North Cyprus walking vacation

Planet

Activity:
Few vacations have as little detrimental impact on the environment and local residents as a walking trip. Erosion on and adjacent to popular paths is a growing problem in certain places and therefore our trip leaders encourage clients to stick to advised routes in order to minimise this. We do believe in leaving no more than footprints, although this tour does encourage clients to have a positive effect by engaging with locals, using cafes and restaurants, and investing in traditional gifts and local produce. By visiting a number of places of interest and offering additional optional excursions, we also support the upkeep of churches, castles and museums whilst also creating local employment.

UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.

People

Accommodation and Meals:
On this trip we spend 7 nights in comfortable hotel with beautiful views of the coast. The accommodation is locally staffed, meaning that many people in the area benefit from employment opportunities. This also ensures that income generated is reinvested into the community and that clients have more interaction with locals. Where meals are provided, fresh, locally sourced ingredients will be used as much as possible. Free mealtimes can be used to explore authentic Northern Cypriot cuisine and support some off-the-beaten-track eateries. Regional specialties include: dolmasi (stuffed squash blossoms), seftali kebabi (minced lamb kebabs), borek (fried pockets of halloumi or meat) and, of course, locally produced olives, hummus and yoghurt.

Local Craft and Culture:
Our tour takes us to Kyrenia’s Crusader Castle, which is home to the Shipwreck Museum containing a 4th Century Greek merchant vessel and its cargo. St. Hilarion Castle, Buffavento Castle and Kantara Castle are also on the itinerary, whilst the free day offers opportunities to visit ancient city of Salamis or Famagusta with Othello's Tower, St Sophia Cathedral and the Venetian Palace. There is a large amount of history and culture to be discovered here and all guides will be able to facilitate this with briefings that include education about local community and environment.

Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.