North Cyprus is one of the most attractive places to visit in the Mediterranean, but because of its troubled history and political isolation, it has remained largely unaffected by mass tourism.

It has a great deal to offer the visitor - there are beautiful sandy beaches, ancient Crusader castles, Byzantine churches and wonderful scuba diving.The climate is wonderful, with long hot summers and relatively warm winters.

Kyrenia town, is full of narrow cobbled streets leading down to an enchanting circular harbour. The pedestrianised front is lined with the original carob warehouses and dominated by Kyrenia Castle. A wide range of restaurants line the waters edge offering shade and refreshment throughout the day and a lively atmosphere at night.

BEACHES

There are a number of beaches in Northern Cyprus to suit different tastes.  They range from those which provide sunbeds, cushions, showers and water sports to others which are very simple.  Those with facilities charge an entry fee, whilst others are free of charge.  Beaches with no facilities at all can also be found, most numerously along the Karpass peninsular. Many beaches in the Kyrenia area are looked after by neighbouring hotels and these can be found at such places as Deniz Kizi, which also has a large swimming pool. Some offer watersports, eg ringos, banana boats and jet skis.

Turtle Beach is a huge, sandy beach about 10 miles east of Kyrenia and about half an hour's drive from Duckworth House. It has a small beach bar where you can rent umbrellas. It is a protected area because of the Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles which nest along it. In July and August you can join those studying the turtles as they check through the nests which have hatched and release any hatchlings which have not managed to scramble down to the sea by themselves. 

Turtle Beach is best avoided on Sundays when the locals have their day off and it gets extremely busy.

The Karpass peninsula is wild and remote with many parts of the area entirely untouched by development. It has an almost biblical feel and is sparsely populated. Flocks of goats and wild donkeys wander freely and it has some fine examples of ancient ruins and beautiful mosiacs. Accommodation along the Karpass is simple. The Blue Sea Hotel is a one star hotel with no mains electricity, but is not without its own special charm. There are also simple wooden beach huts to rent on what is certainly one of the most beautiful, unspoilt beaches in the Mediterranean.

Simple food and a warm welcome can be found at Ali's Big Sand Café, which stands high on the dunes above this spectacular beach.

WALKS

The walks around Northern cyprus are numerous and varied.  In the spring and autumn the land teems with wild flowers.  There are organised walks in spring and rare orchids and wild flowers are a speciality. There are ancient crusader routes to be explored, tracks along the shoreline and mountain castles to be conquered. When walking in the mountains, it is advisable to wear suitable shoes as a precaution against snakes. Brown ones are poisonous but relatively rare; black ones are more common but are completely harmless.

CASTLES, MONASTERIES and ANCIENT RUINS

The castles of Northern Cyprus are spectacular.  Along the mountain ridge which runs along the north of the island lie the Byzantine defences of Kantara, Buffavento and St Hilarion. Kyrenia Castle, dominates the town's harbour with its huge ramparts and massive central courtyard. Within its walls are preserved the remains of one of the oldest ancient ships recovered from the sea.

The monasteries of Northern Cyprus include Apostolos Andreas, at the farthest tip of the Karpaz peninsular and Bellapais Monastery or Abbey near Kyrenia. and two futher monasteries along the Five Finger Mountain range (Besparmak). Bellapais, with its beautiful cloisters commands a fine view from the slopes of the Kyrenia mountain range. Sourp Magar, an 11th century Coptic monastery and Antiphonitis Monastery are high up in beautiful, and often deserted, forest areas.

The Roman remains at Salamis are situated at the base of the Karpass on the huge sandy beach of Famagusta Bay. Extending over more than one square mile Salamis includes a vast amphitheatre, baths and colonnades.  Much of the area is still to be excavated and it is possible to spend hours wandering around this site re-discovering the world of the ancient Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians and Romans. 

ANCIENT CITIES

The ancient cities of Famagusta and Nicosia are rich in Levantine histoy.  The Buyuk Han, or ancient Karavanserai in Nicosia has recently been done up and the Turkish Baths are a fascinating relic of the past.  In Famagusta the huge walls of the city contrast with the small narrow streets and recall the ancient need for protection against marauding attackers.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

For a more active holiday, there is a wide range of other sports on offer, including scuba diving, paragliding and go-karting. Day trips on boats can also be arranged from Kyrenia harbour.

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