Day 1 Our morning flight takes us to Paphos, from where we transfer to our hotel (c.1hr 30mins). There will be time to relax at the hotel or take a local walk in the afternoon, before an introduction to our holiday over drinks before dinner.

Day 2 We walk along the coast from the hotel to the Baths of Aphrodite and onwards, towards Fontana Amorosa. The field edges and track sides should feature colourful annuals and we may find the first flowers of Cyclamen persicum growing in the rockier areas, perhaps with late flowering Muscari parviflorum or Autumn Squill Prospero autumnale. The scenery is breath-taking, with high cliffs dropping down to the sea. Sunny spots should hold some of the island’s butterflies, with Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady and Plain Tiger all likely to be on the wing, while lizards scuttle about in the undergrowth, including Snake-eyed Lacertid and the endemic Troodos Wall Lizard. 

Day 3 We explore the Pegeia Forest, on the west side of the Akamas, one of the best preserved forests of Calabrian Pine and Phoenician Juniper, where we will find an interesting variety of plants. We look for Romulea tempskyana, the winter-flowering Ranunculus bullatus and, depending on the season, we may be lucky and catch the last of the Autumn Lady’s Tresses Spiranthes spiralis, or the endemic Colchicum pusillum. We also inspect some interesting seasonal rock pools where local rarities can be found, including the diminutive Least Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum lusitanicum. Reptiles could include Starred Agama, the tiny Snake-eyed Skink or even European Chameleon.

Day 4 Our attention turns to the history of the island, visiting several sites around Paphos. We start with a visit to the monastery of Ayios Neophytos famous for its Byzantine frescoes. From here we move to the Tombs of the Kings, dating back to the Ptolemite Cypriot Kingdoms, where we will find interesting coast-loving plants and migrant birds among the archaeology. Finally, we spend our afternoon on the Paphos Peninsula. Aside from the well-preserved Roman mosaics, this site is known as a birding hot spot, and after soaking up the history we will see what birds we can track down.

Day 5 We take a walk across the local hillsides, where we hope to find more of the island’s interesting winter flowers, amongst which should feature a couple of species of Narcissus and perhaps the first flowers of Crown Anemone Anemone corornaria.

Day 6 We head back to the Paphos area today, with birds on our mind. We visit several sites, hoping to find two local specialities at their wintering sites: Finsch’s Wheatear in the dry hills, and Greater Sand-plover on the Paphos shoreline. On our way home, we visit the Byzantine ruins of Agios Georgios tis Pegeias and look for the endemic Taraxacum aprhogenes, an autumn-flowering dandelion.

Day 7 We drive up to the ridge in the heart of the Akamas, starting our walk among the pines running along the centre of the peninsula, with views over to the west side, where we look for some of the plants endemic to the serpentine rocks of the area. We walk down through the pine forest into the olive and carob groves. Bulbs may include the endemic Hyacinthella millingenii and perhaps the first ‘spring’ orchids of the year, Anacamptis collina or Ophrys israelitica. After a stop for a lunch and a coffee in the village of Neo Chorio, a leisurely walk downhill will take us back to the hotel.

Day 8 After a last breakfast on the sunny patio, we must bid fond farewell to the Aphrodite Beach and head homewards.

Please note that the itinerary may be changed to suit the weather or other practicalities at the discretion of the leaders.

The Aphrodite Beach Hotel is a wonderfully welcoming family-run hotel, located on a beautiful coastline.

Meals, using fresh local produce, are taken in the lovely dining room overlooking the bay. Breakfasts can be taken on the terrace (weather allowing). Lunches will be mostly picnic packed lunches provided by the hotell: we will have one taverna lunch in the village of Neo Chorio (Day 7). All meals are included in the holiday price (dinner Day 1 to lunch Day 8).

Local travel will be by small coach.

Group flights

Group flights are with Easyjet from London Gatwick to Paphos.

It is also possible to fly direct from Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham. For those flying from other airports, we can arrange individual transfers to or from the hotel.

Overland travel

You can reach Cyprus by train and ferry from the UK, with travel likely to take four to five nights. Contact us to find out more, and to make your holiday flight-free.

Time zone

Cyprus is two hours ahead of UK time.

Entry requirements

If you hold a British passport you can travel to Cyprus for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must be issued less than ten years before the date you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.

Starting in mid-2025 British passport holders will need to apply for the ETIAS European Travel Authorisation to visit Schengen countries. This must be applied for online prior to travel, at a cost of €7 (free for over 70s). Once granted, your ETIAS will be valid for three years.

The weather should be pleasant, perhaps even still hot down near the coast. In general we should expect warm, sunny weather. Showers and colder conditions are always possible.

On most days, we are walking for much of the day, albeit at a relatively slow pace. The longest walk (Day 7) will be just over 7km, mostly downhill. It is necessary to walk on rougher ground and up some (gentle) slopes, although none of the walking is strenuous. Good (light) walking boots are essential. All excursions are optional.