Troodos Jeep Safari
A trip up to the Troodos Mountains.
The second jeep safari that I went on took me high up into the mountains, to the highest peak in Cyprus at 6988 feet, Mount Olympus (the peak is owned by the british military and is used as a listening post. You will be able to see the transmitter and large golf ball type objects at the very peak). The journey to the Troodos mountains is a long one with quite alot of driving but please dont let that put you off.
We were greated by 'The Beast' outside our apartment at 8:30am. After picking up a few more passangers we hit the motorway and headed for the Aspokremos Dam, the second largest dam in Cyprus. It's located 10 miles east of Paphos and you get fantastic views not only of the dam but of the mountains in this distance. Our guide gave us a brief outline of the dam before we set off again inland and towards the Troodos mountains. It was here when we encountered a dead snake on the road.
We stopped off in a small local village in the hills where we were treated to light refreshements and the chance to try some Cypriot coffee. We passed by locals who seemed happy to see us as we waved to them. We also encountered another donkey, they are used by locals as water carriers. When your in the village you feel as though you have gone back in time, to the old traditions before the Island became a major holiday destination.
We ventured further inland to the Nelion winery, set on a hill side which offered breathtaking views of the valley below. It was here where we were given a tour of the winery by one of the family members. After seeing the various processes of wine making, we were seated and given the opportunity to taste a number of wines on the menu. Ensure you have money on you as you can purchase your favourite bottles which are neatly boxed for you.
After that pleasant stop at the winery the next location of the day was Kelefos Bridge, an old venitian bridge. We made our way there on an unmade road which ran alongside a river valley amongst the pine forests. This leg of the journey was fun for those who like a bit of off-roading. As the jeep came to a corner our guide had to beep his horn to warn any other vechicles that may be on the otherside of the blind corner. The bridge itself, as you can see in the picture, is very small but its very historic as its the most famous of the still remaining medieval bridges in Cyprus. Due to its shape and reflection in the water from the right angle you can get a fantastic photo.
Be sure to stretch your legs now as the next part of the journey is fairly long on a windy unmade road and then up high into the mountains. The higher you get the more glorious the views.
Now we came to probably the most popular stop on the whole of the safari, the Kykkos Monastery. It's the wealthiest and one of the most famous monasteries in Cyprus. If you wish to go inside please make sure you have suitable clothing which covers your knees and shoulders. If you forget, the driver stops off at a small shop from where you can hire some garments to wear. I only had a brief look inside the courtyard as it didn't really capture my attention but i could see by the amount of visitors and tour buses around that this monastery is hugely popular. There is plenty of time to have a good look around inside before you move on to the peak of the Troodos mountains.
Before reaching a height of 6000 feet its time to stop off for lunch. Unfortunately I cant remember the name of the restaurant but it cost around 5CYP each for a meal and drinks. The food was cypriot with a mixture of meats and fruit. It was a nice welcome stop from all the driving and it gives you a nice opportunity to chat with those also on the safari. I do remember it had a waterfall cascading down the back of the seating area.
Shortly after the meal you arrive just below the peak of the Troodos Mountains. Take the chance to take in the unspoilt views of the turkish side of the island. After just a few minutes drive you arrive at a small tourism area filled with various shops selling gifts and sweets. Buy a few treats for family back home before you set off again. We soon stopped at another village for around half an hour. We sat outside a small cafe and had a drink in the shade while other members of the safari had a walk around. It was a pleasant stop and the place seemed very popular.
The final stop of the day was a Waterfall down in a pine tree lined valley.
The drive back to Paphos was interesting in itself as the driver took us along one of his favourite roads which gaves us a fantasic view of the Troodos Mountains in all their glory. We then passed some open land scorched by summer fires before getting back to our appartment for 6pm.
Although i much prefered the Akamas Jeep Safari, the opportunity to visit the Troodos Mountains is one i couldn't give up. The views are fantastic, and although we covered a larger distance, there is plenty to see to ensure you have a great day out.
