Northern Cyprus walking holiday

Planet and people

A visit to Northern Cyprus allows you to explore a relatively unknown country that has remained reasonably unspoiled and undeveloped compared to the rest of the Mediterranean.

Throughout the trip we use locally owned accommodation and you'll be encouraged to buy local produce and dine each evening in a local restaurant which all helps develop the tourism infrastructure in this emerging destination.

Our one week walking trip concentrates on the Besparmak range where we walk through stunning countryside and follow quiet mountain trails leading to imposing Crusader castles. The tour leaders are from the region and this local knowledge assists in giving a historical and personal angle on the areas you will travel through. The group size, at 16, has been specifically chosen to give a personal viewpoint and minimise the impact on the environment, as well as being able to use the locally owned accommodation that is generally smaller than the large chain of hotels.

The Bellapais Monastery Village Hotel tries to minimise its impact on the environment by encouraging guests to use less water and towels, as well as purchasing local food from the many markets of the area. The local staff are always on hand to advise on the best local restaurant to dine in or bar to sip a cold beer!

In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. Cool Earth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.