Walking in North Cyprus

Fun week with a diverse group of like-minded people. Good balance between walking, sightseeing and relaxation. Good quality hotel with swimming pools and pleasant bar area.

Plenty of sunshine, history and sea views alongside a nice hotel.

A lovely sunny week in November in North Cyprus. A very enjoyable trip with a week of medieval castles, wonderful sea views and rewarding walks through pine forests and on mountain slopes. Interesting recent history of the island too.

Trip notes “Walking through areas teeming with wildflowers and wildlife” . I saw very few wildflowers and hardly any wildlife. “Leisurely/Moderate”. I suppose I took leisurely to mean easy rather than slow because of the rough terrain.

Whilst the hotel was good quality with a pool the hotel experience was spoiled by an in-house disco on both Wednesday and Saturdays. The noise made it impossible to sleep or even eat TV until after 11.30 p.m.. The Castles were interesting and whilst walking enjoyable the combination of heat and rough tracks made it feel more difficult than the advertised grade

The walks were amazing, the food was great, the hotel was excellent being about a 20 minute walk from the beautiful harbour of Kyrenia and the weather was warm after a wet first morning!

A wonderful walking holiday in a beautiful part of the world. The highlight for me will always be the castles. Spectacular location and amazing views. Our guide Gizer was amazing and gave us a wonderful overview of North Cyprus. Very centrally located accommodation with easy access to the charming centre of Kyrenia.

Overall an enjoyable week of walking with a great guide (Gizer) and driver (Omer). The walks were as stated in the trip notes and places visited were definitely well worth the walks. A great group of 11 in total, that definitely helped make the week a lovely break. The hotel Pia Bella is well situated in Kyrenia, with excellent facilities, and the staff were all very helpful. If you enjoy walking and visiting historical sites, this trip is for you.

This was a busy week of walking, sometimes on quite difficult paths. However it was combined with visits to beautiful cultural sites and a lot of information about Cyprus - both historical from way back and the more recent and current political situation. We also saw some wildflowers, lizards, and a chameleon.

A really good trip with excellent walking. Our guide Gizzer was very knowledgeable and good company.

This week had it all treading a good balance between some culture and the lovely walking in the hills of northern cyprus. Our guide, Gizer, made the trip very relaxing giving us just the right amount of information at the right time so we were always aware of what to expect the next day. It was also very interesting to hear about the situation between northern cyprus and cyprus. I would definitely recommend this trip. The three meals that Gizer organised for the group were delicious.

A really interesting trip with enjoyable walks, good company and a great leader.

A Brilliant time with some great walking and a lot of History in this trip

Lovely weather. Walks seemed more difficult than other grade 2’s I’ve done

the trip was as advertised

Very enjoyable trip.

Currently on the holiday. Having a wonderful walking experience although weather not been great but improving. Learning the history of the separation of the island very interesting too.

Excellent guide, Gizer. Excellent driver, Ermer (spelling?). Eleven other interesting (not a euphemism) customers. Good walks, two reminded me of previous grade 3/4 but it's subjective, to some extent. Good weather. Ten out of ten.

A great week walking in the mountains of North Cyprus. Vertiginous castles. A wealth of history.Lots of different mezes and kebabs. Superb group leader.

Excellent walking holiday, which was very well organised. The guide was very friendly and made it a great experience.

The island has a fascinating history and it was good to try to understand the recent history that has created North Cyprus, whilst participating in walks with great scenery. Plus visits to castles, abbeys and monasteries. Made even better by a great group of fellow travellers. The Pia Bella Hotel rooms are spacious and of excellent quality and good air conditioning. The breakfast buffet offers a wide choice. But if you favour European continental breakfast, there is no fish, very little meat and no pastries or croissants. There is an excellent pool, open till 6pm. The bar was often busy but service was good and prices competitive.

Awesome trip with a home base in an amazing hotel with great views, pool and breakfast buffet. The walks were different terrain every day, beautiful scenery. Gizer was an excellent, knowledgeable, funny guide. He arranged dinners, trips, could not ask for a better leader of the group. The only complaint: very hot weather that made the hiking less enjoyable than ideal. Definitely recommended!

A great trip with a good combination of walking, sightseeing, culture and history

Have just come back from a great trip based in Kyrenia. The guide, Gizer, knows the area very well and could tell us a lot about the history and culture as well as flora and fauna and birds. There were also some great optional extras, such as a trip to Salamis and Famagusta and, on the last day, to Nicosia. He organised visits to several evening restaurants, that served traditional Turkish Cypriot meals, the last one being especially good. I thought the level of walking was quite challenging for a "Leisurely" grade, although that was partly due to it being quite hot. The group size was excellent at 12, and we mainly got on very well, although one couple spent most of the time away from us as they had not expected such hard walking. The hotel was excellent, with a wide choice of a buffet breakfast, very comfortable rooms and friendly, helpful staff. All in all, a great holiday and I feel I've got to know a lot more about North Cyprus.

I had been looking at doing this trip for a few years and it did no disappoint. The walks provided both lots of historical interest and stunning views. Our guide, Gizer, was excellent and told us not only about the ancient but also the more recent history of Cyprus. He also pointed out the flora and fauna on our walks. The optional free day is a must and everyone in our group went.

Having been to both Greece and Turkey before it was fascinating to visit the island that has been a focal point of tensions between the two nations. The trip was an excellent mix of walking & sight seeing with plenty of spare time to do other things if required.

This was my first trip with Exodus and it was absolutely perfect! The walks are varied, some are a little bit harder than others but there are always easier options available if needed. The scenery is just stunning and matched with a very interesting history and a very friendly group of people it made the trip a memorable one. During the week you get to visit crusader castles, monasteries and abbeys, ancient ruins and even a cave. The views you get from every walk are just spectacular. The trip was made even more successful thanks to our guide Gizer, the most knowledgeable and kind guide you can ask for, always telling us the most interesting bits of history about the country and the local flora and fauna. The hotel Pia Bella was an excellent base for our week, perfectly located close to Kyrenia harbour and all the shops and restaurants.

Hotel was good with an obliging staff. The walk was graded 1/2 I thought some of the walks were more of a higher standard but none of the walks were long so perhaps that’s why it’s rated 1/2.All walks had excellent views.I didn’t approve of the driver taking a call on his mobile phone.whilst driving. The bus could have been cleaner. The picnics were disappointing. Unfortunately the weather was not very good but didn’t mar the enjoyment of the trip. The worst feature was a bitterly cold northerly wind.

Two of us took a bit of a chance travelling in late November to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but we were pleasantly surprised at the temperatures in the low 20s, and we were able to swim in the sea and one of the hotel pools (much colder!). We stayed in Girne (the Turkish name for Kyrenia), a very charming port and dramatic castle, at the Pia Bella Hotel which was three buildings around two pools and a lovely garden with a bar where we gathered in the evening. Our leader Gizer was splendid – he started each day sorting out our picnic lunches, told us all about the history as our very able driver took us to the start of walks, and led us along mountainsides and up to precipitous castles. Each evening he briefed us in detail about plans for the next day, and then on three evenings took us to outstanding restaurants, with a wide range of mezze and delicious main courses. He recommended restaurants we tried on other nights, all really good and reasonable price. Most of us joined the trips to Famagusta and the ghost town Varosha, and to Nicosia on the way to the airport on the last day – seeing these places was very moving and helped us to begin to understand the issues. A fantastic trip which we really enjoyed – a lovely group, comfortable hotel and well organised.

The walking was excellent, and our guide Gizer was brilliant and very professional. The hotel was a bit shabby and the food was mediocre. The staff were OK, however and the room was good. Two of our party were fed up that the lunches (included in the cost) were not proper sit-down affairs in a taverna with hot food. Their moaning was rather annoying, as were not unhappy, but perhaps Exodus could make the type of lunches plainer in the trip notes.

This was our first trip with Exodus. The group was very welcoming and we were met by the guide at the airport. The initial briefing was comprehensive and there was a daily brief which helped us know what was happening each day. The weather was superb - 30C most days. The scenery is pretty dry by late September so perhaps not as lush as at other times in the year. The accommodation was spacious. The hotel has a very pleasant outdoor bar area where we could gather in the evening and the hotel staff were pleasant and attentive. The evening meals were excellent and great value and portions (very) generous. The local restaurants were of a high standard. The guide was excellent - knowledgeable, attentive and endlessly patient. The itinerary was a good mixture of historical sights and walking on trails and we learned about local history and culture. There plenty of stunning photo opportunities. Overall an excellent trip.

Everything about it - the good contrast about walks/history/flora and fauna I think I have done a review already?

Scenic walks (apart from the introductory one on Sunday which was a bit of a walk to nowhere) with great views from the top of the hills. It was a bit hot but all the walkers coped with the permanent sunshine. Gizer, the leader, is a very good organiser, with perfect timing and good knowledge of the history of the places we visited – Girne, Bellapais Abbey, Saint Hilarion, Kantara and Buffavento Castle (the walk up to it recompense the walker with breath-taking views). He also organised the optional but very informative excursions to Famagusta and Nicosia which offered us the chance to find out a lot of facts about places we knew only from the news. I would also like to commend Omar, the driver, very efficient as well, helpful and funny; he helped me learn more Turkish language than I knew before 😉. The food was good, and the best dinners we had were at Niazi’s and Eminem (no connection with the rapper 😉). The best lunch was at the Caravan Serai in Nicosia – thank you Gizer! Pia Bella Hotel was clean with good sized rooms, very professional, polite, and friendly service, good range of food items at the breakfast. Al in all, a very rewarding holiday – Thanks to Exodus, Gizer, and everybody else who made it happen.

A very enjoyable walking holiday, mixing walks with interesting visits to a cave, ruined castles, an abbey and an Armenian monastery. The walks themselves are varied - pine forests, mountains, beach, some tracks and just a little on the almost-deserted roads. An excellent trip to Famagusta was offered on the Day Off and this not only took us to interesting sites (St Barnabas monastery, roman Salamis, Varosha ghost town & the old walled city, but also gave us th chance to learn more about the history if the island. A bonus was the trip to Nicosia on our last day, whcih meant we didn't have to hang around the hotel waiting for the transfer to the airport. This also gave us the opportunity to walk across the border into South Cyprus.

This trip was fantastic for me because of the combination of the walks and the culture. The walks were quite varied and the castles and monasteries added to the variety. It was a little warmer than I expected (mid 20s) but I know three weeks earlier there was snow so I think late March/early April is a great time to do this tour, it also being an ideal time for the wild flowers. The hotel is very nice and a well located base for the week's activities. Our tour leader Gizer was excellent in terms of both his organisation of the trip and his knowledge on the history and the flora and fauna. He joined us for three evening meals, the other evenings were on our own but all Gizer's suggested restaurants were very good. The optional trips to Famagusta and Nicosia (not currently on the itinerary but it seems usually an option on the final day) were both well worth doing. Our group got on with each other really well which added to a great trip.

Firstly we did not expect snow on this holiday! Nonetheless we had a very enjoyable week and met some lovely people in our group of 16. Some parts of the itinerary had to be adapted and changed due to the weather conditions but this did not affect the overall enjoyment of the holiday. Walking on the first couple of days was a bit tricky due to the snow and ice, meaning walking poles were essential. In normal conditions none of the walks would have been especially challenging. Gizer was a great guide, very knowledgeable and mindful of the group. We appreciated the extra trips to Famagusta (on free day) and Nicosia (departure day). Hotel Pia Bella is a good base with friendly staff and the bonus of heating in the bedrooms. It has a lovely outside pool area (shame it was just too cold to enjoy). Worth noting that if you enjoy wine the house stuff is not good, instead ask the hotel for a bottle (affordable) and keep behind the bar. Organised restaurants were very good, especially the last evening one. The restaurant next to the hotel serves a nice pizza too. All in all a good holiday and so much history in Northern Cyprus

This was our first group holiday since Covid and first walking group holiday - we've been more into cycling but are now converted! The walking was very comfortable - nice distances and nothing too taxing although there was the odd boulder to scramble over or around on one walk. Everybody coped fine. The walks were generally high up in the mountains and the views were great. Each walk had something of interest linked to it, e.g. an abbey, a castle, a monastery. The sight-seeing day going to Famagusta was great. On every day there was plenty to interest keen photographers. We had a nice group of 13 people. The hotel was great - in this trip, because the distances are small, once you're there, there's no repacking until the end. The staff were friendly. Breakfast was pretty good once you've worked out what everything is and what you like. The only disappointing thing is the coffee - nescafe rather than a decent machine or good local coffee. The hotel is about 10 mins walk to the harbour. There are plenty of restaurants near by for the three evenings when we don't eat as a group. Our trip was in late February. It was a bit like April here in the UK. Warm during the day, cold at night. A couple of hardy people did swim in the hotel pool and in the sea - but that wasn't for us. Bring a good jump for the evenings!

After great deliberation on whether to venture out on holiday again, we are glad we did. This was an excellent trip & very well organised. Exodus provided excellent advice & details of all the requirements necessary in view of COVID regulations. We met with a sociable & lovely group of people and at 12 I think this was an ideal number. This is our 3rd or 4th group holiday & after years of independent travel it is relaxing to just go with the flow & not have to be responsible for anything! The walking was superb - challenging in places but well worth the effort of some steep climbs. The views were fantastic & we visited Crusader castles & monasteries. Our guide Gizer was a great host & very knowledgeable about the history & culture of his country. t .

This whole trip was a delight. I knew very little about Cypriot history but came away with a better understanding of the country, the conflicts and the people. The scenery is stunning; the walking is a delight and the hotel and food did not disappoint. It is relatively inexpensive to eat out and the food was delicious. Local wine washed down our meals and sunsets were enjoyed with the help of a Brandy Sour. If you want a stress free, walking holiday with some sunshine and blue skies head for Kyrenia. It was quite cool with brisk winds but there were enough heat in the midday to chase away any winter blues.

This was my first ever 'group' walking holiday. The whole trip was well planned and organized, and the group leader and guide (Gizer) was simply excellent. I found the group travel refreshingly sociable after the lockdowns and social distancing we have all been through.

After nearly 2 years stuck in the UK, I was so desperate to get away that I was prepared to take all the stressful Covid tests/paperwork on the chin in order to travel. So I went Walking in North Cyprus over Christmas, and it was lovely. The Hotel Pia Bella in Kyrenia was lovely, and the staff were great - friendly and funny. Gizer was a great guide - very experienced and competent, with lots of historical knowledge. This was a leisurely/moderate grade holiday, and the walking was fairly easy most days, apart from a scrambly section on the St. Hilarion day - good boots necessary! The trip was a good mix of walking and culture - the 4 castles and the Armenian monastery were all very interesting. I did the 2 extra trips to Famagusta, and Nicosia. I liked them both, but the ancient city of Salamis (near Famagusta) was probably my highlight. The weather was bright and sunny, with only one wet afternoon. But it was a bit cooler than most of us had expected, with a chill wind at times. Hat and gloves recommended. No one was tempted by the hotel pool or the sea!

I am just back from an amazing week in North Cyprus as part of a lovely group, and led by fantastic guide, Gizer. This trip is an interesting combination of walking and history which I very much enjoyed. It was very hot at times; one of my highlights was swimming in the Mediterranean at the end of a long walk from Kantara on day 4. We all went on the optional trip to Famagusta - this was well worth while. We also very much enjoyed the local food and drink in the evenings!

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!