetria to Troodos Square
On Day 5 the travellers do the circular Atalanti trail, the second highest on the island. The trail shares various characteristics with Artemis (the highest elevation trail). While from Artemis one can see more stretches of Cyprus coastline, from Atalanti there is better view towards the coast of Limassol.
Caledonia Waterfalls
The Day 7 route combines walking in the forest with a route (mainly south of Mandria village) in the vineyards. Furthermore walkers have the chance to explore Omodos, one of the Wine villages of Limassol. Omodos, like many of the other villages in the vicinity are well preserved stone-built villages. It has the extra characteristic of having good tourism infrastructure, with a few village restaurants, cafes, and shops. There are several wineries close by. Those who prefer uphill walks instead, it is possible to arrange an early taxi and start from Omodos and ascend to Pano Platres.
On Day 8 morning, the package finishes. If travellers want, we can arrange a taxi for them, book additional nights, etc
Summary of our services
We offer Independent Self–Guided Walkers interested in exploring beautiful Cyprus, a menu of services:
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Extensive information on our inhouse designed route that presents the best Cyprus has to offer, combining top elements of its cultural and natural heritage. We provide information on each day's walk and instructions to find one's way, as well as relevant useful information material on Cyprus. We recommend the use of GPS data (which we can gladly provide) as an excellent addition to maps and navigation tables.
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Booking of appropriate accommodation on the route, where possible in small, family run establishments.
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Booking of meals, including breakfast, dinner (as per the package) and optionally lunch packs , with a high element of local cuisine, where available.
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Arranging all applicable luggage transport.
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Arranging transfers to location of arrival/departure and other transfers if required.
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On the ground support for the independent walker.
The package
It includes the following:
a) Information on the walking routes and nearby attractions (as well as public bus info where applicable), in the form of GPS readings, electronic material (PDF), printed material (at an additional fee) and/or other media.
b) Transportation/luggage transfer
1) For Day 3, from Kakopetria village to Moutti tis Choras point of the Madari circular trail. Pick up later from the same point.
2) For Day 4 transfer luggage from Kakopetria village to Troodos Square. If travellers prefer to do the alternative, flat Artemis trail, also transfer them to start of Artemis trail.
3) For Day 6 transport luggage from Troodos Square to Pano Platres village.
4) For Day 7, one-way transportation between Pano Platres and Omodos village.
c) Accommodation as follows:
1) First three nights in Kakopetria (at Mill hotel or Crystal Boutique hotel, depending on availability)
2) Fourth and fifth nights at Troodos square (Troodos Hotel)
3) Sixth and seventh night in Pano Platres village (Kallithea Inn or Forest Park hotel)
d) Breakfast for all accommodation
e) Luggage and people transfer as required
f) On the ground support
Notes :
1) The package includes neither transport to the first hotel from the airport to Kakopetria nor from the hotel in Pano Platres to the airport. We can arrange such transportation upon request.
2) We have agreements with more hotels in the rare case that the rooms in the above organisations are occupied. In this event walkers will have the option to accept alternative accommodation, reschedule or cancel the booking.
Prices
The price for the standard package, when
a) two walkers travel together on a Double Occupancy, bed and breakfast basis is 605 Euro per person.
b) two walkers travel together on a Single Room, bed and breakfast basis is 740 Euro per person.
c) a single traveller on bed and breakfast basis is 870 Euro per person.
INQUIRIES
Please contact us via phone (or whatsapp or viber) at +35799458366, or email at phivos@cypruswalksetc.com with your questions.
BOOKING PROCESS
You may book via phone (or whatsapp or viber) at +35799458366, or email at phivos@cypruswalksetc.com. We will then enquire with the hotel(s) and (provided that there is availability) book (and issue an Invoice to you to pay within a couple of days a deposit if you book way in advance, with the balance a month before the start of the trip, or the full amount if you book within a month of the trip). If the payment is not made within a couple of days, the booking is cancelled. You will be in due coarse receive relevant information with regards to the payment and the trip.
CANCELLATION POLICY
If Customers cancel:
Cancellation charges for a booked trip:
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Until Day 31 prior to travel date: 100 Euro per booking
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Day 30 to Day 16 prior to travel date : 20%
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Day 15 to Day 3 prior to travel date: 50%
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Day 2 prior to Day 1 prior to travel date: 80%
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Day 0 of the trip onward: 100%
If Cyprus Walks Etc cancels
If Cyprus Walks Etc cancels, in the unlikely case that we find no accommodation, or for other reason outside our control, we provide our customers with full refund for the services paid to us. Where possible we provide alternatives, which customers can select instead of refunds if they prefer.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We expect that all users of our services will make all necessary arrangements to, and will for the duration of their trip with us, be covered by adequate insurance related to our services (personal accident, medical expenses, etc).
Please keep in mind that walkers may buy services from us for a shorter version of the trip (eg, a 4-day walk instead of the weeklong walk) or they may extend their trip staying at any of the accommodation options on our route for more than one day.
Cyprus Walks Etc offers customisable guided walking trips to Madari trail. We also offer self-guided walking trips, from a number of villages on Troodos, that mainly include GPS information about the routes and relevant transportation. The route is excellent year round, especially for its vistas, the particular rock formations and the variety in its vegetation. We advise for early start during July and August. You are welcomed to book with us.