Contrasts of Cyprus Walking — Self-Launched
8 days · Cyprus
Exodus charges £1,185
No-markup version: ~£365 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of Exodus's 8-day multi-centre walking holiday across Cyprus — three nights in the stone-built Troodos village of Kakopetria, then two nights near Droushia on the Laona Plateau and two on the coast at Polis/Akamas. You'll hike the Solea and Marathasa valleys, the slopes below Mount Olympus, the Avakas Gorge, Lara Beach and the Adonis, Aphrodite and Smigies trails, finishing at the Baths of Aphrodite and the Blue Lagoon. Everything the group version includes (B&B accommodation, daily walks, the transfer days) is bookable independently with public buses, shared taxis and locally hired cars at a fraction of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Kakopetria
Kakopetria, Troodos Mountains
Fly into Larnaca or Paphos and make your own way up into the Troodos foothills. From Larnaca Airport take the 425/429 bus to Larnaca KTEL station, then the intercity bus towards Nicosia and change at Nicosia's Solomou Square for the Kakopetria/Evrychou service (roughly 3.5–4 hrs total, about £8–10). From Paphos it's easier to take a Limassol-bound intercity bus then a mountain service, or pre-book a shared shuttle straight to Kakopetria (£25–35). Check into a village guesthouse, wander the narrow cobbled lanes of the old quarter and eat at one of the tavernas on the river. Sleep early — the walking starts tomorrow.
🚌Public intercity + mountain bus from Larnaca/Paphos, or pre-booked shared shuttle
🛏Village guesthouse or small hotel in Kakopetria (B&B), e.g. a Mill Hotel–style stay or a local guesthouse — £35–50/night double
- →Arrive and check in
- →Explore Kakopetria old town
- →Taverna dinner by the Karkotis river
The Solea and Marathasa Valleys circuit
Kakopetria / Galata
A circular walk west of Kakopetria on sparsely forested slopes with wide views over the Solea Valley as far as Morphou Bay. Route passes a reservoir, drops into the village of Galata and skirts the UNESCO-listed painted chapel of Panagia tis Podithou. Download the route onto your phone (Komoot/AllTrails/Kyrenia Forest walks GPX) before leaving — no guide needed. 10–13 km, mostly easy with some uneven gravel. Back in the village for dinner.
🚌On foot from your guesthouse
🛏Same Kakopetria guesthouse (B&B)
- →Self-guided circular hike (10–13 km)
- →Visit Galata village and its painted churches
- →Views to Morphou Bay
Views of Mount Olympus
Kakopetria / Mount Olympus slopes
Today's loop heads east of the village, climbing the slopes beneath Mount Olympus (1,952 m — the island's high point, complete with British radar dome and a winter ski lift). Expect great views back over Kakopetria and the Solea Valley to the coast. There are shorter and longer options; the long version runs to about 18–20 km. If you want a higher start, a shared taxi or the local bus can drop you at Troodos Square for around £7 so you can add the Artemis Trail.
🚌On foot; optional local bus/shared taxi to Troodos Square (~£7)
🛏Same Kakopetria guesthouse (B&B)
- →Self-guided Mount Olympus viewpoints hike
- →Optional Artemis Trail at Troodos Square
- →Optional Troodos botanical garden / visitor centre
Evretou to Droushia — transfer day and walk
Evretou Reservoir → Droushia, Laona Plateau
Move bases today. The cheapest independent option is the intercity bus network: Kakopetria → Nicosia → Polis Chrysochous, then a short local bus or taxi up to Droushia (about £10–14 and 3.5 hrs). If you want to replicate the operator's point-to-point walk, pre-book a shared taxi or hire a car for the day (from ~£35/day) to be dropped at the Evretou Reservoir end, then walk the 12–16 km over to Droushia past the crescent lake, the abandoned village and the medieval bridge, with a stop at the Agia Paraskevi chapel and Kremiotis Waterfall. Settle into Droushia for two nights.
🚌Intercity bus via Nicosia (~£10–14) or pre-booked shared taxi / day car hire for luggage and trailhead drop
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel in Droushia (B&B), Droushia Heights–style — £40–60/night double
- →Point-to-point hike Evretou → Droushia (~12–16 km)
- →Agia Paraskevi chapel and Kremiotis Waterfall
- →Optional winery visit on the Laona Plateau
Lara Beach and Agios Georgios tis Pegeias
Laona Plateau → Lara coast → Agios Georgios
Descend from the plateau to the Lara coast on foot, optionally taking in the Avakas Gorge Nature Trail — a dramatic limestone slot canyon that is completely free and self-navigable (don't attempt it in wet weather). Pass South Lara and Toxeftra beaches (Toxeftra is a turtle-nesting beach, so stay off the sand after dusk and keep to the marked paths) and finish at Agios Georgios tis Pegeias and its medieval church. Arrange a shared taxi back up to Droushia in advance (about £15–20 split between two). Dinner at a Droushia taverna.
🚌On foot downhill; pre-booked shared taxi back to Droushia (~£15–20 per car)
🛏Same Droushia guesthouse (B&B)
- →Coastal hike to Lara Beach (~14–18 km)
- →Avakas Gorge Nature Trail
- →Agios Georgios tis Pegeias church and sea caves viewpoint
Droushia to the Baths of Aphrodite
Droushia → Baths of Aphrodite, Akamas
Another base move and the trip's big coastal day. Take a local bus or shared taxi from Droushia to Polis Chrysochous (about £5–8, 25 mins), drop bags at a Polis or Akamas-coast hotel, then walk the Smigies, Adonis and Aphrodite trails out to the Baths of Aphrodite cave, with panorama after panorama over Chrysochous Bay from Cape Arnaoutis to Pomos. The longer route with the Moutti tis Sotiras summit runs 16–20 km. Baths of Aphrodite itself is a free botanical garden and grotto — go early or late to dodge the coach groups.
🚌Local bus or shared taxi Droushia → Polis (~£5–8), then on foot
🛏Hotel or guesthouse on the Polis/Akamas coast (B&B), Aphrodite Beach–style — £45–65/night double
- →Smigies, Adonis and Aphrodite trail sections
- →Baths of Aphrodite cave and gardens
- →Moutti tis Sotiras viewpoint (longer option)
Free day or Akamas North coast walk
Akamas Peninsula / Blue Lagoon
Choose your own pace. Relax on the beach near your hotel, or walk the eastern section of the Adonis Trail along the north coast, passing Fontana Amoroza and finishing at the Blue Lagoon — free to visit, though boat trips out to it cost around £20–25 if you'd rather swim from the water. Buses along this coast are thin, so the practical independent options are a shared taxi (about £12–18 each way) or a day's car hire (~£35). Last-night dinner in Latchi harbour — grilled fish is the thing to order.
🚌On foot, or shared taxi / day car hire (~£35) along the coast
🛏Same Polis/Akamas coast hotel (B&B)
- →Beach day
- →Akamas north coast / Adonis Trail hike
- →Blue Lagoon swim (optional boat trip ~£20–25)
- →Latchi harbour seafood dinner
Leave the Akamas Peninsula
Polis → Paphos or Larnaca airport
Breakfast, then head out. Polis has direct intercity buses to Paphos (about £5, 1 hr) and connections onward to Paphos Airport; for Larnaca Airport take the intercity bus to Nicosia or Limassol and change (about £10–12, 3.5–4 hrs). Pre-booked shared airport shuttles from Polis run around £25–35 per person and save a lot of faff if you have an early flight.
🚌Intercity bus to Paphos (~£5) or Larnaca (~£10–12), or shared airport shuttle (~£25–35)
🛏None — onward travel
- →Departure day
- →Optional morning swim before leaving
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£365 | £1,185 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £820 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£365
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Contrasts of Cyprus Walking — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £365 per person for 8 days in Cyprus. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,185 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £365 — a saving of roughly £820 (69%) per person.
How long is the Cyprus trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Cyprus.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, culture, backpacker trip through Cyprus, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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