Contrasts of Cyprus Walking — Self-Launched
8 days · Cyprus
Exodus Adventure Travels charges £1,250
No-markup version: ~£985 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of Exodus's 8-day "Contrasts of Cyprus Walking": a hotel-to-hotel trek through the Troödos mountains (Kakopetria) and the wild Akamas Peninsula (Droushia, Lara, Cape Arnaoutis), with Cypriot village guesthouses instead of tour hotels, local buses and shared taxis instead of private transfers, and free offline maps or a few euros' worth of guidebook waypoints instead of the operator's navigation app. Painted UNESCO chapels, waterfalls, coastal gorges, turtle beaches and Blue Lagoon swims all remain on the menu — at roughly half the group-tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Larnaca/Paphos → Kakopetria
Kakopetria
Fly into Larnaca (most budget carriers) or Paphos. From Larnaca airport take the 425/429 bus to Larnaca central bus station (~€1.50) then an intercity bus to Nicosia (~€5, 1h15) and connect to the Troödos-bound service towards Kakopetria (~€5, ~1h30); from Paphos use the Paphos–Troödos intercity connection (~€5–7). Total travel £12–18. Check into a family-run guesthouse in the old stone village. In the evening walk the cobbled lanes, see the 16th-century Church of Panagia Theotokos and eat at a village taverna (grilled halloumi, sheftalia, ~£12). Note: Cyprus has no visa requirement for UK/EU travellers; a small souvenir shop visit or wine-tasting is the only extra spend.
🚌Public intercity bus from Larnaca or Paphos to Kakopetria, ~£12–18 total
🛏Kakopetria village guesthouse / budget hotel, twin/double
- →Old village lanes walk
- →Panagia Theotokos church
- →Village taverna dinner
Circular walk west of Kakopetria — painted UNESCO chapel
Kakopetria / Galata
Follow the signed trails and village tracks west towards Galata. The highlight is the UNESCO-listed Church of Panagia tis Podithou in Galata, covered floor-to-ceiling in 1502 frescoes — entry is a couple of euros, or free if you attend a short service. The loop is roughly 12–14 km with 400–500 m of ascent, waymarked in places and easy to follow with offline maps (maps.me or Komoot). Back to Kakopetria for dinner in the village square. Full day's walking, no guide needed.
🚌On foot; bus only if you cut the walk short (~£2)
🛏Kakopetria village guesthouse
- →Self-guided circular hike west of Kakopetria
- →Panagia tis Podithou painted chapel, Galata
- →Solea Valley viewpoints
Circular walk east of Kakopetria towards Mount Olympus
Kakopetria / Troödos
Today head east up through pine forest, picking up the E4 long-distance trail towards the Troödos massif with glimpses of Mount Olympus (1,952 m) and the Solea Valley below. A 13–15 km loop with 500 m of ascent; a café stop in a Troödos village gives you a mid-walk break. If you want the summit, add a half-day: local bus Kakopetria–Troödos (~€3, 30 min) then walk the summit road or the Atalanti/Artemis trail. Long day, so carry 2 litres of water and lunch (supermarket supplies ~£6).
🚌On foot; optional local bus ~£3
🛏Kakopetria village guesthouse
- →Self-guided circular hike east of Kakopetria
- →E4 trail sections
- →Optional Mount Olympus summit extension
Kakopetria → Droushia via Evretou reservoir & Kremiotis waterfall
Droushia
Transfer day with a walk bolted on. Take a shared taxi or the intercity bus west to Polis via Nicosia/Paphos connections (roughly £15–20, 3–4 hours — book a shared 8-seater taxi in advance for ~£25 and it's far quicker). Drop bags at your Droushia guesthouse, then walk the local trail past the crescent-shaped Evretou reservoir and the half-abandoned village of Evretou. Continue to Agia Paraskevi's tiny medieval chapel, then follow the stream path to Kremiotis Waterfall (a short, slippery scramble at the end — good shoes). 10–12 km. Sunset views over Chrysochous Bay from Droushia's plateau.
🚌Intercity bus or pre-booked shared taxi Kakopetria–Polis–Droushia, ~£18
🛏Droushia guesthouse / rural B&B
- →Evretou reservoir & abandoned village walk
- →Agia Paraskevi medieval chapel
- →Kremiotis Waterfall
- →Droushia plateau sunset viewpoint
Laona plateau down to Lara coast & Agios Georgios
Droushia / Lara / Agios Georgios tis Pegeias
Walk south from Droushia across the Laona plateau and descend through terraced vineyards to the wild Lara coast — one of the last unbuilt stretches of Mediterranean beach and a loggerhead turtle nesting site. Visit the medieval church and basilica ruins at Agios Georgios tis Pegeias, right above a swimming cove. 14–16 km, mostly downhill. Return to Droushia by local bus where it runs, otherwise a shared taxi from Agios Georgios (~£12) — or, if you've got the energy, add the Avakas Gorge nature trail (a dramatic limestone slot canyon). Dinner in a Droushia taverna.
🚌Local bus or shared taxi back from Agios Georgios, ~£12
🛏Droushia guesthouse
- →Laona plateau descent to Lara coast
- →Agios Georgios tis Pegeias church & ruins
- →Swim at Agios Georgios cove
- →Optional Avakas Gorge nature trail
Droushia → Akamas Peninsula: Smigies, Adonis & Aphrodite trails
Akamas Peninsula (Neo Chorio / Latchi)
Move base to a small guesthouse around Latchi or Neo Chorio (local bus/shared taxi, £8–12). Then walk the Akamas trail network: the Smigies Trail loop, the Adonis Trail and the Aphrodite Trail, all waymarked by the forestry department and doable without a guide. Views over the Lara coast, the north coast and Chrysochous Bay, then out along the headland to Cape Arnaoutis, the westernmost tip of Cyprus. 15–17 km, ~600 m of up-and-down. Pick up picnic supplies in Latchi.
🚌Local bus or shared taxi Droushia–Latchi, ~£10
🛏Latchi / Neo Chorio small guesthouse
- →Smigies Trail
- →Adonis Trail
- →Aphrodite Trail
- →Cape Arnaoutis headland
Akamas: Blue Lagoon, Fontana Amoroza & beach time
Akamas Peninsula
A gentler day. Walk the eastern section of the Adonis Trail from Latchi out to Fontana Amoroza (a freshwater spring tucked into the cliffs) and on to the Blue Lagoon, or hop on one of the frequent boat excursions from Latchi harbour that run out to the lagoon for swimming (book direct at the harbour, ~£22–28 for a half day, cheaper than any tour add-on). Afternoon free on the beach near your guesthouse — Toxeftra and South Lara beaches are the quiet options. Last-night seafood dinner in Latchi.
🚌On foot; boat trip from Latchi harbour ~£25
🛏Latchi / Neo Chorio small guesthouse
- →Eastern Adonis Trail walk
- →Fontana Amoroza spring
- →Blue Lagoon boat/swim (direct booking at Latchi harbour)
- →Latchi beach afternoon
Depart from Paphos
Paphos
Local bus from Latchi/Polis to Paphos (bus 645 or 618, ~€6–8, about 1 hour) and on to Paphos airport by airport bus (~€3) — under £10 all in. If you've got a late flight, stash your bag and see the Paphos mosaics or swim at Coral Bay. Larnaca departures: take the intercity bus Paphos–Larnaca (~€9, 2h15) and the airport shuttle.
🚌Local bus Latchi–Polis–Paphos + airport bus, ~£9
🛏—
- →Bus to Paphos
- →Optional Paphos Archaeological Park mosaics
Self-launched vs. Exodus Adventure Travels
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus Adventure Travels | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£985 | £1,250 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £265 per person (21%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus Adventure Travels-style trips? Check them out here.~£985
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 £985 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 Adventure Travels?+
Yes — Exodus Adventure Travels charges around £1,250 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £985 — a saving of roughly £265 (21%) 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, slow-travel, culture 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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