Troodos Mountains 4x4 Tour

Spanning vast meadows, orchards and thick forests filled with birdlife, the landscapes of the Troodos Mountains are ever-changing. And there's no better way to explore them than by 4x4. On this full-day tour, you'll see Omodos, Aphrodite's Rock and much more.The day starts with a quick stop by the Big Rock, before journeying deep into the Troodos Forest to visit the photogenic Tzelefos Bridge. Here you can join an optional mini forest hike. Then, stop at a traditional 'kafenion' to taste an authentic Cypriot coffee, before whizzing by a 20m waterfall for some Instaworthy snaps. Once you've built up an appetite, lunch will be served in a nearby tavern.Afterwards, you'll head to the village of Omodos, right in the heart of Limassol's wine growing region. Drop into a café or visit the 17th-century Monastery of the Holy Cross. Rounding the day off is a visit to Petra tou Romiou, better known as Aphrodite's Rock, where you can take a swim or kick back on the sprawling sands.

Kykkos Monastery and Troodos Mountains Small Group Tour

The drive into the Troodos Mountains is a journey to another Cyprus. Rustic stone villages dot pine-studded valleys and traditional ways of life still hold sway. This small group, adults-only tour takes you into the spiritual heart of the highlands, the Kykkos Monastery, as well as the hilltop tomb of Makarios III. Eva, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The Troodos Mountains are where I find my soul. There are villages where time has stood still, where people still care about one another, where you enter as a guest and leave as a friend.'Ascending into the wild landscapes of the Troodos Mountains, you'll stop for a coffee break in a typical village. Then it's on to the star of the show, the beautiful Kykkos Monastery, perched on top Mount Kykkos. The interior is richly decorated, and you won't be able to keep your eyes off the icons and frescoes. You'll hear the legend of why its most famous icon, ‘the Golden Girl', remains half-hidden. And you'll also have some free time to wander around the grounds and enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains.We'll then visit Throni Hill and the elaborate tomb of Archbishop Makarios III. Superb views greet you before the drive down to the village of Pedoulas. Here, you'll enjoy a typical Cypriot lunch made from locally sourced ingredients in a family-run restaurant. There's time for an optional walk up to the Orthodox church of the Holy Cross, then we'll head back with a photo stop at Prodromos viewpoint and a coffee break en route.

Ancient Kourion, Kolossi Castle, Omodos & Winery Small Group Tour

Cyprus is all rolling hills dotted with pretty villages. On this adults-only tour, you'll see where a legend was born, visit the ruins of Kourion, venture to the village of Omodos and cap off the day with a wine tasting. Eva, one of our local guides, says of this excursion, ‘You'll wander through layers of history, culture and mythology, and learn about Aphrodite. The rituals connected with her, as well as the plants and seashells associated with her legacy.'You'll dive straight into the past to see Petra tou Romiou — a sea stack where, according to legend, love goddess Aphrodite was born. We keep the theme ancient at Kourion, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Cyprus. Visit the Roman baths and amble into the site's centrepiece, the Greco-Roman theatre. Concerts are still held to this day. The 15th-century Kolossi Castle is up next. This Crusader-built fortress is surrounded by blooming plants.Then, we'll head for a local lunch in a family-run taverna before visiting mountain-fringed Omodos, where you'll wander around skinny cobbled streets lined with Byzantine buildings. It's Eva's favourite village. She says, ‘The charm of the stone houses, the tranquillity and peacefulness – it's as if it has sprung from a fairytale. I love dropping into one of the cafés and seeing locals have philosophical discussions, political arguments and a bit of gossip.' Plus, there's a wine tasting, where you'll learn all about sweet commandaria wine.

Fikardou, Machairas and Lefkara Tour with a Local Guide

You'll leave no stone unturned as you explore Cyprus's hidden corners. This exclusive excursion takes in remote highland villages, dramatic landscapes and a revered monastery. It also includes a traditional Cypriot lunch. Stavroula, one of our local guides on this tour, says, ‘Fikardou village is an excellent example of rural mountain life, where the 19th-century architecture is in complete harmony with the environment.' A real taste of what's to come.Heading inland, you'll arrive mid-morning at rustic and laidback Fikardou. All cobblestones and historic houses, time seems to have frozen here. And with free time to explore, you'll find that ancient traditions still hold their way. It's so well-preserved that it's on UNESCO's tentative list of world heritage sites. Next, you'll head to the 12th-century Macharias Monastery, which is located on a remote hillside. Its lavishly decorated interior houses a sacred icon of the Virgin Mary.Then, it's time for a traditional Cypriot lunch, prepared with locally sourced ingredients and served at a family-run restaurant on the way to Lefkara. The tour ends on a high in charming Lefkara, a village famed for its handmade lace and embroidery. ‘Women, young and old, can be seen seated outside their homes and shops making lace,' says Stavroula. ‘For hundreds of years, the men from the village have travelled all over Europe to sell it, even Leonardo da Vinci bought some.'

Caledonia Waterfalls Tour with Lunch

The lush, cool forest that carpets the Troodos Mountains is an ideal escape near Paphos. A perfect contrast to the beach, you'll journey along a scenic route into the hills, where your destination is the village of Platres. Here, you'll set off on a 3km hike along the stream to the Caledonia Falls, followed by a traditional lunch at Psilo Dendro restaurant. Andri, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘You'll enjoy the journey as much as the destination on this hike, which follows and criss-crosses a stream over a series of little bridges all the way to the waterfall.'We'll get the tour started on a refreshing note with a stop at Kolossi Fruit Garden. Here you'll have the chance to try some fresh lemonade and buy fruit before continuing further into the mountains to the pretty hilltop village of Platres. This is the starting point for the nature trail, which traces the bubbling Kryos Potamos stream through the trees. You'll be glad of sturdy footwear as you head along the scenic trail, which is quite uneven in places with some rocks, roots and rivulets to keep it interesting.It's a forest walk in dappled shade, leading through a variety of gnarly trees including pines and strawberry trees. Once you reach the Caledonia Falls, you'll be able to take a break - and have a paddle if you wish - at the shaded freshwater pool, then continue to the famous Psilo Dendro restaurant with its very own trout farm. Relax over lunch – needless to say, trout is a speciality – and end the day on a high.

Ancient Kourion, Kolossi Castle, Omodos & Winery Tour from Limassol

Cyprus is all rolling hills dotted with pretty villages. On this adults-only tour, you'll see where a legend was born, visit the ruins of Kourion, venture to the village of Omodos and cap off the day with a wine tasting. Eva, one of our local guides, says of this excursion, ‘You'll wander through layers of history, culture and mythology.'You'll dive straight into the past at Kourion, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Cyprus. Visit the Roman baths and amble into the site's centrepiece, the Greco-Roman theatre. Concerts are still held to this day. While the mosaics of the trio of excavated houses known as those of Eustolius, the Gladiators and Achilles are as impressive as when they were laid down. The 15th-century Kolossi Castle is up next. This steeped-in-legend Crusader-built fortress is nowadays surrounded by blooming plants. Then, we'll head for a local lunch in a family-run taverna before visiting mountain-fringed Omodos where you'll wander around skinny cobbled streets lined with Byzantine buildings. It's Eva's favourite village. She says, ‘The charm of the stone houses, the tranquillity and peace. It's as if it has sprung from a fairytale. I love dropping into one of the cafés and seeing locals have philosophical discussions, political arguments and a bit of gossip.' To finish, there's a wine tasting session, where you'll learn all about sweet commandaria wine – one of the oldest varieties in the world.

Troodos Mountains 4x4 Tour with Meze Lunch

Spend the day travelling through the forested Troodos Mountains and discover some of Cyprus' wildest landscapes on this 4x4 tour. See vineyards, waterfalls, mountain villages like Lefkara, pine forests and more.We'll kick off the action at the impressive Dipotamos Dam for a photo stop. Then, it's onto the sleepy mountain village of Lefkara, renowned for its intricately-made lace and silverware. We'll go a bit off-piste into Mesa Potamos Forest where you can take part in an optional hike, too.Once you've built up an appetite, a meze-style lunch will be served in a village taverna. Then, we'll head to a beautiful forest waterfall with ice-cold water cascading down 20m. There'll also be a stop by Lofou village, where you can walk through narrow streets and try a Cypriot coffee in a local ‘kafenion'. A refreshing end to an action-packed day.

Troodos Mountain Villages Tour with Lampadistis Monastery

Cyprus is full of hidden treasures, and you'll explore some of the island's rural highlights on this full day excursion into the Troodos Mountains. You'll drive into the countryside – where most say the trip is worth it for the views alone – to Lampadistis Monastery and Kalopanayiotis, with a few pleasant surprises in between.

Kourion Ruins, Kolossi Castle and Winery Visit

The myths of Cyprus come to life on this tour. You'll see where a legend was born, visit the ruins of Kourion, venture to the village of Omodos and cap off the day with a tasting at a family-run winery. Eva, one of our local guides, says of this excursion, ‘You'll wander through layers of history, culture and mythology, and learn about Aphrodite, the goddess of love. The rituals connected with her as well as the plants and seashells associated with her.'You'll dive straight into the past to see Petra tou Romiou, a sea stack where, local legend has it, the goddess Aphrodite was born. The ancient past takes on a more tangible form at Kourion, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Cyprus. Visit its Roman baths and amble into its centrepiece, the Greco-Roman theatre. It's still used for concerts. And up next is the Crusader-built Kolossi Castle, which belonged to the Knights Templar from the 14th century.Lunch is in a family-owned restaurant. It's as famed for its country fare made from locally sourced ingredients as it is for its scenic location in the hills. Then, we'll head to the mountain-nestled village of Omodos, where you'll have free time to wander around skinny cobbled streets lined with Byzantine buildings. And to round off the day, we'll visit the winery. Here, you'll sample some of its award-winning wines, including the commandaria variety, which Richard the Lionheart baptised as the ‘wine of kings and the king of wines'.

Troodos Mountains Tour with Kykkos Monastery and Lunch

The journey into the Troodos Mountains is a journey to another Cyprus. Rustic stone villages dot tree-clad valleys where traditional ways of life still hold sway. This tour takes you into the spiritual heart of the highlands, the Kykkos Monastery, as well as up to Throni Hill. Alexia, one of our local guides, says, ‘The icon of the Virgin Mary at Kykkos is considered miraculous, so at least once a year, it's important for Cypriots to visit the church.'As you go into the depths of the Troodos, you'll encounter luxuriant landscapes which contrast with the arid coast. You'll head to the Kykkos Monastery first. Perched on Mount Kykkos, it's laden with religious treasures, and you won't be able to keep your eyes off the golden icons and frescoes – except for the icon of the Virgin Mary. It's kept under wraps, with the last known viewing being hundreds of years ago. You'll also have free time to wander around the grounds and enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains. What's more, your visit helps the preservation of this important heritage site.We'll then visit the hilltop tomb of Archbishop Makarios III. Superb views greet you before the drive down to the village of Pedoulas. Here, you'll enjoy a typical Cypriot lunch made from locally sourced ingredients in a family-run restaurant. There's time for an optional walk up to the richly decorated Orthodox church of the Holy Cross, then we'll head back with a coffee stop at Pano Platres en route.