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Firstly we did not expect snow on this holiday! Nonetheless we had a very enjoyable week and met some lovely people in our group of 16. Some parts of the itinerary had to be adapted and changed due to the weather conditions but this did not affect the overall enjoyment of the holiday. Walking on the first couple of days was a bit tricky due to the snow and ice, meaning walking poles were essential. In normal conditions none of the walks would have been especially challenging. Gizer was a great guide, very knowledgeable and mindful of the group. We appreciated the extra trips to Famagusta (on free day) and Nicosia (departure day). Hotel Pia Bella is a good base with friendly staff and the bonus of heating in the bedrooms. It has a lovely outside pool area (shame it was just too cold to enjoy). Worth noting that if you enjoy wine the house stuff is not good, instead ask the hotel for a bottle (affordable) and keep behind the bar. Organised restaurants were very good, especially the last evening one. The restaurant next to the hotel serves a nice pizza too. All in all a good holiday and so much history in Northern Cyprus
Visiting Salamis and Nicosia
Excellent, very knowledgeable on history, culture and flora and fauna
Take lots of warm layers. It does get cold. Also walking poles useful
Take Turkish Lira
This was our first group holiday since Covid and first walking group holiday – we’ve been more into cycling but are now converted!
The walking was very comfortable – nice distances and nothing too taxing although there was the odd boulder to scramble over or around on one walk. Everybody coped fine. The walks were generally high up in the mountains and the views were great. Each walk had something of interest linked to it, e.g. an abbey, a castle, a monastery. The sight-seeing day going to Famagusta was great. On every day there was plenty to interest keen photographers.
We had a nice group of 13 people. The hotel was great – in this trip, because the distances are small, once you’re there, there’s no repacking until the end. The staff were friendly. Breakfast was pretty good once you’ve worked out what everything is and what you like. The only disappointing thing is the coffee – nescafe rather than a decent machine or good local coffee. The hotel is about 10 mins walk to the harbour. There are plenty of restaurants near by for the three evenings when we don’t eat as a group.
Our trip was in late February. It was a bit like April here in the UK. Warm during the day, cold at night. A couple of hardy people did swim in the hotel pool and in the sea – but that wasn’t for us. Bring a good jump for the evenings!
Up at the St Hilarion Castle in the mountains - super views. Also visiting the 'ghost town' of Varosha. I was reading 'The Sunrise' by Victoria Hislop, a great novel about Cyprus in 1974. It's set there and everything came even more to life.
Gizer is great. He's very experienced and professional, good fun and informative. He coped and helped well with the issues thrown up by some lost luggage and flight disruption. Everything in his control went pretty smoothly! One of the drivers on the journey from the airport to the hotel was poor and my wife ended up with car sickness - Gizer ensured that he wasn't one of our regulars and there was no recurrence of any nausea on our trips. We learnt a lot about Cyprus and the north from him. He made a good choice of restaurants and there was a nice mix between 'group time' and 'individual time'. The final day could be a bit of a let down as the flight home is late afternoon and there's nothing in the Exodus itinerary. But Gizer arranges an optional / additional trip to the Turkish side of Nicosia which is pretty interesting and if you do that you're already part of the way to Larnaca airport.
- Once we cross into North Cyprus, Gizer stops at an ATM. There are plenty of them in Kyrenia. We lost money by buying Turkish lira at LHR - it was a very poor rate and there was no need to buy there. - Read 'The Sunnise' by Victora Hislop on or before the trip - see above
Cyprus is actually quite a long way away and over four hours flight time. We therefore delayed our return for a week. We booked a hire a car from the airport, organised our hotels and toured the south. Having a week in the north and a week in the south gave us a super blend of Turkish and Greek Cyprus. Highlights in the south were the medieval churches, walking in the Troodos mountains and the mosaics at Pafos. They very much complement what you see in the north.
After great deliberation on whether to venture out on holiday again, we are glad we did. This was an excellent trip & very well organised. Exodus provided excellent advice & details of all the requirements necessary in view of COVID regulations.
We met with a sociable & lovely group of people and at 12 I think this was an ideal number. This is our 3rd or 4th group holiday & after years of independent travel it is relaxing to just go with the flow & not have to be responsible for anything!
The walking was superb – challenging in places but well worth the effort of some steep climbs. The views were fantastic & we visited Crusader castles & monasteries. Our guide Gizer was a great host & very knowledgeable about the history & culture of his country.
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The walk up to St Hilarion castle was a real highlight. It was tremendous when back at the foot of the mountain, to look back up and know that we had climbed up there. It looks so inaccessible so was a sense of achievement. My favourite moment was on our last day, en-route to the airport, we visited Nicosia the divided city, and after seeing the old market, we walked though an entrance to the caravanserai where it opened up into a square with arches & little shops.
Gizer is a superb guide & ambassador for his country and a great asset to Exodus. He is a charming man, kind, thoughtful & very knowledgeable & an expert at diplomacy and was always aware of each persons needs. Nothing was too much trouble and he was always ready to answer our many questions. He has a great sense of humour too. His recommendations for restaurants were welcome.
Don't worry too much about the rules & endless form filling. (Says someone who was very stressed about it before we went) It is worth all the faff. North Cyprus is a beautiful country and the history - both ancient and recent - is fascinating. You do need to have a certain level of fitness as it is a full on active holiday. If you've never been on a group holiday before, don't hesitate, it's great fun!
The hotel was nice. Very quiet so always felt safe re covid rules. It would be nice to return in warmer months to take advantage of the lovely outside areas & pool. Also a mention for the couple of drivers who took us to the start of our walks. They were both very nice & friendly.
This whole trip was a delight. I knew very little about Cypriot history but came away with a better understanding of the country, the conflicts and the people. The scenery is stunning; the walking is a delight and the hotel and food did not disappoint.
It is relatively inexpensive to eat out and the food was delicious. Local wine washed down our meals and sunsets were enjoyed with the help of a Brandy Sour. If you want a stress free, walking holiday with some sunshine and blue skies head for Kyrenia. It was quite cool with brisk winds but there were enough heat in the midday to chase away any winter blues.
There are some spectacular Crusader Castles set high in the mountains; the ancient city of Salamis and a fabulous shipwreck to see.The buildings are fascinating but I most enjoyed the rocky limestone pinnacles and the lovely trails through pine forests carpeted with anemones and orchids with views to a sparkling blue sea.
Gizer is a top notch guide. He is a very relaxed and friendly host with an excellent knowledge of his country. Nothing was too much trouble and he was very helpful with our Covid testing and getting us across the border.He also sourced a rather lovely cake to celebrate my birthday. Transport worked well and his recommendations for restaurants were excellent. He made sure everyone had a lovely time and made us feel very comfortable.
Worry not about saving a tree. Bring paper copies of Covid tests and Passenger Locator forms. It makes life easier.
Just go and enjoy this under-rated part of the world.
This was my first ever ‘group’ walking holiday. The whole trip was well planned and organized, and the group leader and guide (Gizer) was simply excellent. I found the group travel refreshingly sociable after the lockdowns and social distancing we have all been through.
The view out to the peninsula from the top of Kantara Castle.
Apart from knowing the ancient and modern history of the places we visited very well, Gizer catered for all tastes; whatever your diet or allergies; whenever you fancied a meal without the group. Not only was he most courteous, but he also has an excellent sense of humour.
The service in The Pia Bella was good. The rooms were spacious and clean. Breakfast, the bar, and the local food in particular were good. The pre-arranged Christmas dinner was the least interesting. But most evenings we ate out as a group anyway. It’s worth knowing that the only coffee worth drinking should be ordered at the bar, and you should ask the breakfast cook to make you your choice of eggs because the prepared scrambled eggs are not worth it. A decent cappuccino is very cheap at 20 Lire. This is the least expensive county where I have eaten out for longer than I care to look back. Angora Kavaklidere red wine is very cheap and reasonably drinkable. Cankaya (pronounced ‘Chankaya’) Kavaklidere at 13.5% is a strong white wine and tastes even better quality for the same low price. Make sure you leave the food you can’t eat, or you will make yourself sick. Its good, but there is far too much of it.
More experienced Exodus travel users noted we had a well-balanced group. I will book with Exodus again if this trip is any measure of their competency.
After nearly 2 years stuck in the UK, I was so desperate to get away that I was prepared to take all the stressful Covid tests/paperwork on the chin in order to travel. So I went Walking in North Cyprus over Christmas, and it was lovely. The Hotel Pia Bella in Kyrenia was lovely, and the staff were great – friendly and funny. Gizer was a great guide – very experienced and competent, with lots of historical knowledge. This was a leisurely/moderate grade holiday, and the walking was fairly easy most days, apart from a scrambly section on the St. Hilarion day – good boots necessary! The trip was a good mix of walking and culture – the 4 castles and the Armenian monastery were all very interesting. I did the 2 extra trips to Famagusta, and Nicosia. I liked them both, but the ancient city of Salamis (near Famagusta) was probably my highlight. The weather was bright and sunny, with only one wet afternoon. But it was a bit cooler than most of us had expected, with a chill wind at times. Hat and gloves recommended. No one was tempted by the hotel pool or the sea!
Salamis, which I'd never heard of before.
Gizer was a very good leader - experienced and calm, approachable and knowledgeable.
The paths are a little bit rough in places, so boots are essential, and you might want to use sticks. I did use my waterproof trousers once in the week. Late December can be cool - my swimming costume and sandals stayed in the suitcase. Eating out is pretty cheap, so you don't need loads of Turkish lira. Try to bring printouts of the various Covid documents you need - we had no wifi as we crossed the border into North Cyprus, so the TRNC app I'd uploaded things to didn't work. Printed is safer. But Gizer is around to help.
I am just back from an amazing week in North Cyprus as part of a lovely group, and led by fantastic guide, Gizer.
This trip is an interesting combination of walking and history which I very much enjoyed. It was very hot at times; one of my highlights was swimming in the Mediterranean at the end of a long walk from Kantara on day 4. We all went on the optional trip to Famagusta – this was well worth while.
We also very much enjoyed the local food and drink in the evenings!
Covid threat is taken very seriously. Some places we visited required production of our vaccination/PCR documentation before entry (even although we were outside and very few others were there). I felt safe at all times. If you are a UK arrival and have not filled in a Passenger Locator Form before, I would recommend that you have a look at it before you travel to ensure that you have all the details required to hand. You can partially fill it in and save it for submitting later.
North Cyprus is an overlooked destination. The history, castles and scenery are amazing.
The walks are of reasonable difficulty due to the terrain, and for May the heat made it worse, but a fabulous holiday nonetheless.
The castles built into the mountains with all round views.
Water can be collected at breakfast so take enough bottles for a day plus one to leave in the room fridge. Gluten free diet was catered for but you have to double check everything as it is not well understood. I was served cous cous after they did a special GF starter for me... The walks can be done in trainers. My boots were delayed for 2 days by BA and I managed the most technical one in my trainers. Walking poles definitely help.
The extra options for Wed and Sat are well worth it. There is so much to see on the island. Take some cat biscuits, they will join you for every lunch and although looked after by the villages appreciate a snack. For mobile coverage Vodafone include Turkey in the deals.
This was my first trip with Exodus having traveled many times with some of the competitor companies, and I was not disappointed. From start to finish the trip was wonderfully organised, problems which cropped up handled very well and everyone on the trip was well considered by our tour leader.
A great base in Kyrenia from which to explore the island with some simply lovely walks high up in the mountains.
The optional excursions were well planned and interesting and I took full advantage of these too.
I would highly recommend the trip and hope to return to undertake another excursion with Exodus in the not too distant future.
The longest day walking was on the Thursday where we did a 600 step up walk to see the island from 3000 feet up, 600 steps down followed by a fairly challenging 4.5 hour walk. Beautiful scenery, interesting plants, wonderful views and a slightly faster paced walk than on other days. The optional trip to Famagusta was super as we stopped along the way to see old roman ruins, a monastry and then our tour of the old city. Well paced, interesting and lots of fun.
Gizer is a lovely man, very knowledgable in respect of history, plants, nature, the environment and the island which is his home. A considerate person as we were of mixed ages and abilities. He certainly made the trip fun and enjoyable for all. A great ambassador for Exodus.
If people have knee, hip or joint problems then they will most likely struggle as some on our trip did. Not sure why some came along as it clearly was difficult for them and then this is tiring for others who have to wait, often in the heat. The days we went out in smaller groups, as some opted not to go, for me were better as we were all of the same ability.
We enjoyed an interesting week of hiking and learning with a fantastic guide, Gizer, and a very friendly group. The distances and terrain were different each day and all very interesting and well thought out. Late March is a terrific time to go as not too hot and an abundance of wildflowers in bloom. Our guide was a true professional and we feel went above and beyond to make our trip interesting and enjoyable. The extent of his knowledge in all things, flora, fauna, history, and food was so helpful. The staff at the center based hotel was excellent, as was the food! The history and beauty of North Cyprus is not to be missed. We’re so glad we went!
Can’t pick just one moment. It seemed every day we saw something more beautiful and learned something more interesting than the day before. I guess THE most inspiration came from learning the history of this country, particularly in recent years, and to see both North and South living in apparent harmony.
Excellent! Could not have asked for a better guide! Also would like to give props to our driver. We always felt safe with him at the wheel.
GO!! You will not regret it!
