Cyprus offers more for hikers than you might expect. The island combines rugged cliffs above crystal-clear water along the coast with the lush forests of the Troodos Mountains inland. Along all this natural beauty lie numerous hiking paths, known as ‘nature trails’. During our vacation, we explored quite a few of them and selected these four routes as the most beautiful hikes in Cyprus.
1. The Aphrodite Trail along stunning bays (7.5 km)
The Aphrodite Trail is one of Cyprus’s most popular hikes for good reason. It’s a beautiful loop at the northern tip of the
The first part of the route winds along the rugged coastline, where you overlook azure bays and can see the famous Blue Lagoon in the distance, filled with white excursion boats. Then begins a challenging climb. You can go all the way to the top of Moutti tis Sotiras (370 meters), but we chose to walk around it.
The descent leads through a forest, where you’ll encounter the ruins of an old church and the mythical Aphrodite’s oak, under which the goddess allegedly rested after bathing in her spring. That spring, Aphrodite’s baths, is located near the parking lot and you can visit it (for free) afterward.
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Aphrodite Trail
2. Between the rock walls in the Avakas Gorge (9 km)
The hike through the Avakas Gorge is an absolute must for nature lovers. The first kilometers are rather busy. Many tourists walk a short way into the gorge to admire the impressive rock walls but soon return the same way. Those who continue further get the gorge almost to themselves.
You follow the riverbed and gradually climb higher between steep walls, ferns, and oleanders. In some places, the gorge is only two meters wide with rock walls rising thirty meters high. Along the way, you’ll regularly encounter mountain goats skillfully climbing the walls. After about 4.5 kilometers, you leave the gorge via a path climbing up to the right and walk back to the starting point with views of the sea.
Note that wet feet are not out of the question on this hike! Although you can usually cross the stream by hopping from stone to stone, a misstep can easily happen…
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Avakas Gorge
3. The Artemis Trail around the highest mountain Olympos (7 km)
Those who think Cyprus is all beach are mistaken. The
Although you’re in the Cypriot mountains, the path is mostly flat and winds through fragrant pine forests, alternating with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. On clear days, you can even see the sea glistening in the distance.
The mountain path and fresh air give a completely different feel from the coastal walks. At the end, you even pass a ski lift, as you can ski here in the depths of winter. The Artemis Trail is ideal for those seeking some cooling off on hot summer days, as it’s slightly cooler here than in the rest of the island thanks to the elevation.
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Artemis Trail
4. View of beautiful cliffs along the Genesis Aphrodite’s Trail (5.5 km)
The Genesis Aphrodite’s Trail is a short but surprisingly picturesque hike from the charming village of Pissouri. From the parking lot, you gently descend between olive trees and grazing horses, goats, and sheep.
Gradually, you get more views of the sea. After about 2.5 kilometers, you reach the highlight of this hike: a spectacular viewpoint above a cliff, with the
Afterward, you walk a bit along the cliffs and return to the start. Be sure to finish the trip with a drink at the village square of
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Genesis Aphrodite’s Trail
Renting a car in Cyprus
To reach the starting points of these hikes, you really need a rental car. Although you might need to adjust to driving on the left, Cyprus’s roads are quite ‘tourist-friendly’ and you can easily feel comfortable in traffic. We managed perfectly with a car we rented affordably through DiscoverCars.com. We chose Aercar as the rental company and rarely experienced such friendly and smooth service!
