Cyprus is best described as unspoilt and unchanged, with lovely beaches bathed in sunshine for most of the year

Despite its rich and diverse historical and cultural heritage North Cyprus has magnificent natural beauty. The Island is the third largest in the Mediterranean. Turkey is only 40 miles north, and 60 miles from Syria. The geography of North Cyprus is characterized by a unique blend of mountains, plains and beaches. Summer temperatures average 30 degrees, spring and autumn are warm and pleasant.

Esentepe Region
Villa Hulya is situated below the village of Esentepe. A short walk from our front door will take you to the coast, where you can walk along the cliffs or go down to the beach. The beach is a mixture of sand and rock. Sand tends to be dark in colour but the water is crystal clear. Walk out the back of the villa and wander at will up into the foothills of the mountains. A drive up through the village of Esentepe will take you up into the mountain for fantastic views. Here you can also visit Antiphonitis Church or Buffavento Castle. Driving East will take you further along the coast with many small quiet beaches to explore or a drive up to Kantara Castle for more unbelievable views.

Restaurants and Shopping
Our closest restaurant is the Antique Restaurant, a short walk across the road. Run by a lovely local couple who specialize in fresh fish. Within 5 minutes drive you can visit Alkans along the coast road or drive up to Esentepe village for more choice. The village also has a selection of shops selling fresh or packaged vegetables and groceries and wonderful village baked fresh bread. If you need a supermarket with a good selection of international brands of food and drink a 20 min drive along the coast road to the outskirts of Kyrenia (Girne) will bring you to Lemar. Kyrenia has a large selection of shops and restaurants, which should satisfy most tastes.

Walking and Hiking
During your time on the island you may wish to explore the region. North Cyprus is exceptionally unspoilt and offers walkers a wonderful opportunity to get back in touch with nature and enjoy a breathtaking sense of freedom. The air is fresh and clean, the sun will be shining, and from the top of the Besparmak Mountains the Mediterranean Sea and valleys lie invitingly before you. The spring is the time to see carpets of wild flowers.

Kyrenia Region
The Town still retains its character with many restaurants and bars by the Harbour and small hotels spreading east and west of the town, along the coastline which raises to form an impressive backdrop with the mountains behind. The region now an attractive holiday resort boasts many historic sites worth visiting. Among these the Harbour Castle and the Shipwreck Museum, The St. Hilarion Castle, The Bellapais Abbey, the Folk Art and the Icon Museums are the most important.

Local Activities
A visit to Northern Cyprus would not be compete without visiting the spectacular harbour in Kyrenia (Girne) This charming little town hides a horseshoe shaped harbour where quaint little buildings huddle beneath the ramparts of a Byzantine castle, and fishing boats lie motionless in the sea.

You can choose from one of the many boat trips on offer and sample the clear blue waters by snorkeling and diving in the Mediterranean.

Scuba diving is amongst one of the more popular pursuits on the island, there are a number of dive schools/tuition in or around Girne. If you want to try your luck Casinos may provide the answer, many are located in the larger hotels. If sightseeing is your pleasure Bellapais Monastery and St Hilarion Castle should be on your “must see” list.

General Information
Time: Local time is two hours ahead of GMT
Currency: Turkish Lira is legal tender but everywhere accepts £/sterling
Mains Services: mains power is 240 volts with UK plugs/ sockets
Traffic: Driving is on the left as in UK
Language: officially Turkish, but English is widely used
Water here is precious, conservation would be appreciated
Climate: May to October: 30° to 40°; December to January: 18°