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INTRODUCTION
Based in the quaint coastal town of Kyrenia with its picturesque harbour, we stay in a good quality 4-star hotel with excellent amenities where we can look forward to a week of guided walks. The walks include ruined crusader castles, monasteries, coastal paths, forest paths and tranquil villages with traditional coffee shops. Our local guide will help to unfold the wonders of his native country and introduce us to areas of outstanding natural beauty. Walks are graded easy to moderate and are suitable for anyone who is reasonably fit.
Following the heat of summer, October is the perfect time for exploring and walking in this delightful island, and the Northern area has many little-known surprises for us to discover.
Travel is with Pegasus Airways departing from Manchester or Stansted to Ercan Airport in North Cyprus, stopping briefly en-route at Atalya, Istanbul. Travel in connection with the walks and visits to places of interest is by private mini-buses. You are free to join in some or all of the walks and activities, or you may be tempted to spend time relaxing at the hotel.
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| Dates: |
3 - 10 October 2012
(Optional extension - on request) |
| Price incl. flights: |
£850.00 |
| Superior Room with garden or mountain view: |
£50.00 |
| Single person supplement (occupying double room): |
£90.00 |
| Grade: |
Moderate [M] More info |
| Availability: |
Places available |
| Book this holiday now |
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HIGHLIGHTS
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OUR BASE
Our base for the week is the charming, family run Hotel Pia Bella, which is highly acclaimed for excellent service and where we are assured of a warm welcome. All rooms are air-conditioned with private balconies and full facilities. Standard rooms are the equivelent of 4-star and superior rooms are 5-star. Amenities include a health club and spa, two freshwater swimming pools and massage facilities. Rooms are comfortable, quite spacious and decorated with warm colours and parquet floors. Large glass-panelled doors lead to each room's balcony. Twenty-four hour room service is available. Cushioned sun loungers and palm trees surround the outdoor pools.
Breakfast is an open buffet style serving traditional Cypriot, Turkish and English dishes, taken in the hotel's restaurant. Picnic lunches are provided for the walking programme except on the day we visit Famagusta, when we enjoy lunch in a local traditional tavern.
In order to sample the gastronomic delights of the region, dinners will be in the hotel on three nights and some of the best restaurants in the area on four nights, with a private coach provided to and from the restaurants. The harbour-side restaurants overlook a dramatic crusader castle which dominates the end of the quay. The backdrop formed by the Besparmak (Five Finger) Mountains, the minarets and mosques, and the Venetian facades of the buildings all add to the harbour's charm.
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ITINERARY
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Day 1 - Wednesday 3 October 2012 - Travel
Fly Pegasus Airways from either Stansted or Manchester to Ercan Airport in North Cyprus. D
Day 2 - Thursday 4 October 2012 - Bellapais Abbey
After a morning briefing by our guide we set off on our first walk. This is supported walking and a vehicle will occasionally meet us to transfer the group between some sections and deliver delicious home-cooked lunches. Please note: North Cyprus has many paths and tracks to discover. Because of this and occasional access restrictions, walks during the week may differ from those shown below, which are for illustration only.
Depart by bus for the small village of Bellapais. Just a few kilometres out of Kyrenia amongst hills dotted with slender Cypresses, Bellapais was made famous by Lawrence Durrell in his book 'Bitter Lemons'. Durrell describes this beautiful village in detail and today much is still recognisable from passages in his book. The famous 'Tree of Idleness' stands in front of the magnificent 14th Century Crusader Abbey after which the village takes its name. We have time to wander around the site before walking uphill through the village's bougainvillaea-strewn houses, to reach a broad forest track. After an hour or so of walking, with splendid views back across to Kyrenia and the sea beyond, we enter a high mountain valley. Here the track weaves its way amongst low bushes of sage and several species of young pine. After lunch beneath the mountain summits we follow a little-used track down to Catalkoy Village where transport is waiting to return to the hotel.
Dinner in a harbour-side restaurant. Distance approx. 15km. BLD
Day 3 - Friday 5 October 2012 - Geçitkoy and Reservoir Walk
We leave the hotel by coach for Geçitkoy, the first village at the western end of the main mountain range, close to the reservoir. The highest point is 1024 metres and the reservoir provides a stunning backdrop for today's walk. We start by walking over the dam and head south on the eastern side of the reservoir. The hillside is covered with dense Mediterranean shrubs providing habitat for many birds and the reservoir is usually full of waterfowl. As it is the migratory season we see lots of birds passing through. The trees standing in the water are often full of cormorants. We climb gently up the trail through the wooded lower slopes with views over the other side of this attractive valley.
Heading south, we follow the path under the cliffs, with some steep ravines carved by water over centuries. We arrive at the little village of Kozankoy and as we head down into the valley floor we carry on to Hisarkoy and then back into the little hamlet of Geçitkoy for optional refreshments before returning to the hotel by coach.
Dinner in a harbour-side restaurant. BLD
Day 4 - Saturday 6 October 2012 - Herbarium-Nntiphonitis Monastery-Esentepe Walk
Our coach takes us to the start point of today's walk at the Alevkaya Forest Station. We make a short visit to the Herbarium (founded by the respected British botanist Dr. Deryck Viney) for a great introduction to Cypriot flora. Then we walk on forest tracks towards Yayla Peak (927m) passing through stands of the strange strawberry tree (Arbutus Andrachne). Follow the trail down to Antiphonitis Church. This pretty little church, built in a number of contrasting styles, is tucked away in the depths of the forest. Receiving few visitors, those who do stumble across it may be able to view the deteriorating frescoes. Hopefully it will be unlocked, with the opportunity to share a coffee with the gatekeeper. We return to Kyrenia by private coach.
Dinner in a harbour-side restaurant. Distance walked approx. 16km. BLD
Day 5 - Sunday 7 October 2012 - Free Time
Free time to relax at the hotel, or explore the island further. One option is a visit to Karpaz Peninsula, known locally as the Panhandle. Now a National Park, attractions include wildlife, flowers, wild donkeys, monasteries and excellent beach walks. The price for the day is £35.00 including private transport, guide and lunch.
BD
Day 6 - Monday 8 October 2012 - St. Hilarion's Castle
One of the many rewards for visitors to Cyprus is the profusion of wild flowers. There are more than thirty species of orchid, including the aptly-named 'naked man orchid' (Orchis italica), together with cyclamen, tulips, and anemones. In addition, North Cyprus is a must for even the most casual bird watcher. Not only does it have over 300 resident species (raptors, hoopoe, blue rock thrush, chukar, bee-eaters, rollers and francolin amongst them) but many more migratory visitors. We hope to see some today. This morning we transfer the short distance to St. Hilarion's Castle (750m). This ancient citadel overlooks Kyrenia from a dramatic hilltop, and, as a result, has spectacular coastal views. After an hour or so to explore the castle we begin a predominantly downhill walk to the flower-filled village of Karaman. In the afternoon we head eastwards, along gentle tracks to Ilgaz where we meet up with the bus to return to our hotel.
Dinner in a harbour-side restaurant. Distance walked approx. 15km. BLD
Day 7 - Tuesday 9 October 2012 - Buffavento Castle
Dramatically located on a rocky outcrop, Buffavento is the highest Crusader castle on the island. Set at an altitude of 954m, we will have seen the castle on some of our walks earlier in the week; today we explore its imposing ruins. Our drive to Buffavento Castle is along a newly paved forest road overlooking the Mesaoria Plain. Starting from the car park below the castle, we make the 700 step climb to this strategic fortress, which in parts ascends steeply - adding to the sense of invincibility of the Castle's position. Built in Byzantine times, Buffavento was once used by the King as a hideaway from Richard the Lionheart but the King's daughter is said to have surrendered the castle to the Crusaders in 1191. After taking in the extensive views south and north from the Castle walls we descend the steps and have a well-earned break for lunch under the shade of an olive tree. The descent from the mountain takes us westward on the southern flank of the Besparmark Range with views inland across the Mesaoria Plain - the "breadbasket" of Northern Cyprus. We follow the forest trail for the walk up and downhill back to Bellapais Village, where we meet the driver for the return journey to the hotel.
Dinner in a harbour-side restaurant. Distance walked approx. 16-17km. BLD
Day 8 - Wednesday 10 October 2012
Transfer by private coach to Ercan Airport for the return flight to the UK with Pegasus Airways. B
B = breakfast L = lunch D = dinner
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FLIGHTS
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Please note that the following flight details are the latest known and are subject to confirmation and change by the airline. All times are local. Crete is two hours ahead of the UK.
| Outbound - Wednesday 3rd October 2012 |
Depart Manchester (T1)
Arrive Antalya
Depart Antalya
Arrive Ercan
or
Depart Stansted
Arrive Antalya
Depart Antalya
Arrive Ercan
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1225
0840
0920
2015
1255
1835
1920
2055 |
PC496
PC496
PC502
PC502 |
| Inbound - Wednesday 10th October 2012 |
Depart Ercan
Arrive Antalya
Depart Antalya
Arrive Manchester (T1)
or
Depart Ercan
Arrive Antalya
Depart Antalya
Arrive Stansted
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1225
1840
1920
2015
0735
0830
0910
1145 |
PC496
PC496
PC495
PC495 |
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PRICE
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| Price per person sharing a twin or double room, including flights |
£850.00 |
| Supplement for Superior Room with sea view |
£50.00 |
| Single person supplement occupying a double room |
£90.00 |
WHAT THE FULL PRICE INCLUDES
- Return International economy flights UK to North Cyprus
- Airport taxes in UK and North Cyprus
- All local taxes and VAT
- Hotel accommodation
- Meals as shown in the itinerary
- English speaking local guide for the walking programme
- Transport in connection with the walks
- Visits to places of interest
- Entrance fees to historical sites
- Welcome reception
- Accompanying tour lead
- Private coach transfers between airport and hotel
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- Holiday/Travel Insurance
- Gratuities to guides, which are optional
- Beverages
- Optional visits
- Any Government taxes or compulsory charges that may be introduced after the publication of this web page
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E&OE
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