Walking in North Cyprus

Traveler Reviews

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  Paul

  November 5th, 2013
  An excellent week, with a fun group (from different places), an excellent local guide and great weather. The hotel...
  An excellent week, with a fun group (from different places), an excellent local guide and great weather. The hotel was just fine too! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Beautiful views at altitude, looking along the North Cyprus coast What did you think of your group leader? Excellent.....knowledgeable, supportive, informative (and with us most eves.....and when he couldn't be, he recommended very good restaurants) Is there anything else you would like to add? We did two great 10 mile walks on successive days, then much less the rest of the week (we only walked on 4 of 6 days, with two half day walks). For some this wasn't enough. For me, I ccould have done with a lighter day between the two long ones!Show more
  Traveled in October 2013
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  Ian

  January 28th, 2012
  Yet another brilliant Exodus holiday. I would thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone thinking of discovering the...
  Yet another brilliant Exodus holiday. I would thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone thinking of discovering the stunning scenery & history of the North Cyprus region. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Too many to mention however the views from the top of Kyrenia Castle were simply breathtaking!Also - sitting enjoying an Al Fresco beer in the beach side bar at the end of the Karpaz Peninsula was amazing!The Al Fresco meals we had down at Kyrenia Harbour were also great - sitting having dinner with boats bobbing about in the water beside you takes some beating! What did you think of your group leader? We had a different group leader for the first couple of days however our leader for the majority of the holiday, Ghisa(apologies if that's the incorrect spelling!) was excellent in every way - highly organised, very sociable & above all his knowledge of the area and it's history was amazing. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The main piece of advice would be, if you're thinking about this trip then go for it!!It was VERY hot, even in September when I was there, so take plenty of sunscreen(although I'm a fair skinned Scottish chap!)  Is there anything else you would like to add? Have to add that the hotel we stayed in, Onor Village, was excellent. It's set on a hillside and my bedroom balcony provided stunning views towards Kyrenia town and the Med beyond.The staff at the hotel were very welcoming and made us feel very relaxed(I got well aquainted with the bar man!) Show more
  Traveled in December 2011
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  Melinda

  January 23rd, 2012
  I had a great week in North Cyprus ... loved the place, loved the people, loved the trees, loved the sea, loved the...
  I had a great week in North Cyprus ... loved the place, loved the people, loved the trees, loved the sea, loved the food. It was my first trip of this kind... and it was a good start. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking along that long-long shore barefooted on the sand and in the sea. Adoring the trees in the woods. What did you think of your group leader? Ros is great.  She knew everything about everything. And she is very good company. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't worry, be happy! Is there anything else you would like to add? It was a pity that I was not able to walk down from the hotel to have a stroll on the seaside or on the streets of Kyrenia, because of that stupid highway.Show more
  Traveled in December 2011
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  Anna

  January 20th, 2012
  A beautiful place worth exploring & best on foot. The local people were extremely friendly and makes you feel at home...
  A beautiful place worth exploring & best on foot. The local people were extremely friendly and makes you feel at home and very welcome. Another plus point is that they charge in Turkish Lira which means you can really stretch your dollar! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The selected hotel ; Onar Village Resort was wonderful. Especially all the serving crew. Customer service was 5-star and they do their daily task with so much personal pride & always with a smile! Service requests/response were very quick, be it for extra towels, fresh eggs/coffee...Exodus could not have choosen a better hotel.  What did you think of your group leader? She tried her best considering she was not feeling well. We did not get enough time to simply chill & soak in the atmosphere as her walking pace was quite fast.  Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Fly into Ercan (ECN) from Istanbul (IST) instead of via Larnaca (LCA). More convenient and the flight on TK is very pleasant. Simply pre-book a taxi from Ercan Taxi Service online & someone will meet you directly upon arrival. Safe & hassle-free. Is there anything else you would like to add? Explore Northern Cyprus with Exodus! They manage the itinerary very well & the choosen hotel; Onar Village Resort is superb!Show more
  Traveled in December 2011
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  Sandra

  June 14th, 2011
  Just back from a wonderful trip, highly recommended! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking...
  Just back from a wonderful trip, highly recommended! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking where the Crusaders walked while visiting their castles at St Hilarion & Buffavento. Then there were the restaurants on the quayside at Kyrenia harbour. What did you think of your group leader? It ended up being around 40C for our walks, which could have been very unpleasant. Hoosain kept us well-supplied with water & stopped in the shade at regular intervals. He changed our program to keep away from the hottest areas and really looked after us brilliantly. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The walks are really not strenuous, even if they were long on some days. This is a beautiful, and relatively unspoiled part of the Mediterranean. Is there anything else you would like to add? I didnt enjoy our day out on the Karpas peninsula, thinking it was a lot of driving to see very little. But other people in the group did enjoy the day, so this was probably more down to personal preference. On all other days, drives were quite short.Our hotel was great, although far from the town & restaurants. But it was possible to get taxis easily and some local restaurants do offer a pick-up & return service.I was a bit apprehensive about how things would be, with the Turkish army being in North Cyprus. This didnt turn out to be an issue, and I felt very safe the whole trip. Overall, a wonderful trip!Show more
  Traveled in May 2011
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  Andrew

  April 14th, 2013
  An excellent spring break lead by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Some very pleasant walks, none too taxing....
  An excellent spring break lead by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Some very pleasant walks, none too taxing. The mountains were greener than I expected and plenty of wild flowers to see. The views from the castles in the mountains are spectacular. Good evening meals are available in local restaurants, particularly in Bellapais. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The views from Buffavento castle and on the walk down. What did you think of your group leader? Ros was excellent. Friendly and helpful. Thorough local knowledge, she seemed to be known by many of the local people. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The trip notes should make clearer that payment for the optional group trip/meals is better paid in sterling not Turkish lira, otherwise the exchange rate will be poor. It is a long drive to the Karpaz peninsular and if you are not a beach enthusiast, it may be better to make other arrangements for that day. The Apostolos Andreas monastery, included in the Karpaz day, is unfortunately (owing to its state of disrepair) not worth a visit. The optional trip to Salamis and Famagusta is well worth taking. You could easily spend more time in both.The group flight with Pegasus goes via Istanbul and passengers to/from N Cyprus have to stay on the plane for about 1 hour at Istanbul. This is a budget airline and no food or drink is included in the ticket and prices on board are very high. Legroom is poor. Check-in at Stansted was very slow. I would strongly advise on-line check-in for the outward flight. Seats were though allocated. Is there anything else you would like to add? The hotel in Onar village was pleasant, with helpful staff and good views over Kyrenia. Some on the trip had problems with noise from air-conditioning units used all night in adjoining rooms. The breakfasts were good but I would not recommend it for an evening meal. Main issue is that you cannot walk to and from Kyrenia town to the hotel, which is some distance out of town and on the wrong side of the Kyrenia bypass which has no pedestrian route across. Taxis are though readily available.Show more
  Traveled in March 2013
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  Corran

  January 25th, 2013
  This is a short trip which packs a lot in, but there is plenty of time to relax. The watchword is choice - there are...
  This is a short trip which packs a lot in, but there is plenty of time to relax. The watchword is choice - there are plenty of options every day. Keep walking or hitch a ride? Relax by the pool or take another trip? The walking itself is not particularly demanding... but in almost 40 degree heat, we worked hard to earn the magnificent views! Even 3 months after returning, my memories are rich with blue and green. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I don't know if it is inspirational as such, but amidst the beautiful scenery and exceptionally varied history, the thing which struck me the most was the modern history, particularly the no-man's-land visible in Famagusta. It's a shame that such a beautiful country is tinged with division and sadness, with the ongoing political and diplomatic struggles trapping the local people in the middle. Struggles and change throughout history are evident across the island, showcased by the visits to the castles, mosques, abbeys, monasteries and both ancient and modern ruins, in which the influence of Roman, Crusader, Arab and Turk can be seen. Not to mention the British...The natural landscape of the Karpaz is a fantastic contrast.  What did you think of your group leader? Roz was friendly, knowledgeable and very funny. I hadn't realised from reading previous reviews that she was British and so I was doubly impressed by her spoken Turkish language skills! She was able to advise on just about everything, including suggesting places to eat and drink and even passing on a list of North Cyprus-related literature for anyone interested in learning a bit more.With her at the head and a great group of fellow travellers, I spent a hearty proportion of every day laughing. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Say "yes" to everything! Say yes to the optional day trip to Famagusta, say yes to the evening dinner cruise, say yes to the chance to swim in the sea, say yes to the delicious barbecue...However, in amongst saying "yes" to everything... Consider packing a snack or two (ensuring it is not something that melts) in case the lunch food is not to your taste (it's freshly-prepared local food and I thought it was delicious!). Also, be prepared for a scratch or two on the leg on the forest walk. I loved the walk but some of the shrubs are hardy and unforgiving!The only definite thing which should be remembered? If flying with Pegasus from Stansted via Istanbul to Ercan, take food onto the plane for your journey! Is there anything else you would like to add? If you are a hardy, mountaineering fitness nut then the trip may be too gentle for you. But if you want a mix of walking and bathing, eating and drinking, sightseeing and chilling out, this is one for you.Show more
  Traveled in December 2012
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  Mark

  January 2nd, 2013
  A good mixture of trail walking and city exploration/sightseeing. The Cypriot food was excellent and copious. Top...
  A good mixture of trail walking and city exploration/sightseeing. The Cypriot food was excellent and copious. Top marks for the packed lunches on the day trips, made by the guide's brother's local bakery. The weather was fantastic on this trip which made a nice change from cold dreary England at this time of year. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The relaxed pace of life they have over there, and the happy mix of old and modern in their towns and cities, relatively untouched by the infiltration of global corporations. What did you think of your group leader? He seemed to organise things well and was clearly passionate about his country and culture. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? 1) Plan on going on a diet when you get back. 2) If you want long walks every day, this trip probably isn't for you. 3) Some of the descents on the hills are quite steep so if you have dodgy knees you might want to bring sticks.4) Be aware the hotel is set up on a hill above Kyrenia and it's not easy to get into the town on your own, if you had such a desire. 5) They don't give you free food on the plane so have a big breakfast or bring your own lunch. Is there anything else you would like to add? Overall I enjoyed the trip very much.Show more
  Traveled in December 2012
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  Rosemary

  October 23rd, 2012
  An enjoyable holiday with a mixed group. An excellent guide made it interesting for us and was considerate about our...
  An enjoyable holiday with a mixed group. An excellent guide made it interesting for us and was considerate about our needs. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I most enjoyed Salamis and swimming in the sea. I was also impressed with how productive the land is out on the peninsular. What did you think of your group leader? Excellent. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Yes. Don't travel direct to Northern Cyprus because it means going via Istanbul. it is quicker to fly to Larnaca and take a taxi to the North. Is there anything else you would like to add? Some of the walks were more strenuous than your preview suggested and I would not recommend your holidays to anyone who did not like steep climbs and scrambling.Show more
  Traveled in September 2012
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  Michael

  September 17th, 2012
  North Cyprus was an interesting place to visit, so much history and an on-going political situation. What was...
  North Cyprus was an interesting place to visit, so much history and an on-going political situation. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The historical sites built on mountain tops. St Hilarion Castle, Buffavento castle.  The views form the castles and along the mountain walks were amazing. What did you think of your group leader? Roz was a fantastic guide and good company. She had so much knowledge of the area and the history. She knew all of the routes very well and was able to measure the pace of the group very well. Gave great recommendations for places to eat. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The walks were probably not in the moderate range and I found them quiet easy but, the daily temperatures of 38 degrees made the walking much more difficult but not unbearable. There was a go0od balance between walking and time off and plenty of time to explore the various sites during the walks. Is there anything else you would like to add? This was my first time on an exodus trip and I’m glad I went. Maybe we were very lucky but Roz the guide was great and the group were good company and good fun. I would definitely go on another exodus trip.Show more
  Traveled in August 2012