Author: Christos

This 45km route offers some of the most beautiful views that the Machairas Mountains have to offer towards Larnaka (Larnaca) Bay and the Mesaoria plains, with Lefkosia (Nicosia) at the centre, and the Pentadaktylos Mountains in the distance.

The route starts from the central square of the village of Lythrodontas and heads left towards Kyprovasa just outside the village on the road to Machairas, passing through olive groves typical of the area. From Kyprovasa, the course turns to the west towards Profitis Ilias. At the junction ­ with the road leading to Profitis Ilias ­ the route continues to the left, heading south towards Vavatsinia. It is worth stopping here to quench your thirst at the Petris water fountain. After a steady 6km climb, the route reaches the paved Lefkara – Vavatsinia road.

The village of Vavatsinia itself is situated a short distance away to the right. Once inside the village, and after turning right for Machairas, the steep paved road becomes a dirt road. It goes past the Moutti of Pelekanou peak and continues on a relatively flat bit of road until it reaches the Kionia picnic site. After Kionia, the road is downhill for about 10km and leads to the chapel of Agios Onoufrios. From there, the road heads back to Lythrodontas via the picnic site of Mantra tou Kampiou ­ at first paved, but then becoming a dirt track.

This 165km route passes through the Solea Valley with its traditional architecture and its picturesque Byzantine churches, some of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The tour follows the same route as that of the Lefkosia (Nicosia) ­ – Adelphoi – Asinou route until it reaches the Kapouras picnic site, from where it takes the alternative route towards Asinou and Agios Theodoros. At Agios Theodoros, the route crosses the main Lefkosia – Troodos road to reach Kato Flasou, where it begins to climb southwards, along the Karkotis riverbank, and through the villages of Evrychou, Tembria, Kaliana, Galata and Kakopetria.

Keeping on the Kakopetria – Prodromos road, the road starts to climb towards the Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Monastery until it reaches a turning to the right leading to the area of Stavroulia. This part of the road is unpaved and descends in a northerly direction to the Linou – Pedoulas road, offering breathtaking views of Solea Valley and Morfou Bay to the east.

The Pedoulas – Linou road crosses the main Lefkosia – Troodos road and then heads in a north­easterly direction to the village of Koutrafas, situated on the banks of the Elia River. The road then climbs towards the villages of Nikitari and Vyzakia, where it follows the same route back to Lefkosia via Orounta, Kato Moni, Meniko and Palaiometocho, ending at the Agios Mamas grade­ separated junction.

An alternative route to the Koutrafas – Nikitari option is to return to Lefkosia on the main Lefkosia – Troodos road.

This 115km route passes through the beautiful landscape and picturesque villages of the Pitsylia area, famous for its good wine and smoked meat specialities. Although the route is quite long, the section past the village of Alona is downhill all the way to Lefkosia (Nicosia).

The route follows part of the Lefkosia – Machairas route, as far as the village of Episkopi. But from there, it heads west to the village of Arediou instead of on to the village of Politiko, climbing gradually on the old Lefkosia – Palaichori road through Malounta and Klirou, and then turning left towards Fikardou. From Fikardou it goes downhill to Gouri, and then turns right on to the road towards Lazanias and Machairas. Just before Lazanias, the route follows the first dirt road to the right, leading to the village of Farmakas. This dirt road is like a parapet above the cliffs and will give adrenaline addicts a real thrill.

From Farmakas, the route continues south to just above Profitis Ilias at Sykopetra. From there, it follows a paved road to the right and heads west to Palaichori. From the village of Palaichori, the route leads to the Lefkosia – Agros road, turns left and after a short climb turns right to take the road for Askas, Fterikoudi and Alona. There it turns right, heading north, and begins the descent towards Lefkosia. At Alona there is accommodation and restaurants if you wish to spend the night or a few more days in the area.

After leaving Alona, the course descends towards Platanistasa, past the ‘Gefiri tis Panagias’ forestry station, to a right turn leading east to the villages of Mitsero and Agrokipia. From there to the left and south, the route reaches Klirou District Gymnasium. There it turns right just before Arediou to meet the old Lefkosia – Palaichori road, heading back to Lefkosia in the opposite direction.

Alternative route: At Gouri, instead of heading towards Lazanias, take the paved road for Farmakas and Palaichori. Turn right and to the north from Palaichori, and instead of heading towards Askas – Alona, start the descent to Lefkosia.

This 83km route takes cyclists from the outskirts of Lefkosia (Nicosia) to the forest of Adelfoi, and past the early Byzantine church of Panagia Forviotissa (Asinou).

The route’s starting point is the junction on the outskirts of Lakatamia where it heads west for about half a kilometre before reaching the Lakatamia bicycle path on the banks of the Pediaios River. The bicycle path ends on Agios Georgios Street, where it turns right and west to reach the traffic lights on the Lefkosia – Palaichori road. Almost exactly opposite the traffic lights lies the road that leads to the village of Agioi Trimithias and onto Palaiometocho and Menoiko.

From Menoiko, the route follows a dirt road before reaching the paved road just outside the village of Kato Moni. From there, Mitsero quarry is visible to the southeast, and the Troodos Mountains to the southwest. From Kato Moni, the route heads north on the Peristerona – Platanistasa road. It climbs for a short distance before turning right towards the village of Agia Marina. From Agia Marina it passes through the village of Agios Georgios, and past the Kapoura picnic site and the villages of Kannavia and Spilia. There is a dirt road at the entrance of Spilia ­ and to the right ­ leading to Asinou and the area where the anti­colonial EOKA movement was most active. The dirt road travels north through the Adelfoi forest for 23km, leading to the Byzantine church of Panagia Forviotissa in Asinou. An alternative road for Asinou is the 9km forest road just after the Kapouras picnic site to the west.

Some 3km along a paved road after Asinou is the village of Nikitari. From there, road signs lead back to Lefkosia through the villages of Vyzakia and Orounta. This part of the road is not paved. From Orounta, the route turns north on to the Peristerona – Platanistasa road towards Kato Moni for the return journey to Lefkosia. An alternative, less complicated route is via Orounta and Peristerona and back to Lefkosia along the main Lefkosia – Morfou road.