Week long Cyprus Walks - self-guided - three accommodations - average 18 km per day

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This is a week-long, three accommodations walking route that offers many of the best walking experiences on the beautiful island of Cyprus. The average walking distance per day is abt 18 kilometers. The trip focuses on Troodos trails and on the Akamas peninsula, with an additional inland walk experience in between. It is suitable for those interested in rather long walks (we offer other programs with shorter walks). We recommend this program for autumn, winter and spring. For winter there are alternatives in case of snow cover at the top of Troodos.
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Below one can see most the standard walks in the program. Please remember that the nature of the package allows route selection on many days, in order to cater for different traveller preferences per day.

Day of Trip	​Distance in km	​Total ascent (m)	​Total descent (m)	Average elevation (m)	Description
Day 2	19	600	1,200	1,700	Unique geology & lush valley - possibility to do one of the two walks in the combo (under 10 km instead of 19 km)
Day 3	12.5	800	800	1,300	​Peculiar rock formations and vistas
Day 4	20	500	700	350	​Medieval bridges - Paphos Forest (possibility of mouflon spotting), open valley, deserted monastery
Day 5 ​	20	350	950	200	Descent from the ridge and then a coastal route along Lara coast. It has a stretch back and forth inside Avakas Gorge
Day 6 ​	21	500	1,000	400	​Akamas ridge - beautiful coastal vistas
Average	18	550	950	800	Great combo of Troodos and Akamas, with an excellent bridge walk
Day 2 backup	18.5	800	800	450	Views, also towards Mesaoria Valley & Morphou bay. Asinou Unesco World Heritage Painted church is a big attraction

The itinerary (summary) -  please remember that we have other options for shorter or even different routes in the package
Day 1 - Arrival to Start location of the Walking Trip
Day 2 - Walk on a combo of Artemis, Atalanti, Persephone and Caledonia Falls trail
Day 3 -Walk on Madari circular trail
Day 4 - Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge - Roudias medieval bridge - Panagia tou Sinti monastery
Day 5 - Droushia - Lara beach - Avakas Gorge - Agios Georgios tis Pegeias
Day 6 - Akamas Panorama long - Droushia - Moutti tis Sotiras - Baths of Aphrodite
Day 7 - Free day ( a number of possible round trips)
Day 8 - Finish
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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 accom​modation.
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In Day 2 Long Option, travellers do a combination of top elevation Cyprus walks (most of Artemis trail, part of Atalanti, Persephone and lastly and of Caledonia Waterfalls trail) (please check the short videoclip).

 Walking on Artemis offers superb panoramic views of different parts of Cyprus.  The trail combines barren rocky land with forested stretches of black pine (and of the endemic Troodos juniper).  Walkers pass by some very old and huge trees.  The walk has a very high value also for those interested in geology. It should be noted that when there is snow, (usually a few months each year) we advise against doing this walk.  There is a lower elevation alternative around Unesco World Heritage painted Asinou chapel that we suggest (included in the package). 

​The long Option walk includes also a part of the Atalanti trail, a short stretch on paved road and the Persophone trail (with a bit of a connecting dirt road).  We highly recommend the Caledonia Waterfalls trail as it is quite dramatic and steep and has a running stream all year round, which is atypical of Cyprus.  It provides an excellent contrast to Artemis trail.  Instead of doing the 19 km long Long Option, travellers may choose to do a shorter stretch (eg 9 km long, or even shorter). 

Artemis Trail

Persephone trail

Madari Circular Trail

On Day 4 of the walk (Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge to Panagia tou Sinti walk),  walkers are transported to Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge, a great location that combines beautiful nature and great cultural heritage. About half of the stretch of the walk is found in the expansive Paphos Forest, until Roudias medieval bridge.  There are good possibilities for mouflon spotting here.  

​The second half of the walk is along Xeros Potamos river  bank, a scenic part of Cyprus with no villages, but with cultural heritage in the form of watermills and a non functioning monastery (medieval Panagia tou Sinti - it's repair in the 90s received a Europa Nostra award). If travellers are lucky, they may spot griffon vultures gliding in search of food.

Travellers are picked up from a bridge near the monastery, to be taken to the village of Droushia, where they spend the next two nights. 

Avakas Gorge

On Day 6 walkers traverse the pristine Akamas peninsula enjoying glorious views initially of the west coast and subsequently, on the imposing Moutti Tis Sotiras peak, of the north west, and of the north coast, all the way to Pomos in the north east (the Akamas Panorama Walk). Walkers leave Akamas from small yet mythical Baths of Aphrodite cave. The walk is a bit over twenty (20) km long and starts at Drousheia village, from where it goes north. There is a shorter option that is thirteen (13) km long, starting from the village of Neo Chorio and goes initially west. As walkers will be staying at a hotel near Akamas, it is possible to do other, circular shorter walks instead (eg. Aphrodite or Adonis) that may be more suitable in the summer.

Rugged Akamas north coast

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​On Day 3, we propose a walk on Madari mountain peak (short videoclip here). The walk is on a 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’).  Those looking for an even longer walk (Madari circular walk is tough because of the big elevation changes) can combine it with an adjacent circular walk (3 km / 2 mi long), or walk to and from the nearby Panagia tou Araka Unesco World Heritage Painted church (which would add about six more km to the distance).  

Kelephos medieval Venetian bridge

​On Day 5 the walkers explore Akamas west coast. The standard route starts from the hotel and firstly descends on a cement road, offering lovely views of Lara coastline. The coastal part of the route connects  Lara beach to Touxeftra beach (on the south end of Lara coast) and is just about six (6) km long. The walk could be combined with swimming/snorkelling in a couple of Lara beaches (with the possibility of sea turtle spotting close to summer). A walk in the unique Avakas Gorge is integrated in the route (but can be skipped, there is a degree of danger in that it may be slippery, and there is a possibility of falling rocks from the top). Avakas Gorge offers a unique habitat on the island. The walk ends at Agios Georgios tis Pegeias locality.

Descending Moutti tis Sotiras Peak

Day 7 of the trip is considered as a free day, and travellers are encouraged to explore as well as relax. Paphos ancient city (in fact Palaipaphos, Nea Paphos and Aphrodite's Rock) comprise a Unesco World Heritage site, well worth a visit. Just relaxing at one of the nearby beaches, swimming, snorkelling or going on a cruise along Akamas north coast are also recommended. 
At the same time, we recommend at least two walks for travellers (we provide relevant information), if they prefer to walk more :  the seven km Adonis trail as well as the twelve km long coastal walk to Fontana Amoroza and back. Both of the walks have small (and different) stretches found in the Akamas Panorama walk, that walkers may have completed on Day 6.

​​​On Day 8 morning, the package finishes. If travellers want, we can arrange a taxi for them, book additional nights, etc
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Summary of our services
We offer Independent Self–Guided Walkers interested in exploring beautiful Cyprus, a menu of services:

• 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.
• Booking of appropriate accommodation on the route, where possible in small, family run establishments.
• Booking of meals, including breakfast, dinner (as per the package) and optionally lunch packs , with a high element of local cuisine, where available.
• Arranging all applicable luggage transport.
• Arranging transfers to location of arrival/departure and other transfers if required.
• 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.
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b) Transportation  

1) For Day 2, from Kakopetria to start of Artemis trail, to Troodos Square, or to Psilon Dendron locality and return in the afternoon from Artemis Trail, Troodos Square or Psilon Dendron (if travellers want both drop off and pick up from Psilon Dendron, there is an additional charge, if not, drop off or pick up from Psilon Dendron is incuded in the package).
For Day 2 alternative (especially if there is snow cover on the top of Troodos), from Kakopetria drop off at Agios Theodoros Soleas and pick up later from the same location.
2) For Day 3 from Kakopetria village to a point of Madari circular trail (northest point on the Kyperounta - Kannavia road). Pick up later from the same place or from Spilia village if travellers prefer.   
3) For Day 2 or Day 3 walkers are advised to arrange either pickup or delivery from/to Agios Nicolaos tis Stegis Unesco World Heritage Troodos painted church.  The church is just two km from Kakopetria.   
4) For Day 4, transportation from Kakopetria to Droushia village. Initially drop off  at the start of the walking route. Pick up from the finish of the route and transportation to the hotel in Droushia village.
5) For Day 5, pick up from the end of the walk (near Agios Georgios tis Pegeias) and return to the hotel in Droushia village.
6) For Day 6, there is no transportation. However, if travellers prefer not to do the Akamas Panorama walk (or if they prefer to do a shorter version of it), we can transport them to their hotel near Baths of Aphrodite. If they want transport from there, there will be an additional charge.

 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 in Droushia village (Palates hotel, Droushia Heights hotel if no availability in Palates hotel)
3) Sixth and seventh night near Baths of Aphrodite in Akamas (Aphrodite Beach Hotel or Souli beach hotel, if no availability at Aphrodite Beach Hotel)

d) Breakfast for all accommodation
e) Luggage transfer as required
f) On the ground support

Notes : 
1) The package includes neither transport to the first hotel from the airport nor from the (last) hotel near Akamas 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 660 Euro per person.
b) two walkers travel together on a Single Room, bed and breakfast basis is 760 Euro per person.
c) a single traveller on bed and breakfast basis is 980 Euro per person.
   

CANCELLATION POLICY

If Customers cancel:
Cancellation charges for a booked trip:

• Until Day 31 prior to travel date: 100 Euro per booking
• Day 30 to Day 16 prior to travel date : 20%
• Day 15 to Day 3 prior to travel date: 50%
• Day 2 prior to Day 1 prior to travel date: 80%
• 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.

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