UPDATE: You must use the driving instructions provided below, counting km with your odometer, to reach the hike start; do not rely on gps. There will be lunch after the hike, at our taverna of choice in Kakopetria. Kindly clarify if staying for lunch or not, when you register.

Our walk of Saturday 19 March 2022 takes place in the picturesque dense forest between Kakopetria and Platania, starting in the area called Platania and following a dirt road in the direction of Agios Nicolaos tis Stegis. This hike is linear and quite strenuous, with several uphill and downhill sections, and an elevation change from ~1150 m at start to ~900 m at the other end. We walk back along the same path, covering a distance of over 12 km. 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 hike will take about 3 hours and is rated 2 for difficulty (on a scale from 1 to 3). The forest is rich in pine trees, golden oaks, plane trees and other trees.

Depending on the government restrictions on the day, we shall follow the walk with a meze lunch. Kindly visit this page in the week prior to the activity for updated news. In the case of lunch, this will take place at the restaurant of our choice in Kakopetria.

To provide you with maximum safety vis-à-vis covid-19, 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 Thursday, 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 the very large church named tis Theou Sophias (also referred to as Agia Sophia) in Strovolos, which offers ample parking space on its side street. The car trip starts at 9:45 am. Please ensure you observe start times, for the benefit of the group.  

How to get to the walk start from Nicosia:

From Nicosia take the A9 motorway towards Troodos. The A9 smoothly becomes the B9 highway (towards Troodos), when the motorway ends (near Kokkinotrimithia). On the B9 you drive past the villages of Akaki, then Peristerona and then you reach the village of Astromeritis. At the Astromeritis traffic lights, where most cars turn left towards Troodos, zero your odometer and turn left. After 25 km you pass the entrance to the village of Kakopetria on your left. Zero your odometer and continue to drive along the main road, in the direction of Troodos. At the 1.9 km reading you pass a road sign on your right, directing you to ‘Pedoulas, via Agios Nicolaos Stegis’. Do not turn right, continue to drive straight. At approx. the 4.2 km reading, you pass the left turn to Spilia. Do not turn left, continue to drive straight. After 1.8 km, i.e. at approx. the 6 km reading you arrive at the walk start, a dirt road on your right, bearing a green sign ‘Agios Nicolaos 9 km’. Near it, another sign pointing in the same direction reads ‘Kakopetria 6 km’. Park on the side, ensuring you do not block vehicle access to the dirt road. We meet here. In the event that you have reached the road junction at Karvounas (at the 8 km reading), you have gone too far: drive back for about 2 km, looking out for the sign on your left.

How to get to the walk start from Limassol:

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 turn left towards Troodos square. Do not turn right (this takes you to Kyperounda). Zero your odometer and go straight, downhill towards Kakopetria. At approx. the 2 km reading slow down and look out for a green sign ‘Agios Nicolaos 9 km’ pointing to a dirt road on your left. Near it, another sign pointing in the same direction reads ‘Kakopetria 6 km’. Park on the side, ensuring you do not block vehicle access to the dirt road. 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 turn left. At the 0.3 km reading you see Lidl supermarket on your right. At the 0.8 km reading you reach traffic lights. Turn left into Elaionon street. Immediately after you observe the very large church of tis Theou Sophias, with its green dome, on your right. Just past the church (1.0 km reading) take the first turning to the right into Kastellas street. This side street offers ample parking space. Park here.

Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the junction between Cineplex and Apolloneion Hospital to the church of tis Theou Sophias http://tinyurl.com/ll9fefj  

Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the Presidential Palace to the church of tis Theou Sophias https://tinyurl.com/ybnc84q7   

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.