EXPLORE⦁DISCOVER⦁LEARN⦁CONNECT⦁ ENJOY Unique holidays in North with the local experts Highlights of the Besparmak Trail

Vivid Cyprus is an established North Cyprus holiday and tour agency which offers a personalised service for its clients before and during their holiday. As one of the pioneers of responsible tourism holidays in North Cyprus, including eco-tourism and agri-tourism related holidays, Vivid Cyprus is working hard to help conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the island. Whether you are interested in a multi-stop North Cyprus holiday, a one-stop holiday, Famagusta holiday, or Karpaz holiday, or if you’re looking for North Cyprus walking, cycling, eco or special interest holidays, we can help design the perfect holiday for you.

Trip Name: Highlights of Besparmak Trail Trip No. 12486 Trip Duration: 8 days Grade: 2.5 Grading 1-5 (1-very easy; 2-easy; 3-challenging; 4-difficult; 5-very difficult) Explanation: Activity: Hiking Accommodation : 7 nights in 2-3 star hotels Recommended Daily from 1 Sept to 15 May time:

Overview of hiking in north Cyprus

Over the last few years North Cyprus has begun to establish itself as one of the best walking holiday destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Many areas of the island, and especially those associated with the Kyrenia Mountains, are now quite well explored and subsequently many excellent walking and hiking tracks have been established over the last few years. For those still keen to explore and who enjoy ‘sniffing’ out new trails, there are still some areas, such as those around Yesilirmak in the foothills of the Troodos, that are still not that well explored but which are likely home to many more fantastic trails.

1|P a g e VakıflarCarşısı, Kat 2, No. 10/11, Girne (Kyrenia), KKTC (North Cyprus), 99300. Tel: 0090 392 815 1818 Fax: 0090 392 815 1819 Email: [email protected]

EXPLORE⦁DISCOVER⦁LEARN⦁CONNECT⦁ ENJOY Unique holidays in North Cyprus with the local experts Highlights of the Besparmak Trail

Perhaps the best feature for walkers in North Cyprus is the Kyrenia Mountain Range, which runs parallel to the sea along almost the entire north coast. The ranges proximity to the coast means walkers can easily start their day enjoying fantastic views over the coast and the Plain from the top of the mountains and then end their day with a swim at the beach looking back to beautiful views of the mountains from which they’ve just come. There are few other destinations where walkers can enjoy such a variety of scenery and habitats within a single day.

Overview of Highlights of Besparmak

This is a specially tailored package where we have taken the best bits of the 260 km trail and created an 8 day tour with 6 days of walking. You will explore crusader’s castles: St Hilarion and Kantara, charming village of Bellapais and ancient mosaics, monasteries and churches tucked away in the forests with plenty of exercise in between to keep you fit.

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1 – Arrive in North Cyprus , settle in the hotel

Day 2 - Cape /Koruçam – Koruçam Village 16 km

Day 3 – St. Hilarion – Boğaz Pass – Bellapais 13 km

Day 4 – Alevkaya Forestry Station – AntiphonitisChurch 13 km

Day 5 – Mersinlik – Kantara Castle 15 km

Day 6 - Dipkarpaz – Aphendrika 18 km

Day 7 -Dipkarpaz – Cape Zafer 14 km

Day 8 – Return or prolongation

2|P a g e VakıflarCarşısı, Kat 2, No. 10/11, Girne (Kyrenia), KKTC (North Cyprus), 99300. Tel: 0090 392 815 1818 Fax: 0090 392 815 1819 Email: [email protected]

EXPLORE⦁DISCOVER⦁LEARN⦁CONNECT⦁ ENJOY Unique holidays in North Cyprus with the local experts Highlights of the Besparmak Trail Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival and settle in the hotel

Day 2 Cape Kormakitis/Koruçam – Koruçam Village 16 km Trip to the western cape

From here we start the hike eastwards to Cape Zafer, the easternmost point of the island and the end of the whole trail, which lies 260 km away. The highly varied trail first goes along the shore and then climbs to the low western ridge of the Beşparmak Mountains. You can see the mountain chain to the east, to the south lies the Troodos massif and the clean blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea shimmer to the north. The trail goes through fields, pine trees and blooming bushes ending up in the village of Koruçam. Here is the end of dayone .Challenging hike ca. 6 hours

Day 3 St. Hilarion – Boğaz Pass –Bellapais13 km

St. Hilarion crusader castle is one of the historical highlights of the trail and for this reason you will be taken on a tour around it. The climb to the southern side of the mountain range begins above the picnic area and leads to an overgrown plateau with a gorgeous view of Kyrenia and the sea. After crossing the mountain ridge the trail goes down the forested northern side to Bellapais village. The impressing Bellapais abbey rises majestically above Bellapais. After a well- earned rest a tour around the former monastery awaits. Moderate difficulty hike ca. 5.5 hours

Day 4 Alevkaya Picnic site – AntiphonitisChurch 13 km Trip to the Alevkaya picnic site.

Today’s hike goes further eastwards along the ridge. Green pines, dark cypresses and small bushes of rockroses grow along the path and form a roof canopy at some parts of the path. Again and again the views of the shore, the Mesaoriaplain and the mountain ridge towards east open from the path. The final part of the path leads downhill and you will reach the hidden Byzantine church of Antiphonitis. A late picnic in the churchyard would be a nice end of another great hike. Easy hike ca. 4 hours

Day 5 Mersinlik – Kantara Castle 15 km Trip along the northern coast to Mersinlik.

The hike begins above the village passing through a young pine underwood to the mountain stronghold Kantara. Gorgeous views over the shore and the Mesaoria plain please the eye until the stronghold is reached. The enormous castle rises 650m above sea level at the beginning of the Karpaz peninsula. On a clear day you can even spot the final destination – Cape Zafer in the distance. After a rest a tour around the crusader castle waits. Easy hike ca. 4,5 hours

Day 6 Dipkarpaz to Aphendrka 15 km

You wind your way through the village of Dipkarpaz and its fields. After a while you will find yourself on a ridge with beautiful views of the southern coast on your right while walking downhill. You join the main road and walk parallel to the sea for a short while until you cross the range again. From here a panoramic plateau opens up in front of you. You then wind your way down to the Aphendrika ruins. Moderate difficult hike ca. 6 hours

3|P a g e VakıflarCarşısı, Kat 2, No. 10/11, Girne (Kyrenia), KKTC (North Cyprus), 99300. Tel: 0090 392 815 1818 Fax: 0090 392 815 1819 Email: [email protected]

EXPLORE⦁DISCOVER⦁LEARN⦁CONNECT⦁ ENJOY Unique holidays in North Cyprus with the local experts Highlights of the Besparmak Trail Day 7 Dipkarpaz – Cape Zafer 14 km

We first drive south from Dipkarpaz to the starting point of the final days hiking. Lonely juniper bushes and carob trees grow at the narrow flats along the low ridge. The path reaches the coast again near Cape Zafer. The mildly green hills, the reddish sandy trail and the turquoise sea make a harmonic picture out of this untouched landscape. Between the juniper bushes one can see some lonely wanderers – the wild donkeys of Karpaz. The mighty rocks of Cape Zafer and the nearby Klidhes islands seem to be within arms length. The final part of the trail will soon be over and with that the south-easternmost point of Europe and the last highlight of the trail is reached. Easy hike ca. 4.5 hours

Day 8 Departure or prolongation

What’s included:

· Private welcome information meeting with one of our team members · Printed package with details of the tour · Local mobile phone with all contact numbers · Garmin with uploaded trails · 2-3 star hotel accommodation B&B · 6 lunch packs · Luggage transfer between hotels · Transfer to start of the trail and pickup from end of trail · 24 hour emergency hotline

What's not included:

· Flights · Airport transfers

Note: should you require the above services or upgrade to half board, we are happy to arrange for you.

Optional extras and extensions

Should you require the above services or upgrade to half board, we are happy to arrange for you. If you would like to extend your stay in Cyprus before or after the basic package we are also happy to arrange this, whether you would like to just stay in one place to relax or to tour around other places for a few extra nights.

4|P a g e VakıflarCarşısı, Kat 2, No. 10/11, Girne (Kyrenia), KKTC (North Cyprus), 99300. Tel: 0090 392 815 1818 Fax: 0090 392 815 1819 Email: [email protected]

EXPLORE⦁DISCOVER⦁LEARN⦁CONNECT⦁ ENJOY Unique holidays in North Cyprus with the local experts Highlights of the Besparmak Trail

Getting there

Driving routes can be accessed via the following website: By car and ferry www.via.michelin.com. You drive to the south of Turkey and take a ferry from Mersin to Kyrenia. The nearest International airport is Ercan (flying via Turkey). Alternatively you can fly directly to Larnaca, but the transfer cost to your hotel becomes more expensiveif you fly via the south By air airport(s). We recommend that you arrange your transfer prior to your departure. Vivid Cyprus is able to organize flights and airport transfers for you. They are in addition to this package.

Trip grading – moderate

The hiking routes are easy to moderate. There are no dangerous parts in the tracks just some fairly steep climbs and often dry underfootconditions, and it could be a bit slippery during hot season.The hikes are undulating but on certain days you could climb up to 300 to 400 m.The degree of difficulty increases withuphillsbut generally they are level.

Equipment

Printed package with details of the tour, local mobile phone with all contact numbers, garmin with uploaded trails

Other gear required

Wet weather gear, sunscreen, sun hat, walking shoes.

Dietary requirements

If you let us know in advance about your dietary requirements, we can advise the hotel(s) where you are staying. However we are unable to guarantee a peanut free or allergen free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travellers with life-threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure.

Accommodation

2-3 star hotel on 7 nights (bed and breakfast basis, based on two people sharing). Solo travellers are welcome. There is a surcharge for a single room.

Climate

Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate with 320 days of sunshine a year. Summers are hot and dry and last from June to September. Winters are changeable with cold and warmer weather alternating. Autumn in October/November and spring in April/May are short and the

5|P a g e VakıflarCarşısı, Kat 2, No. 10/11, Girne (Kyrenia), KKTC (North Cyprus), 99300. Tel: 0090 392 815 1818 Fax: 0090 392 815 1819 Email: [email protected]

EXPLORE⦁DISCOVER⦁LEARN⦁CONNECT⦁ ENJOY Unique holidays in North Cyprus with the local experts Highlights of the Besparmak Trail transition between winter and summer is rapid. Rain falls mainlyin winter and outside these months precipitation israre therefore flora is much richer in flowers and lush looking in March/April than in September/October but sea temperature is warmer in autumn. Average summer temperatures in the coast are between 25 – 34 degrees C.

How to book

To book with Vivid Cyprus, simply choose your activity and select the dates that suit you. We will receive your application in our system with the hotels you have picked and will book them for you. If those hotels are not available we will choose similar accommodation depending on your activity. Our experts will then correspond with you and let you know the details closer to the date of reaching the island.

Vivid Cyprus (an extension of KaleidoskopTurizm) VakıflarCarşısı, Kat 2, No. 10/11, Girne (Kyrenia),

KKTC (North Cyprus), 99300 Tel: 0090 392 815 1818

Fax: 0090 392 815 1819 Email: [email protected]

6|P a g e VakıflarCarşısı, Kat 2, No. 10/11, Girne (Kyrenia), KKTC (North Cyprus), 99300. Tel: 0090 392 815 1818 Fax: 0090 392 815 1819 Email: [email protected]

EXPLORE⦁DISCOVER⦁LEARN⦁CONNECT⦁ ENJOY Unique holidays in North Cyprus with the local experts Highlights of the Besparmak Trail

7|P a g e VakıflarCarşısı, Kat 2, No. 10/11, Girne (Kyrenia), KKTC (North Cyprus), 99300. Tel: 0090 392 815 1818 Fax: 0090 392 815 1819 Email: [email protected]