Walking in North Cyprus

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.

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.

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!

I was happy to go to a place that is pretty much free of tourists, certainly in February. The hotel was lovely, the food was good and the walks were scenic if not too varied. At least one was really a bit more than moderate. The guide, Gizer, was fantastic, filling us with more than enough information about everything. North Cyprus has an interesting and pretty sad history.

An excellent week's walking in North Cyprus with a great group and a superb guide. The guide's commentary on the history of the sights we saw including the ancient castles, churches, mosques, monastries really added to the trip.

An excellent week walking exploring North Cyprus at Christmas with a very pleasant and friendly group. This is not just a walking trip for you get an excellent overview of the history of the ancient castles, monastries etc that you see that really adds to the quality of the holiday. A very good variety of walks across different landscapes but mostly having views of the sea - expertly led by a superb guide.

Walking in North Cyprus was a lovely surprise. The trip was very well organised by Exodus and we had a fantastic guide called Gizer who was very knowledgeable, kind and professional. The trip was a hotel based walking trip at Christmas time. The weather on the whole was perfect for walking and showing off the amazing scenery. (just one afternoon of rain) The walks were varied, quite tough at times but very rewarding. We mostly visited castles and monasteries during the walks. The hotel was a good standard with nice big rooms and very friendly staff. The group were amazing and inspirational. The Guide was fantastic and organised great restaurants with really good food at very reasonable prices for us all. He was the perfect host to show off this beautiful part of the world and he ensured all of us enjoyed our holiday.

Another great holiday organised by Exodus. The beautiful countryside of North Cyprus was well highlighted by this tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and kept the group together well. The weather was a bit hotter than I expected (the eastern Mediterranean was suffering from a hot summer and the temperatures were in the mid-80s whereas I was expecting a few degrees cooler. However, by keeping well hydrated the walks did not provide me with any problems.

You actually have to be quite fit for this holiday. There is a fair amount of walking, especially up to the many castles. In the heat it can be tough especially on the higher climbs. Also some of the terrain can be compared to walking in a dry river bed with a lot of boulders and stones. You will be visiting a fair amount of castles and the odd monastery. You can also see the ghost city of Famagusta. The weather was fabulous, and the group were great fun. Our group leader Gizer was amazing; he was courteous,punctual, and very caring. He was also extremely knowledgable about the various flora and fauna. It was a joy to walk with him. If you stay at the Pia Bella hotel, hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did. The rooms are spacious and modern with a fantastic bathroom. Also the breakfasts were truly delightful with an incredible choice. Yon can sit outside and enjoy the kittens frolicking in the gardens, or inside the large restaurant area. There are two pools, one quite a bit larger where the sun stays all day long. Enjoy.

Arrangements were efficient, the hotel was lovely, the reception and meal on arrival was most welcoming. Walking was as brochure said and the town/suburbs was abundant with flowering plants. Evening meals easily available at very reasonable prices. The guide was full of interesting information about the historical context of the island. As ever the greatest fun was meeting the excellent other holiday makers! The hotel were very attentive to providing me with 'gluten free' meals.

A very enjoyable week,good mixed group ,interesting walks and perfect weather. The hotel was of a good standard and the staff very helpful,also only a 15minute walk to the harbour and castle

This was a very enjoyable week of walking and sightseeing. The walks are in stunning locations and, in April, there are wild flowers and butterflies everywhere. The walks are not too demanding but be careful as many tracks are rocky and could cause you to stumble if you are not careful. The weather was perfect at this time of year but I think that any later and it would have been too hot. Excellent hotel. Delicious food.

I really enjoyed this trip and the group were fun and our leader was helpful. I would have preferred more challenging hikes as the abilities were quite different. I would also have preferred to be able to choose our own restaurants rather than being taken to one of the Leaders choice which wasn't always good.

An excellent week walking in the hills of North Cyprus, learning about the history of the present-day Greek/Turkish divide as well as the ancient Roman and pre-Roman history of the area. Very nice hotel on the outskirts of Kyrenia with 2 pools to help us cool off at the end of the day.

A really enjoyable week in Northern Cyprus which is a fascinating place to visit with a rich history and culture and beautiful mountain scenery. An ideal place to escape the cold weather back home!

This was our first time to Cyprus, and it was a great experience. The walks were not challenging, but there was plenty of downhill. We had a great group which added to the trip.

Having had a busy year with house renovations, we left our holiday booking rather late. We always plump for warmth, we like islands, exploring and walking. Two years ago we managed a brief border crossing in Cyprus when visiting the old walled city. That was a highlight and so I was delighted when John suggested joining a guided walk in North Cyprus this year. The booking was simple, making us wonder if we had completed everything necessary. A few days later following phone calls to let us know things were in hand, our booking was confirmed. We were able to join the group flight to Ergo, transfers and accommodation were complete. Everything fell into place, the hotel was excellent making an extra effort to give us a truly memorable Christmas. Our group of 16 fellow walkers gelled really well and our Austrian leader ensured each day went smoothly.

A varied and interesting trip. Spectacular views. Lovely people. Hotel Pia Bella was a very good base.

A variety of walking and sightseeing with some quite tough walks.

An excellent week, with a fun group (from different places), an excellent local guide and great weather. The hotel was just fine too!

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.

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.

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.

North Cyprus was an interesting place to visit, so much history and an on-going political situation.

Despite the intense heat, this was a very worthwhile walking holiday with excellent cultural highlights.

A really good trip in terms of combining sightseeing and walking. Some great scenery and a genuinely beautiful country.

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.

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.

Just back from a wonderful trip, highly recommended!