The very mention of cyprus conjures up images of sun, sea and idyllic beaches stretching into the sunset. For the casual visitor or the permanent resident alike, that image is the genuine reality – and there is a lifestyle to be savoured if you look for it.

The real beauty of cyprus is that there is so much more to experience – and the voyage of discovery involves little more than putting one foot in front of the other, opening your eyes and soaking up what nature has to offer. Although cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, nowhere is really that far from anywhere else – and exploring the heartland with its variety of landscape is a true gift of nature.

An ideal way to get a feel for the countryside of cyprus is to walk through it – literally. There are hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty throughout the country, with the most extensive network found in the delightful Troodos Mountains. Some of these are within walking distance of the major monasteries. All told more than 48 well signposted paths or trails cover a total distance of 200 kilometres in various parts of the island. Hiking is an invigorating addition to the traditional tour of cyprus.

The Troodos Mountains area boasts four distinctive signposted nature trails. The circular, seven-kilometre long Artemis Trail is at the 1850-metre level and encompasses endemic flora such as cyprus crocus and orchids under the black pines, as well as rich avian life that includes blue rock thrush and imperial eagles. The Atalanti Trail, named after a forest nymph, is nine kilometers long. At four kilometres, the Kalidonia Trail (also known as the Trail of Nightingales) crisscrosses the Kryo Potamo stream as it flows from the Troodos to Platres. The final portion of the trail begins under a wooden archway and leads to the Caledonean Falls. The three-kilometre Persephone Trail affords up-close looks at beautiful lichens and ferns.

The Paphos District offers a wealth of nature trails, too, particularly in the Paphos Forest with its pristine stands of pine and golden oak trees. Notable are the trails east and northeast of Panagia, the area around Agia and Stavros tis Psokas, where you might spot the reclusive moufflon, and the starkly beautiful Xeros River Valley. The spectacular Cedar Valley is home to some 5,000 cyprus cedar trees and many Troodos pines.

Basing yourself in Paphos, explore the Akamas Peninsula, a rugged thumb-shaped strip of land crisscrossed by rocky hiking trails. From the Aphrodite Trail hikers have spectacular views of rock formations, limestone outcroppings, cliffs and boulders sculpted into odd shapes suspended in the sea. Both the Aphrodite Trail and Adonis Trail branch out from the Baths of Aphrodite, a natural grotto. On other, western side of the peninsula is Avakas Gorge, popular as a day trip excursion from Paphos by jeep. Several outfitters organize 4X4 jeep trips all year long, the majority leaving from the Paphos District. Most of the excursions include a stop at Lara Beach, a protected nesting ground for endangered sea turtles. All of the settings are pristine, so be sure to bring your camera – the experience of the moment is one thing but being able to re-live that pleasure something else beside.

A recent addition to the hiking options within cyprus, since entry to the E.U is the cyprus section of the European Long Distance Path, the ‘E4’ is 539 km long connecting Larnaca & Paphos Airports via the Troodos mountain range, Akamas Peninsula and rural landscape. For more details visit their website below;

http://www.era-ewv-ferp.com/