On and off road route to Panagia of Sinti.
Pafos Area, 2/3 day tour
Great roads, views etc
Open fast ride to Lymbia, then narrow and fairly twisty to Mosfiloti. Main road to Kornos, then open, but tightens up on way to Lefkara. Tight and twisty up to Vavatsinia, coffee stop at Marias resturant just before village.
Back down past Lefkara to Kato Drys, then twisty again to Valva. Fast and flowing to Choirkoitia. Left towards Larnaca, but turn right towards Ayias Theodoros, tight and twisty through orange groves. Left on coast road then right at Camel Park, then left on small coast road. Through towards Meneou, and back to Larnaca, short motorway stretch.
About 2.30hrs with a stop.
Nice half-day Trip.
Use: Road Bike
Take A9 motorway heading to Troodos mountains and
then continue with B9. Then turn right for road
E908 towards Kykkos monastery (brown sign for
historic and archaeological places). Continue
and then after 8km app., at your right, the sign
says K. Pirgos (or Pyrgos). From here you will
start a windy road through the mountains. Scenery
will be great as you continue ascending the mountain
range with views from western seaside of the island and
many more. As you keep riding the scenery gets even
better and better, many kinds of scenery for the eyes
to observe and stay satisfied with the road surface
getting better as well. Bends are getting more as well
so the fast one will enjoy “playing†scratching Kevlar
and the touristic rider will love the views. Reaching the
remote small town of Pirgos (Kato and Pano which means the
lower and upper) turn left and have a stop at the small
Cypriot village style of restaurant completely at the
beach front at the village Mansoura, on your right side.
This route is continuity with route 7, Paphos - Polis.
The best time for the route is mostly winter and
spring but be careful of falling rocks and icing,
especially in bends which the sun cannot reach.
The route is a must, really beautiful scenery combining
mountains routes with costal sea view. Riding time can be
from 2 hours for the fast ones and up to 3 hours for those
having lost of stops for photo taking which you will find
lots especially the seasons mentioned.
The last 20-30km to Pirgos the road is newly surfaced so
enjoyment is fully achieve but also take care that you have
to fill tanks either in B9 because afterwards you will
find only at destination.
Another alternate is as you turn right for Pirgos from
E908, in-between the route you will observe signs for
Kampos, follow the route for Kampos and then continue
for Stavros tis Psokas destination (ask for information).
From here is partly route 2, reaching Stavros tis Psokas
you can continue towards Pirgos.
Notes: after B9 you have to deviate to find gas station/be
careful of icing and falling rocks/recommended for
winter-spring season/the only mid point when up in the
heart of the mountains is the village Kampos which you
will see signs for it
Use: All bikes
Follow A1 towards Limassol, take the exit for
Lefkara village and reach the place. The village
is a very well preserved in its native architecture structure
and it's very famous for the lace and silverware local
handmade manufacturing, even Leonardo da Vinci visited the
village and bought lace. Return from the same road back and
follow the signs for Kato Drys village, another well
preserved village and continue riding through Vavla, Layia,
Ora, Melini, Eftagonia towards Arakapas village
which you have to turn right towards Sykopetra with
destination
the tiny village of Profitis Elias. The whole route is
a nice route through out the heart of the Cypriot country side.
At Profitis Elias there is a small taverna located on
the top of a mountain peak surrounded by other higher peaks of
the Troodos mountain range, the taverna is called
Eagle's nest, not Hitler's alpine holiday house in the
Bavarian alps, a cosy little taverna serving a very well
prepared local food. The taverna is very often being visited
from many Cypriot biker clubs.
After your 'vigorous' meal continue ascending on the
same road to reach Palechori village, you can have a
coffee there at the nice village's plateau and then continue
riding passing Askas, Fterikoudi, Polystipos, Alona
and Platanistasa. You are in the heart now of the
Pitsilia area which is famous for making the best
sausages, nuts, strawberries, red local wine, fruit
and....potatoes. The route after Fterikoudi is very
nice with small windy roads with nice scenery. Return to
Nicosia via Mitsero
Notes: Fill up tanks at Lefkara / All season.
Photo 1: Alona village
Photo 2: Typical village
Use: All bikes (On/Off road type recommended)
Start from Limassol (can approach either A1 from
Nicosia or A5 from
Larnaka or A6 from
Pafos) and take road E601 passing through the villages of
Agios Ambrosios, Kissousa, Arsos and finally to
Agios Nikolaos. At
Ag. Nikolaos seek information for directions to the bridges of
Tselefos and
Elia.
The road towards the bridges is paved
(which found me to fully disagree because it lost its natural heritage)
and passes through a great nature especially in winter/spring seasons. At
Tselefos bridge nature also is fantastic,
if you have an on/off bike you can cross the little
river passing under the bridge and take the dirt road to another bridge,
Rhoudias bridge. After
Rhoudias bridge you can continue to the abandon village of
Kilinia and then to
Pendalia village. At
Pendalia there is an old beautiful located renovated monastery
down to the wide valley of
Xeros river, the monastery is called
Sintis. You can continue through the valley for some distance
and you can enjoy a marvelous nature and remoteness feeling.
It's a great route for on/off bikes and highly recommended
(try to avoid summer season).
If you select to continue from
Tselefos bridge through the paved road in a while you will reach
Elia bridge, not so great like the other ones but the route passes from it.
After the bridge, just a few minutes, there is a junction,
select to go left to visit some remote forgotten villages
which they have something to show to the curious explorer.
Notes: great route through nature / fill up tanks as often as
you can / not many facilities in the area.
Use: All bikes
Koumandaria is a sweet alcohol drink which we produce for more than 1,000 years, you should try it or you can buy a bottle from the region below. The whole area is named by that drink or the area is either mostly called "wine region".
Take road B8 heading north of Limassol and turn left when the road sign shows to Lofou village. It's a village with nice surroundings and traditional character and of course....nice tavernas. Then take the road towards Agios Therapon (ask for directions) to proceed to Agios Ambrosios village, turn right and start ascending road E601 until a right turn towards Vouni village.
A well kept village which as well recently renovated and worth a visit. Then continue and pass through the villages of Kilani and Pera Pedi. Turn left towards Mandria and again left towards Omodhos and Vasa. Those two villages is a must to visit, especially Omodhos has plenty to attract you, just explore it by walking instead of riding.
From Lofou and up to Vasa you are in the heart of the wine or koumandaria region. Almost in every village you will find products coming from wine, real pure homemade, also try the traditional Soutzouko, wine before maturing with almonds inside specially treated and looks as a long sausage and above all, you can have the vineyards next to you as you ride in a relaxing mood.
The whole area is full of tavernas so no need to worry about that, just let yourself free and enjoy the ride especially Winter/Spring time (not really recommended for summer). Those villages to really understand and feel how they are you have to visit them in all seasons avoiding summer.
In case you didn't had lunch yet, ride downhill on road E601 and turn right towards Pakhna with final destination Avdhimou and more exactly Avdhimou beach with some seafront tavernas with fresh fish. Returning to Limassol and make a stop at Sanctuary of Appolo and Kourion ancient sites, highly recommended return route.
Notes: You can find almost all kinds of facilities in the area. A good tip is to talk to the locals and by that find some more features for the area.
Photo 1: Vouni village
Photo 2: Sanctuary of Appolo
Photo 3: Coastal route to Kourio
Use: Road Bike
Take the motorway A9 towards Troodos mountains. In a few kilometers will reach the village of Peristerona B9, at the traffic lights turn left for Orounda village. Passing through the village you will see on your right an old chapel which is great for b/w photos. Continue on the same road until road sign points right for Ag. Marina and Xiliatos villages, keep riding on the E907 until reach the Dam of Xiliatos. A nice place for a break/resting/smoking. There is also a picnic area on the lower part of the dam. Afterwards continue ascending on the E907 towards the villages of Lagoudera and Saranti The whole route up to those villages is done through a well paved forest road which will give you an enjoyable riding. Reaching the end of the E907, the area can give you lots of surprises if you explore it, have plenty of nice forest roads and riding pleasure and can be joined with other routes found in the site. As exploring the area you will decide where to have your lunch and always choose what the keeper of the restaurant will suggest you, they know better
Notes: Mountainous route / accessible Gas stations / winter-spring season recommended.
Use: All bikes
Take the A9 which will change for B9 for Troodos Mountains
and have a stop at Kakopetria village. Enter the
village and request directions for the old part of
the village to take a walk there and if you are hungry you
came to the best place of the island for a trout fish.
Afterwards set heading for Ag. Nikolaos road
(very close to kakopetria), a nice windy mountainous
road which leads to some beautiful villages and forest
routes. Ending Ag. Nikolaos road turn left for
Prodromos village, the highest located village of
the island at 1500m. As you reach the village at a round
about, turning right you will visit the abandon old stone
build hotel of Berengaria (Berengaria was the wife
of Richard the Lion heart) or you can enjoy a nice cooked
meal (recommended) at the restaurant at the round about
(next to the road for Berengaria). Then proceed to Platres
via Trooditissa monastery, you must mention
Trooditissa monastery otherwise perhaps advice you for another
route. The route is lovely, the nature great, there is a picnic
area along the route, if its spring the nature will be even
greater, the road is very good for speeds of 50-60km/h,
just take the route. From Platres take B8 to visit
Lania village, a renovated beautiful traditional
village which worth a visit. Then either proceed to
Limassol town for a coffee by the beach front
or continue through the mountainous road network for
Nicosia.
Notes: restaurant/tavernas available caution
during winter for icy roads. all year round route
but especially spring time
photo 1: Kakopetria old part
photo 2: Kalidonia falls
Use: Road Bike
Proceed to the Tomb of the Kings seashore road E701
towards Pegia village but before turning right for
Pegia turn again right for Adonis baths.
It's a nice place for a visit and history says that this is
the place which goddess of Love, Aphrodite, has chosen to meet
her lover, Adonis. At the place there are two blue lagoon
pools with some height difference and you can swim and also
dive from one to another. Return back from the same road and
at the end turn right and very shortly you will see the road
signs for Pegia. Reaching Pegia set heading
for Kathikas village and start ascending which in a
while you will be able to enjoy a nice view of the area,
especially on afternoons. Passing Kathikas, in a few
kilometers turn right towards Arodhes, Inia
and Droushia villages. A beautiful route reaching
its best during spring time which you can enjoy the green
plant less high hils with a view to the blue sea accompanied
by the fabulous smell of the blossoming wild flowers, have a
stop and gather those superb gifts of nature. The above
mentioned villages are newly renovated to their traditional
character which is interesting to visit and also you can have
a coffee or a traditional local meal(especially in
Droushia) in a local taverna. Leaving Droushia
you will have the chance to enjoy a nice view of the Chrisochou bay. Continue road E709 towards Polis and Latsi. Coming to T junction, turning left you will reach the small fishermen harbor of Latsi. Continuing further on the same road E704 you can visit Aprodites baths (nothing spectacular) or you can enter the Akamas peninsula which is great place to see but you need an on/off bike (you can rent from Polis).
Turning right from the T junction mentioned above,
you will head on the small town of Polis (camping
side available). If you wish to ride in more remote seaside
roads you can take road E704 towards Pirgos/Argaka/Pomos
. The ride is very nice giving the rider nice views
of seaside scenery, the road ends at Pirgos
/food/gas station available). For the return trip
you can choose to take the Troodos mountains
(ask locals for directions), a nice paved windy road
through Paphos forest, very nice but quit long
duration (due to low speed) alternate route.
Notes: Spring summer season recommended / easy
access to any kind of facility
photo 1: A break to feel and see nature at its best
photo 2: Akamas peninsula on a cloudy day