Tour overview

This 8-day walking holiday explores the Kyrenia mountains of North Cyprus and the Crusader castles that crown them, all from one hotel. You stay every night at Hotel Pia Bella or similar in Kyrenia, a short walk from the old harbour, and each morning a short transfer takes you to the start of the day's route, so there is no packing and unpacking. Groups have 4 to 16 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader throughout. All breakfasts are included, with four lunches and a welcome dinner.

Kyrenia's horseshoe harbour has been settled for nearly 3,000 years. The first walk begins at Bellapais, a mountain village beneath the ruins of a Gothic abbey, and follows an old track with views to the coast to the village of Çatalköy. Back in town you tour Kyrenia Castle, whose Shipwreck Museum holds a fourth-century BCE Greek merchant ship and its cargo.

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St Hilarion Castle, built as a 10th-century hermitage and later fortified, rises over three levels joined by steep staircases above Kyrenia. From there the longest walk follows an old riverbed through forest, with some scrambling over boulders, to the village of Malatya and lunch in its square. Another day heads east to the Karpas peninsula for Incirli Cave, the largest on the island, and Kantara Castle, whose views take in both coasts on a clear day. You then walk down the slopes of the Five Finger Mountains to Kaplıca beach for a swim.

Buffavento, the highest Crusader castle on the island, guarded a mountain pass. About 680 steps lead to the top, with views over Kyrenia and the Five Finger Mountains, before a narrow, rocky path descends between the peaks to Bellapais. The final walk climbs through the Five Finger Mountains to Sourp Magar, the only Armenian monastery in the range, and on to the viewpoint at Kyrenia Rock.

Day 5 is free. You can relax in Kyrenia or join an optional trip, arranged locally, to St Barnabas Monastery, the Roman ruins of Salamis, the abandoned district of Varosha and the walled city of Famagusta.

The walking is graded moderate, with five walking days of about 5 to 16 kilometres, mostly on dirt tracks and rocky paths at low altitude. It suits walkers who want history, mountain views and the Mediterranean coast without carrying a pack or changing hotels.

Trip highlights

  • St Hilarion Castle

    explore the three levels of this mountain stronghold, first built as a 10th-century hermitage (Day 3)

  • Buffavento Castle

    climb about 680 steps to the highest Crusader castle on the island, with views over Kyrenia (Day 6)

  • Kantara Castle

    a former Byzantine beacon station with 360-degree views over both coasts of the Karpas peninsula (Day 4)

  • Incirli Cave

    the largest cave on the island, filled with stalactites and stalagmites (Day 4)

  • Bellapais Abbey

    the ruins of a medieval Gothic monastery in a mountain village (Day 2)

  • Kyrenia Castle

    the harbour-front fort and its Shipwreck Museum, home to a fourth-century Greek merchant vessel (Day 2)

  • Five Finger Mountains

    a day on mountain paths to Sourp Magar, the only Armenian monastery in the mountains, and Kyrenia Rock (Day 7)

  • Kaplica beach

    walk down from Kantara to the coast, with a chance to swim if time allows (Day 4)

Your route

5 stops from Kyrenia to Buffavento Castle

8-day route: Kyrenia – Bellapais – St Hilarion – Kantara – Buffavento – Kyrenia
  1. Kyrenia Days 1–7
  2. Bellapais Days 2 & 6
  3. Saint Hilarion Castle Day 3
  4. Kantara Castle Day 4
  5. Buffavento Castle Day 6

Why choose this tour

This is a centre-based walking week: seven nights in one Kyrenia hotel, with short transfers to each trailhead, so there is no daily packing. The routes link three Byzantine mountain castles – St Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara – with Bellapais Abbey and Incirli Cave, and most days are graded leisurely, with one moderate walk.

Best suited to

  • Walkers who want five days on foot without changing hotel
  • Travellers interested in Crusader castles and Gothic abbeys
  • Anyone aged 16 or over who is comfortable with 5–16 km days at low altitude
  • Solo travellers happy to share a twin room with a same-gender group member at no extra charge
The Gothic ruins of Bellapais Abbey among cypress trees, North Cyprus

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Kyrenia, North Cyprus to Kyrenia, North Cyprus

  1. Day 1 · Kyrenia Arrive in Kyrenia

    The tour starts in Kyrenia, a harbour town settled as far back as the 10th century BCE, where historic buildings and winding lanes sit alongside newer streets. You can arrive at any time today, and the rest of the day is free to settle in and make use of the hotel's facilities.

    Hotel
    Hotel Pia Bella or similar
  2. Day 2 · Bellapais, Bellapais Abbey, Catalkoy, Kyrenia, Kyrenia Castle Bellapais Abbey and Kyrenia Castle

    After a welcome briefing, a 20-minute transfer takes you to the mountain village of Bellapais and the ruins of its medieval Gothic abbey. There is free time to explore before a short walk, mainly on an undulating old dirt track with views towards the coast, to the village of Catalkoy (about 5 km, 2 hours). Back in Kyrenia, a tour of the harbour-front castle follows; its Shipwreck Museum holds a fourth-century Greek merchant vessel and its cargo. The day ends with a welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    Hotel Pia Bella or similar
    Meals
    Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Saint Hilarion Castle, Karaman, Malatya, Kyrenia St Hilarion Castle to Malatya

    A 25-minute transfer reaches St Hilarion Castle in the Kyrenia mountains. Built as a hermitage in the 10th century and later fortified, it rises over three levels joined by steep staircases, with views down to Kyrenia. The walk then heads through forest along an old riverbed, with loose rock and some scrambling over boulders, before joining a dirt track through small villages to Malatya, with lunch in a village square (about 14 km, 4 hours). Transfer back to Kyrenia in the afternoon.

    Hotel
    Hotel Pia Bella or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Karpas Peninsula, Incirli Cave, Kantara Castle, Five Finger Mountains, Kaplica Beach, Kyrenia Incirli Cave, Kantara Castle and Kaplica beach

    A transfer of about 1 hour 30 minutes heads east to the Karpas peninsula. The morning starts at Incirli Cave, the largest on the island, then moves on to Kantara Castle, a Byzantine beacon station whose 360-degree views take in both coasts of the peninsula on a clear day. After a picnic lunch near the castle, the walk descends the slopes of the Five Finger Mountains to Kaplica beach (about 8 km, 3 hours 30 minutes), with a chance to swim if time allows. The transfer back to Kyrenia takes about an hour.

    Hotel
    Hotel Pia Bella or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · St Barnabas Monastery, Salamis, Varosha, Famagusta Free day or optional Famagusta excursion

    Today is free. One option, arranged locally, visits St Barnabas Monastery, the ruins of Salamis – the largest Roman site in Cyprus – the abandoned district of Varosha and the old walled city of Famagusta with St Nicholas Cathedral, with a lunch break by the sea. You may join a larger group for this trip. Alternatively, spend the day in Kyrenia at your own pace.

    Hotel
    Hotel Pia Bella or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Buffavento Castle, Five Finger Mountains, Bellapais, Kyrenia Buffavento Castle to Bellapais

    A 45-minute transfer reaches Buffavento, the highest Crusader castle on the island, built in the 11th century to defend an important mountain pass. About 680 steps lead to the top, with views over Kyrenia and the Five Finger Mountains. After lunch at the top of the mountain, a narrow and rocky path leads down between the peaks to Bellapais village (about 16 km, 4 hours, graded moderate). A 10-minute transfer returns you to Kyrenia.

    Hotel
    Hotel Pia Bella or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Five Finger Mountains, Sourp Magar Monastery, Kyrenia Five Finger Mountains and Sourp Magar

    A 30-minute transfer leads to the last walk, in the Five Finger Mountains. The path climbs towards the Alevkaya Herbarium (currently closed for renovation), where the group stops for lunch, then continues to Sourp Magar, the only Armenian monastery in the mountains, and on to Kyrenia Rock, a good viewpoint over the coast (about 10 km, 4 hours).

    Hotel
    Hotel Pia Bella or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  8. Day 8 · Kyrenia, Nicosia Tour ends in Kyrenia

    The tour ends in Kyrenia after breakfast on Day 8. If your flight time allows, you could spend a few hours in Nicosia, the capital, before heading to the airport. A group departure transfer to Larnaca airport is available, or a private transfer can be arranged.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Mountains and coastline seen through the arched windows of St Hilarion Castle, North Cyprus

Where you stay

  • Kyrenia (7 nights) Hotel Pia Bella or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 7 nights at Hotel Pia Bella (or similar) in Kyrenia
  • Meals 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 1 dinner, including all breakfasts, five lunches and one dinner
  • Transport all transport and listed activities
  • Tour leader throughout
  • Airport transfers group arrival and departure transfers available

Not included

  • Flights the tour is land only
  • Meals not included 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Single room available on request at the single price shown for each departure
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas and vaccinations
The cloister arches of Bellapais Abbey, North Cyprus

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You need step-free access — paths are uneven and rocky, the castles have steep staircases and Buffavento involves about 680 steps
  • You would rather avoid scrambling — Day 3 includes sections over rocks and boulders
  • You want to move between towns — all seven nights are spent in Kyrenia
  • You expect dinner every night — one dinner is included (Day 2)

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 3–8 · Lunch: Days 3–4 and 6–7 · Dinner: Day 2
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Cyprus
Boats in Kyrenia harbour with the Kyrenia mountains behind, North Cyprus

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,195 per person, twin share, tour only. 27 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £1,515 (single supplement from £305).

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Are flights included?

No. The nearest airport is Larnaca (LCA), about two hours' drive from the hotel, including a border crossing. One group arrival transfer and one group departure transfer are available, or private transfers can be arranged.

How hard is the walking?

The tour is graded moderate, with five walking days at low altitude: about 5 km on Day 2, 14 km on Day 3, 8 km on Day 4, 16 km on Day 6 and 10 km on Day 7, each taking 2 to 4 hours. Paths can be rocky and narrow with steep descents, and Day 3 includes some scrambling over rocks and boulders.

Do I change hotels?

No. You stay all seven nights at Hotel Pia Bella or similar in Kyrenia, and short transfers take you to and from each walk.

What meals are included?

All breakfasts, lunches on the four main walking days from Day 3 to Day 7 except the free day, and a welcome dinner on Day 2.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 16. Groups are normally 4 to 16 travellers, with a tour leader throughout.

I'm travelling alone. Do I have to pay for a single room?

Only if you want one. You can share a twin room with a group member of the same gender at no extra charge. Single rooms are available on request, and the single price for each departure is shown in the departures list.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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