UPDATE 3: The linear hike will start at 10:15, instead of 10:45. Consequently cars will leave the Nicosia meeting point at 9:15. Parking at hike start is very limited, hence you are urged to drive in full cars.

UPDATE 2: Regarding only the Grand Circle: we meet around 09:15 and start at 09:30, at the location “Doxa Si o Theos”, which is 2-3 km north of Kyperounda. Location Coordinates: 34.9561255917, 32.9626277541 Googlepin: https://www.google.com/maps/place/DOXA+SOI+O+THEOS/@34.9561747,32.9634678,18z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x14e74de0b2b41755:0xb2a5df28ea968dc8!2sChandria+4875,+Cyprus!3b1!8m2!3d34.9443393!4d32.9943517!16s%2Fm%2F02vr2q6!3m5!1s0x14e74f57a01bfc97:0xb7fd3e576304e9b6!8m2!3d34.9562056!4d32.9632642!16s%2Fg%2F11sxvxm1tc?entry=ttu

UPDATE 1: Lunch will be a buffet

Our hike of Sunday 7 April 2024 takes place on Madari mountain and covers a good part of the Grand Circle. This hike is linear, rated 2+ (medium difficulty to difficult), 6 km long each way (i.e. 12 km in total), and is expected to take up about 3 ½ hours. The hike involves sizeable elevation changes; soon after start we reach the Watch Tower at 1600 m, then walk down to 1335 m (at Doxa si o Theos), and further down to 1150 m (at Moutti tis Horas). We follow the same path back.

To compensate for the effort, the hike offers plenty of delights: dense forest of golden oak (endemic species), strawberry trees (antrouklia), pine trees, junipers, cedars and other conifers, rich variety of bushes and wild flowers; unforgettable views and so on.

Madari is located east of Troodos, in the Pitsilia area. The walk starts at 10:45 am. Xenophon is leading this walk, which will go ahead even in light rain; if you need to, call 97613720. The starting point for this walk is outside the gate of the CYTA station atop Madari.

We shall follow the walk with a served meze lunch at our choice taverna in the nearby village of Handria. Handria is the first village on the way back to Nicosia or Limassol. Registered participants will receive full details via e-mail the day before. To provide you with maximum safety, and in order to have maximum traceability, we require every participant to register, irrespective of your participation at lunch or not. To facilitate arrangements, for your better service, you are required to e-mail Xenophon by end Friday, indicating whether you will be joining us for lunch or not.

You have the choice of meeting the group at the walk start, or meet at the designated meeting point in Nicosia. In either case, you need to carry copy of this set of instructions.  Meeting in Nicosia offers two important advantages: we drive in full cars, leaving some cars behind; thus, we save in fuel and enjoy the trip in good company. The meeting point in Nicosia is an open field which offers ample parking space in Archangelos. The car trip starts at 9:45 am. Please ensure you observe start times, for the benefit of the group.

On this same day, The Cyprus Strollers is offering a longer hike, along the same path, the Grand Circle of Madari, with Antonis as the Leader (tel. 97803728), and an earlier hike start at 9:15 am. Times are set to achieve coincidental walk finish for both walks, so that the combined two groups can sit for lunch together, for a meal in celebration mood. Members who wish to hike The Grand Circle must register via e-mail to Xenophon by end Thursday. You will then expect to receive a return e-mail with further details.

For The Grand Circle kindly note that we do not accept first-time participants, or participants who only rarely join us, and you should be in very good fitness. Duration of The Grand Circle is upwards of 5 hours. We clarify that both hikes have the same common starting and finish points. Participants for The Grand Circle ought to plan departure from Nicosia by 8:15 am and should not expect to meet Xenophon at the Nicosia meeting point.

The Grand Circle of Madari is, as its name tells, a circle. It has a total length of 14 km. Soon after start of The Grand Circle, we reach the Watch Tower at 1600 m, then walk down to 1335 m (at Doxa si o Theos), and further down to 1150 m (at Moutti tis Horas). Then we climb to 1260 m (at Selladi Karamanli), before the final stretch which is the most demanding, to take us back up to 1600 m. You need to carry plenty of water: 1 ½ litres is the recommended quantity. There is no spring of fresh water en route; just one tap at Doxa si o Theos.

How to get from Nicosia to the walk start:

From Nicosia get to the junction between Cineplex and Apolloneion Hospital. At the traffic lights where you have the Cineplex on your left hand side and Apolloneion Hospital on your right hand side, zero your odometer and continue straight ahead (on the principal road towards Troodos). At the 0.5 km reading you come to traffic lights, go straight. At the 3.0 km reading you leave the main road, taking the side road on your left, named E903 and signposted to Palekhori.  At the 3.3 km reading you get to a roundabout; take the first exit to the left, signposted to Palekhori. Drive along this main road for many km, past the village of Palekhori and past the village of Agros. The next village after Agros (on the road to Kyperounda) is Handria. As you drive through Handria look out for a right uphill turn, signposted to ‘Panagia tou Araka’ (8 km) and ‘Lagoudera’ (7 km). Turn right and drive a couple of km, until you reach a crossroads. At the crossroads turn left, towards the CYTA station. After 3 km uphill drive, you reach the CYTA station. Park your car on the side. We meet here.

How to get from Limassol to the walk start:

Take the main road towards Trimiklini, then Saittas. Get to the principal junction at Saittas, where you have the options of going straight to Platres or left to Pera Pedi, or right to Amiantos. Zero your odometer and turn right. At the 10.9 km reading you reach the principal junction of Karvounas (note, no traffic lights). Do not go straight, downhill (this takes you to Kakopetria). Do not turn left (this takes you to Troodos square). Turn right, signposted to Pitsilia region. Drive through and out of Kyperounda, the first village on your way. The second village you meet is Handria. As you drive through Handria look out for a left uphill turn, signposted to ‘Panagia tou Araka’ (8 km) and ‘Lagoudera’ (7 km). Turn left and drive a couple of km, until you reach a crossroads. At the crossroads turn left, towards the CYTA station. After 3 km uphill drive, you reach the CYTA station. Park your car on the side. We meet here.

How to get to the meeting point for the car trip:

From Nicosia get to the junction between Cineplex and Apolloneion Hospital. At the traffic lights where you have the Cineplex on your left hand side and Apolloneion Hospital on your right hand side, zero your odometer and go straight, along Archangelos avenue, in the direction of Troodos. At the 0.3 km reading you reach the first traffic lights; turn left into Agiou Alexiou street. At the 0.4 km reading you reach a T-junction; turn right into Agiou Gennadiou street and immediately after you observe on your left an open field used for parking; get onto it and park your car. We meet here. In front of this field there is a violet box for collecting clothes and also a water tank from where people can buy water. For additional parking spaces, while in Agiou Gennadiou street turn first right into a road with a cul-de-sac sign.

Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the junction between Cineplex and Apolloneion Hospital to the parking field on Agiou Gennadiou street http://tinyurl.com/lg3u78q  

Google Maps: Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the Presidential Palace to the parking field on Agiou Gennadiou street: http://tinyurl.com/k9gabhs   

About Pitsilia: The region east of Mount Olympos (Troodos) is known as the Pitsilia area and includes about 30 villages. Its tallest peaks are Madari (1612 metres) and Papoutsa (1554 metres). The picturesque villages nestle on the mountainside amid vineyards, or are hidden in valleys, maintaining much of their traditional charm. The surrounding hills and valleys are full of vines, as well as almond, hazelnut, walnut and other fruit trees. The area is also known for its traditional products such as aromatic rosewater, ‘hiromeri’ (smoked ham), ‘loukanika’ (smoked sausages) and ‘lountza’ (smoked pork loin).

Disclaimer: If you attend a Cyprus Strollers walk you do so entirely at your own risk. The Cyprus Strollers is a social club and neither the organizers nor the leader of the walk are responsible for the health and safety of those taking part. If you do not wish to receive further e-mails, reply to this message, stating so.