Off The Beaten Track in Cyprus…
Ok, I know; this is about as clichéd as it gets, but when it comes to getting a real taste of a destination away from the purpose built resorts and neon bar signs, ‘off-the-beaten-track’ is exactly what you have to do. And getting a real taste of a destination is after all in my job description (even on a bone-fide holiday).
Indeed, while my annual getaway was meant to be a week of pure relaxation, after a day spent soaking up the sun by the pool (and trying to avoid the in hotel animation team who, after agreeing to join in with the water aerobics seemed to have me marked down as an easy target…) I was getting restless.
The options for adventure appeared to whittle down to; hedging our bets with the local buses (which we had been told ran on Cypriot GMT… ‘get-there-maybe-time’) or, hire the ultimate ‘off the beaten track’ explorer… the quad bike.
After dithering for around 30 minutes as the sensible part of my brain worried about such details as large hospital bills (or worse) on Cyprus’s mountain roads, my other half had already done a test drive, gone through the paper-work and arranged a pick up time the next morning… all I had to do was work out the itinerary.
Getting maps out and planning routes has to be one of my favourite things ever. And now with the ultimate off-road vehicle for the day I was starting to worry less about the security of my limbs and more about how best to cover my ever-expanding checklist: Tombs of the Kings, Coral Beach, Sea Caves, Akamas Peninsula, Turtle Beach, Akamas Gorge, Baths of Aphrodite, Polis and Latsi.
Needless to say, the quad bike turned out to be the best investment of our week, getting us to places no hire car could have penetrated. Zipping over the dirt tracks of the Akamas Peninsular was my highlight – culminating in the Akamas Gorge, tucked away as if on purpose, through one of the most picturesque paths you’re likely to tread.
While ‘off the beaten track’ is no doubt a cliché – I’m happy to indulge when it means taking in sights like this:
Coral Beach
Tombs of the Kings (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Tombs of the Kings
The Sea Caves
Akamas Gorge
‘Rock’s on’ at the Akamas Gorge
Feel my power!!!
Akamas Peninsula
Baths of Aphrodite
Latsi Beach
Latsi Beach
Quad bike pit-stop!
Sunset over Paphos
Sunset over Paphos
Share and Enjoy
Category: Travel Photography
About the Author (Author Profile)
Fan of exploring new places, running long distances and seeking out sunshine, Kirsty is as known for her itchy feet as her dire sense of direction. After her first solo visit to Germany aged 14 she has now lived, worked, explored and studied in a plethora of countries from Spain, Equador, Laos and Canada to Cambodia, Peru and Argentina.Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
