Hi, guys! This week, let’s explore the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, on a jeep! This is one of the most exciting Cyprus day trips that I had in September 2023.
But before that, Merry Christmas to everyone who’s celebrating! And thank you, Exness, for paying for my flight and accommodation during the 1-week business trip πππ
If it weren’t for the business trip, I wouldn’t think of visitting Cyprus.
Since the return flight tickets and hotel are paid for by the company, of course, I HAVE TO explore this country! π€©π€©π€©
I just had to cover the accommodation for my extension. Luckily, I found a decent room in the heart of Limassol (near the Old Port).
I extended my business trip for another 7 days and explored the country with day trip tours. My room was considered pricey and comparable to a 3-star hotel in Malaysia, but it was worth the experience.
When I’m travelling, I don’t compare prices with the ones back home because it’s unreasonable. FYI, the rent in Limassol is high so you can imagine the hotel/room prices there.
Okay, back to the Cyprus day trip! Besides Limassol, the capital city, there are many places that you can explore in this country.
Here’s a sneak peek of what Troodos Mountains jeep safari tour looks like:
Cyprus Day Trip: Kouris Dam, Troodos Mountains Jeep Safari Tour
I’m so happy that my ex-colleague told me about a local tour company that can pick me up and drop me off at my accommodation, at a reasonable price.
It’s worth it because when I googled ‘Cyprus day trip’ myself, not many depart from Limassol. If they do, the price is very high.
Please bear in mind that the jeep used for this Cypus day trip group tour is just okay. If you’re lucky, you’ll be among the firsts to be picked up from your hotel so you can choose your seat.
Otherwise, you may have to sit at the back, facing other passengers on a bumpy road + no seatbelt (like my colleagues)… It’s uncomfortable and dangerous, TBH!
The road to the Troodos Mountains is beautiful and since it’s a jeep tour, I visitted many off-beaten path destinations. The first stop is the beautiful Kouris Dam β¨β¨β¨
Now, you may already realise from the name that what you see above isn’t a real lake. It’s a man-made lake – a dam.
There was a village called Alassa underneath the dam. One day, the authorities decided to build a dam. However, there was a flood and it buried the whole village, including the church, under the water.
The ruins of the Agios Nikolaus church are the only thing left from the Alassa Village. Some days when the water is high, you may not be able to see the whole ruins, like in the photo above.
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Cyprus Day Trip: Millomeri Waterfalls, Troodos Mountains Jeep Safari Tour
Next, we dropped by Laneia Village to see some Old Wine Press tools, then headed to the Millomeri Waterfalls.
Laneia Village is beautiful, with cobbled-stone streets and small houses made of stones. It was my first time seeing old wine press tools. Wow, making wine seems so difficult back then!
By the way, if you’re hoping for a grand waterfall, remember that Cyprus is a small island. The Troodos Mountains jeep safari tour will take you to a small yet nice Millomeri Waterfalls.
Oh, remember to put on hiking shoes or sandals with a good grip because sometimes the road you’re walking on won’t be smoothπππ³
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Cyprus Day Trip: Kelefos Bridge, Troodos Mountains Jeep Safari Tour
After the Millomeri Waterfalls, we stopped somewhere and walked a little bit into the forest. After a few minutes walk, we saw a beautiful bridge on top of a river.
The Kelefos Bridge is so lovely and peaceful. I saw families playing with their children in the river, a group of touring resting with their big motorbikes parked near the river…
It’s a perfect picnic place for couples and families! πΏπΏπΏ
This charming, Venetian-style bridge is so romantic. I’d love to kiss someone I love on this bridge π
We’d come here with his big motorbike or jeep, have a short picnic, and kiss each other passionately when the sun sets… #daydreaming
Okay, Clara! Chop, chop – back to the reality! πππ
Right, so this romantic bridge was actually built back then to connect merchants, so their cargo could pass by π
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Cyprus Day Trip: Kykkos Monastery, Troodos Mountains Jeep Safari Tour
The next stop is Kykkos Monastery, one of the wealthiest and grandest monasteries in Cyprus.
Kykkos Monastery, which lies at 1,318 meters in the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, is very grand and beautiful. When you step inside, you’ll be awed by the religious gold mosaic, like these:
Oh, please remember to wear long pants or appropriate clothes when visitting Kykkos Monastery. I forgot about this and was wearing hot pants with ripped cuttings for this Cyprus day trip π€¦ββοΈπ€¦ββοΈπ€¦ββοΈ
Luckily, I had a pashmina in my bag, so I used it to cover my legs.
You may see some cuddly-looking stray cats in Cyprus, even inside the Kykkos Monastery. This country has double the number of cats than humans!
Similar to the neighbouring country, Turkey, Cypriots take care of stray cats and dogs well. They feed them and some bring the injured ones to the vet.
That’s why the stray cats in Cyprus have beautiful fur and are chubby aka well-fed πΈπΈπΈ
Oh ya, there’s a museum too in Kykkos Monastery. If you want to go there, you need to pay the entrance fee.
The Troodos Mountains jeep safari tour that I joined gave me only 30 minutes to explore Kykkos Monastery, so I skipped the museum.
It was a bit rushing, but that’s reasonable since this Cyprus day trip stops at many places. And with the price I paid, I have no complaint.
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Cyprus Day Trip: Mount Olympus, Troodos Mountains Jeep Safari Tour
Afterward, we had lunch in a traditional restaurant on top of the Troodos Mountains. Then we went to Mount Olympus.
With the Troodos Mountains jeep safari tour, the travel agency will take you to the bumpy road and let you hike a bit to the top of Mount Olympus.
Usually, normal Troodos Mountains tours won’t do it because the road is bumpy and the cars used aren’t designed for it.
Did you know that you can find rocks that are at the bottom of the ocean, on top of the Troodos Mountains?
Scientists who can’t dive to the ocean floor would go to the Troodos Mountains to get their research materials!
But how come? The sea and mountains are two different things! They’re like, 360Β° – the complete opposite.
That’s because the Troodos Mountains rose from the sea! These mountains are shaped due to the collision of the African and European tectonic plates, which later on formed the Cyprus island.
Because the mountains rose from the sea slowly, the rock formation is nearly intact β¨β¨β¨
Alright, friends! Our Troodos Mountains jeep safari tour has ended. I hope you enjoy this Cyprus day trip blog post.
If you’re planning for your next adventure but have a limited budget, check out my discount code below πβοΈπ
π 15% OFF ALL TOURS! Click below and enter my discount code: π
CLARA15
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2 Comments
muqtadir
Your Troodos Mountains Jeep Safari Tour sounds like an exhilarating adventure.
theresiaclara
Hi Tadir, yes it is! The road is bumpy but the places I visitted are amazing π€©