North Cyprus

The island of Cyprus is located in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its nearest neighbour is Turkey, some 40 nautical miles north. Scarcely 100 miles long and 40 miles wide, the geography of North Cyprus is characterized by a unique blend of mountains, plains and beaches.

To the east of the island the mountain range loses height as it extends along the narrow peninsula known as Karpas or "The Panhandle". Along it one finds the best beaches in Cyprus. Miles of empty bays with pure white sand.

The resort town of Kyrenia is on the northern coast, and the second resort town of Famagusta in the east.

Quite apart from the huge range of cultivated flowers, North Cyprus and especially the Karpas peninsula is a rich botanical area with literally hundreds of species of wild flowers from crown anemones and pink rock roses, to purple iris and yellow crowfoot. From February to June many areas of North Cyprus are carpeted with colourful wild flowers. The birds and the butterflies also are glorious, lizards abound, and the loggerhead and green turtle still come ashore to lay their eggs on North Cyprus's unspoiled beaches.

Climate

Introducing North Cyprus

One of the great things about North Cyprus is that visitors have a genuine curiosity about just what there is to see and do.

Few of you will have been to North Cyprus before, so you will be looking for sound advice, and the good news is that because of its compact size, it is quick and easy to learn about.

The unique selling point for North Cyprus is that there is no overcrowding, poor value or noisy discos. You can be assurred that there is plenty to see because North Cyprus has an awful lot of history to tell.

A few people have been there before you, for about 9,000 years to be exact. Richard the Lionheart was a very early enthusiast for Cyprus, so much so that, whilst on the way to the third Crusade, he bought the place, got married and had his honeymoon at the Castle of St Hitarion, which you can visit today.

The real advantage of all the ownerships in its long history is that today, North Cyprus is covered with castles, churches, monasteries, mosques, abbeys and ruins that make the whole place a living open air museum.

Wherever you stay in North Cyprus you will be a short drive, or bus ride away from a lively town or a stretch of virtually deserted beach.

We hope this guide will help you to get the most out of our undiscovered gem.