The activity will take place, in full compliance with government restrictions due to covid-19. Interested participants must be ready to make use of 2 sms for this event, and also hike maintaining a reasonable distance between them. Please send via e-mail your interest, and await further instructions closer to the day. We aim to follow hiking with lunch, in an uncovered area of a taverna of choice, in the area. In confirming your participation at the hike, please specify if you are interested to participate at lunch, or not. If you are joining us for lunch, please also indicate if you will be eating meat or not, on the day, so that your preference will be looked after.

Our hike of Saturday 10 April 2021 takes place in the beautiful forest above Kakopetria, between Platania and Kyperounda and follows a combination of forest roads and narrow paths. This hike is linear, rated 2 (medium difficulty) to 3 (difficult), 12 km long, and is expected to take up about 4 hours. The hike is uphill on the way from Platania, downhill on the return leg. Some of the uphill sections are strenuous! We walk on dirt road for the starting 45 min, then catch a path for the next 40 min, to reach the vicinity of Kyperounda hospital. The final 2 km taking us from Kyperounda to Doxa si o Theos are on a dirt road overlooking Kyperounda and its vineyards. We take the same route back. Platania lie at an altitude of about 1100 m. Doxa si o Theos lies on Madari mountain, at an altitude of 1335 m.

The forest we cross is rich in pine, golden oak and strawberry trees and a variety of bushes. Platania is a wonderful location with plenty of underground water, hence the large number of plane trees, which give it its name. Platania offer many benches for picnic, facilities and drinking water.

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.

Depending on the government restrictions on the day, we shall follow the walk with a taverna lunch. 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 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. Drive along the main road. After 25 km you pass the village of Kakopetria (principal access to the village comes at the 24.8 km reading, where there is a left turn going downhill). Continue to drive along the main road, in the direction of Troodos. A few km further uphill you reach the area of Platania. At the 29.2 km reading you pass the left turn taking you to the village of Spilia. At the 32.4 km reading slow down and look out on your left, for an opening leading to a dirt road. Park on either side of the road. We meet here. If you have reached a crossroads (no traffic lights), named Karvounas (at the 33 km reading), you have driven too far: turn back, drive downhill the way you came and look out for the indicated opening.  

How to get to the walk start coming from Limassol:

Take the main road towards Trimiklini, then Saittas (exit number 28 on the Limassol-Nicosia motorway). 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, which drives uphill towards Troodos square. Do not turn right (this takes you to Kyperounda). Zero your odometer and go straight, downhill (towards Kakopetria). At the 0.6 km reading you reach an opening to the right. Get into the side road and park your car. 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    

Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the principal road at Kakopetria to the walk start http://tinyurl.com/k9g9hbs

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.