North Cyprus Summer Holidays

A life less ordinary? North Cyprus summer holidays are like a lullaby before a dream. It is as if the Mediterranean has wanted to keep this magnificent island a closely-guarded secret, and it has been described in glowing terms by many writers and reviewers; ‘the hidden jewel in the Mediterranean crown’, ‘the Mediterranean like it used to be’, ‘a corner of heaven on earth’… the list is seemingly endless.

Cradled by the warm blue waters of the Mediterranean, the north coast of the island is protected by the magnificent Kyrenia mountain range. Just inland, the majestic peaks provide protection and shelter, and are home to beautiful villages where time seems to have stood still forever. Of these, Bellapais is probably the best known. Home to a truly spectacular abbey, it’s narrow, winding streets are sprinkled with excellent places to eat. Bellapais was the home of the writer, Lawrence Durrell in the 1950s and was the setting for his humorous and tender novel, Bitter Lemons of Cyprus.

Kyrenia itself stands on the northern coastline and is a wonderful resort, and area, from which to explore the beauty of the island. Holidays to Kyrenia are a ‘must’ and Kyrenia hotels have much to offer, especially in terms of variety. From enormous resorts such as Acapulco Cyprus, to small, family-run hotels like Hideaway Cyprus, Pia Bella Hotel and Altinkaya Hotel, the area is a treasure trove of places to stay. Not to mention places to eat, as holidays to Kyrenia would not be considered complete without visiting some of the numerous superb restaurants and tavernas it contains.

To the north east of Cyprus lies the Karpas Peninsula. Even more untouched than the rest of the island, as it that seems even possible; here is a place of stunning scenic beauty. Some 80 kilometres long and up to 20 wide, the area is very sparsely populated. Here the wild donkeys that roam the land seem to outnumber the population, and those that do like here are scattered around in tiny villages where even the most modern of farmers think of a tractor as a novelty and are more likely to plough the land with horse-drawn machinery.

On the east coast, near the start of the Karpas, lie the remains of the Roman city of Salamis. Almost unbelievable in the sheer scale of the site, much still has to be explored and excavated from under the soft sands. Yet the amount already visible that can be walked around is breath-taking. A few miles down the coast, you reach the town of Famagusta. The magnificent beaches here have long been enjoyed as a holiday place both for locals and visitors to North Cyprus, and Famagusta hotels have become well known and well loved by many.

Overall, North Cyprus has so much to offer visitors it is all but impossible to describe the variety and sheer beauty of North Cyprus Summer Holidays. But one thing is certain. Whether you visit Kyrenia, Bellapais or one of the many other fables spots, this is a place you will want to return to time and time again. Take a North Cyprus holiday soon. Rumour has it that they want North Cyprus back in heaven and this is what the angels are whispering about!