Self-Launched Walking in North Cyprus
8 days · North Cyprus
Exodus charges £1,650
No-markup version: ~£520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Discover Crusader castles, gothic abbey ruins, stalactite caves and mountain villages on this self-launched hiking adventure through North Cyprus. Based in Kyrenia for the full week, you'll follow the same scenic trails through the Kyrenia Mountains and Karpas Peninsula as the Exodus group tour — without the group price tag. All walks are well-marked or easily navigable with a good trail map, and most sights are reachable by local dolmuş (shared minibus) or affordable taxi. Estimated costs below are approximate and based on mid-2025 budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Kyrenia
Kyrenia (Girne)
Fly into Ercan Airport (via Turkey) or Larnaca (Republic of Cyprus) and make your way to Kyrenia. From Ercan, shared taxis (dolmuş) run to Kyrenia for around £5–8. Check into your guesthouse near the harbour and spend the evening exploring the charming old harbour area, lined with restaurants and cafés. Toast the week ahead with a cold Efes beer at a waterfront bar.
🚌Shared dolmuş taxi from Ercan Airport to Kyrenia (~£6). Alternatively, fly into Larnaca and take a bus/taxi via the Metehan border crossing.
🛏Sunflower Guesthouse or similar budget guesthouse near Kyrenia Harbour (~£25–35/night)
- →Arrive at Ercan Airport and take a shared dolmuş taxi to Kyrenia (~£6)
- →Check in to budget guesthouse or boutique hotel near Kyrenia Harbour
- →Explore Kyrenia old harbour on foot
- →Dinner at a local harbour-front restaurant
Bellapais Abbey, walk to Çatalköy & Kyrenia Castle
Bellapais / Çatalköy / Kyrenia
Take a local dolmuş or shared taxi (~£3–4) up to Bellapais village to explore the magnificent ruins of Bellapais Abbey, a medieval Gothic monastery. Entry costs around £4. Walk the old dirt track downhill (~5km) to Çatalköy village, enjoying coastal views along the way. Catch a dolmuş back to Kyrenia (£1–2) and spend the afternoon at Kyrenia Castle and its Shipwreck Museum (entry ~£5). Join a fellow traveller for dinner and swap notes.
🚌Local dolmuş from Kyrenia to Bellapais (~£2 each way). Dolmuş from Çatalköy back to Kyrenia (~£1–2).
🛏Sunflower Guesthouse or similar (~£25–35/night)
- →Dolmuş to Bellapais village (~£3–4 return)
- →Visit Bellapais Abbey ruins (entry ~£4)
- →Walk from Bellapais to Çatalköy along old dirt track (~5km, ~2hrs)
- →Dolmuş back to Kyrenia from Çatalköy (~£1–2)
- →Visit Kyrenia Castle & Shipwreck Museum (entry ~£5)
St Hilarion Castle & walk to Malatya via Karaman
St Hilarion / Karaman / Malatya
Take a shared taxi or arrange a morning taxi (~£8–10 one-way) to St Hilarion Castle, the dramatic three-tiered fortress perched in the Kyrenia Mountains. Entry is around £4. Explore the castle's three sections — lower garrison, royal apartments and upper tower — and soak in sweeping views over Kyrenia. Follow the trail (~14km) through forest and old riverbeds via Karaman village down to Malatya village, pausing for a village-square lunch (~£6–8). Arrange a taxi back to Kyrenia from Malatya (~£10).
🚌Taxi Kyrenia to St Hilarion (~£8–10 one-way). Taxi Malatya to Kyrenia (~£10). Alternatively, some dolmuş services serve these villages — ask locally.
🛏Sunflower Guesthouse or similar (~£25–35/night)
- →Taxi to St Hilarion Castle (~£8–10)
- →Visit St Hilarion Castle (entry ~£4)
- →Walk from St Hilarion through forest to Karaman and Malatya village (~14km, ~5hrs)
- →Lunch in a village square café (~£6–8)
- →Taxi back to Kyrenia from Malatya (~£10)
Karpas Peninsula: Incirli Cave, Kantara Castle & Kaplica Beach
Karpas Peninsula / Kantara / Kaplica
This is a long day out — rent a car for the day (~£30–40) for the most flexibility, or book a local day-tour (~£25–35pp) from Kyrenia to the Karpas Peninsula. Visit Incirli Cave, the island's largest cave system packed with stalactites and stalagmites (entry ~£4). Continue to Kantara Castle, one of the Kyrenia mountain fortresses, with stunning 360-degree views over both coasts (entry ~£4). Pack a picnic lunch near the castle. Walk down the slopes (~8km) to Kaplica beach for a swim before the drive back (~1hr) to Kyrenia.
🚌Hire a car for the day (~£30–40 including fuel) or book a locally-operated day tour from Kyrenia (~£25–35pp). Car hire is the most flexible option for this day.
🛏Sunflower Guesthouse or similar (~£25–35/night)
- →Drive or day-tour east to the Karpas Peninsula (~1.5hrs)
- →Visit Incirli Cave — largest cave on Cyprus (entry ~£4)
- →Visit Kantara Castle with panoramic 360° views (entry ~£4)
- →Picnic lunch near the castle
- →Walk down to Kaplica beach (~8km) and swim
- →Drive back to Kyrenia (~1hr)
Free Day: Famagusta, Salamis & Varosha
Famagusta (Gazimağusa) / Salamis
Use your free day to take an independent trip to Famagusta (~1hr by dolmuş or taxi from Kyrenia, ~£5–8 one-way). Visit St Barnabas Monastery (~£4 entry), the vast Roman ruins of Salamis (~£5 entry — one of the largest Roman sites in the eastern Mediterranean), the eerie ghost town of Varosha, and the UNESCO-listed old walled city of Famagusta with St Nicholas Cathedral. Have a leisurely seafood lunch by the sea (~£10–12). Return to Kyrenia by dolmuş or taxi in the late afternoon.
🚌Dolmuş from Kyrenia to Famagusta (~£5 one-way, ~1hr). Taxis are faster but cost ~£20–25 each way. Return by dolmuş in the afternoon.
🛏Sunflower Guesthouse or similar (~£25–35/night)
- →Dolmuş or taxi to Famagusta (~£5–8 one-way)
- →Visit St Barnabas Monastery (~£4)
- →Explore Salamis Roman ruins (~£5)
- →Walk the perimeter of Varosha ghost town
- →Explore Famagusta old walled city and St Nicholas Cathedral (free)
- →Seafood lunch by the sea (~£10–12)
- →Return dolmuş/taxi to Kyrenia (~£5–8)
Buffavento Castle & walk down to Bellapais
Buffavento / Bellapais
Take a taxi (~£12–15) up to Buffavento Castle, the highest of the three Crusader fortresses at around 950m. There are approximately 680 steps to the summit, rewarded with spectacular panoramic views over Kyrenia and the Five Finger Mountains. Pack a packed lunch to eat at the top. Walk the footpath (~16km) down through the mountains, passing between the peaks with views in both directions, to Bellapais village. Arrange a taxi back to Kyrenia (~£6–8) from Bellapais.
🚌Taxi Kyrenia to Buffavento (~£12–15). Taxi Bellapais to Kyrenia (~£6–8). Note: the road to Buffavento is rough — confirm with your taxi driver in advance.
🛏Sunflower Guesthouse or similar (~£25–35/night)
- →Taxi to Buffavento Castle (~£12–15)
- →Climb Buffavento Castle — highest Crusader fortress on Cyprus (free or minimal entry)
- →Lunch at the summit with panoramic views
- →Walk down the mountain path from Buffavento to Bellapais (~16km, ~5–6hrs)
- →Taxi from Bellapais back to Kyrenia (~£6–8)
Five Finger Mountains: Kyrenia Rock & Sourp Magyar Monastery
Five Finger Mountains (Beşparmak)
Take a taxi (~£10–12) to the trailhead for the Five Finger Mountains (Beşparmak). Hike up towards the Herbarium of Alevkaya and continue along the ridge (~10km total). Visit the Sourp Magyar Armenian monastery, the only Armenian monastery in the mountains, before heading to Kyrenia Rock for excellent photo opportunities over the coastline. Pack a lunch from your guesthouse or a local bakery. Taxi back to Kyrenia and celebrate your final night with a sunset dinner at the old harbour.
🚌Taxi to and from the Five Finger Mountains trailhead (~£10–12 each way). Ask your guesthouse to help arrange a reliable local driver.
🛏Sunflower Guesthouse or similar (~£25–35/night)
- →Taxi to Five Finger Mountains trailhead (~£10–12)
- →Hike the Five Finger Mountains ridge trail (~10km, ~4hrs)
- →Visit Sourp Magyar Armenian monastery
- →Reach Kyrenia Rock viewpoint for panoramic photos
- →Packed lunch on the trail
- →Taxi back to Kyrenia (~£10–12)
- →Farewell dinner at Kyrenia old harbour (~£12–15)
Departure from Kyrenia
Kyrenia / Ercan Airport
Enjoy a final breakfast at your guesthouse and check out. If your flight allows, take a quick wander through Kyrenia's old town one last time, or venture into Nicosia (Lefkoşa), the divided capital — a fascinating city with a UN buffer zone running through its centre (~30 min by dolmuş, ~£3). Head to Ercan Airport by shared taxi (~£6–8) for your onward flight home via Turkey.
🚌Shared dolmuş or private taxi from Kyrenia to Ercan Airport (~£6–8). Allow at least 1.5hrs before departure.
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final breakfast at guesthouse
- →Optional: morning visit to Nicosia (Lefkoşa) — the divided capital (~30 min by dolmuş, ~£3)
- →Explore the UN buffer zone and old town if time allows
- →Shared dolmuş taxi to Ercan Airport (~£6–8)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£520 | £1,650 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,130 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£520
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 Self-Launched Walking in North Cyprus cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £520 per person for 8 days in North 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 £1,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £520 — a saving of roughly £1,130 (68%) per person.
How long is the North Cyprus trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through North 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, adventure trip through North 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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