European Summit Challenge
Cyprus - Mt. Olympus 1951m

By Plane: There are regular sheduled and chartered flights to Pafos (PFO), and Larnica (LCA).

By Train: There are no rail service in Cyprus.

By Road: The public can drive and park on the summit station access road, but this is not really within the spirit of the challenge. However your own car does give you the most freedom, allowing you to reach the mountain from which every resort you are staying. Since the south side is better service by trails, it is better to park at one of the towns and villages here. Two cars, or a taxi would allow you to make a south - north traverse on the central massive.

ROUTES

Southern Approach - Cold River Trail The best route I could put together began at Pera-Pedi, and follows the Kryos Potamos or Cold River for much of the way. Approaching Pera-Pedi by road from the east, turn right up a narrow road into a hidden car park (the junction lies just before a bridge over the river is reached). Park here and follow the tarmac track northwards to the Pera-Pedi reservoir where the surface becomes one of broken stones. All this time the Kryos Potamos will have been flowing below you in the steep sided ravine to your left, often out of sight. Continue following the track northwards, remaining on the right hand side of the river until a junction, the left hand track is signposted to the Myllomaris water falls. Take this track which will loop around the hillside until reaching the falls. On the Hill side above, you will see the wooden panels fencing off a path. Take the trail (poorly marked and covered in parts by a land slide when I was there) up to meet the path protected by the fences. There are seats here where you rest and enjoy a the view. Continue on the path as it hugs the river bank, crossing to the western side only when the trail heads up to the town of Pano Platres. Walk on up through the town to the Denro Trout farm and the start of the Kalidonia nature trail. The nature trail crosses the river many times before finally arriving at it's northern terminus. Here there is room for car parking at the mouth of an unpaved forest trail. There are two options. Either head up on the snaking metalised road (parallel to the new road on the opposite side of a gully), or follow the forest track south east and then branching off on a overgrown path, northwards and steeply uphill to the summer houses. Either route will deliver you to Plateia Troodous. Close to the visitor centre, seek out the start of the Atalante nature trail and follow northwards as it contours the mountainside. The trail turns abruptly southwest at a dry river bed. Follow this river bed northwards, picking up a rarely used trail that, having crossed the Artemis trail, will bring you out on the summit road. Cross the road and follow the bulldozer trial to the summit station. You will not be able to enter the military compound, but circle it before descending the same way.

ACOMMODATION

A wide range of accommodation is available.

Hotels: Check out the tourist office web links below for further information.

Hostels: Check out the tourist office web links below for further information.

Camping:

MAPS AND BOOKS

Maps:

The Cypriot Tourist Organisation can provide a free map of the Troodos Mountains (see route above). This map has an unusually scale and should be used with caution as the position and existence of marked paths is not guaranteed. However, military and security concerns on the island mean that this is the only map currently available.

Books:

Combined with the free tourist board map, the Rother's walking guide to Cyprus was my main source when planning my ascent. It contains colour photos and sketched maps. However since I was walking the routes in reverse direction, I found the instructions not entirely satisfactory. Written by Rolf Geotz and translated by Gill Round, distributed in the UK by Cordee. ISBN 3-7633-4814-X

Cicerone's "Walking in Cyprus", last published in 1995 and written by Donald Brown, has a very similar content as the Rother guide as far as the Troodos Mountains are concerned. The information is not so up to date and all photos and maps are in black and white. ISBN 1-85284-195-8

USEFUL LINKS

The Cypriot Tourist Board Website has useful fact about travelling to Cyprus and to accommodation in the principality.