Area guide: Day trips

Our suggested day trips from Secret Valley, from the Troodos Mountains to the Akamas Peninsula

Last checked: September 2026

Secret Valley sits between Paphos (about 20 minutes away) and Limassol (about 40 minutes), so most of western Cyprus is within a day’s drive. With a week, two or three of these trips fit in comfortably alongside beach and pool days. You will need a car (see our FAQ), and all drive times are approximate.

Troodos Mountains
Kykkos and the painted churches
Akamas and the Blue Lagoon
Paphos town
Kourion and Kolossi
Limassol
Wine villages

Troodos Mountains: Mount Olympus, Caledonia and Omodos

The foothills you see from our villas climb to Mount Olympus, at 1,952 meters the highest point in Cyprus – and it can be cool enough for walking even in midsummer.

Mount Olympus: the summit is a radar station, but the easy 7 km Artemis trail (2.5–3 hours) circles just below it through old black pine forest.
Caledonia waterfall: the 3 km Kalidonia trail (about 1.5 hours) follows a stream down from near Troodos to Psilo Dendro above Platres, passing a 12-meter waterfall. It is one-way, so walk back or arrange a pick-up.
Omodos: a wine village with a cobbled square, the Timios Stavros monastery, a medieval wine press and handmade lace.

Drive: about 1 hour to Troodos; about 50 minutes to Omodos, which is 20 minutes below Troodos.
Tip: Bring a layer and good shoes (the trail can be slippery by the stream), and fill up before heading into the mountains. Winter can bring snow.
Web: Artemis trail, Kalidonia trail, Omodos

Kykkos Monastery and the painted churches

A longer mountain day. Kykkos Monastery, at 1,318 meters, keeps an icon of the Virgin attributed to St. Luke and has its own museum; Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of Cyprus, served here as a novice.

Ten frescoed Byzantine churches in the Troodos are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Three are near Kykkos in the Marathasa valley: Archangelos Michael in Pedoulas, Panagia in Moutoullas and Agios Ioannis Lampadistis in Kalopanagiotis. Another, Timios Stavros, is in Pelendri, home of Tsiakkas Winery from our food and drink guide.

Drive: about 1 hour 45 minutes to Kykkos, on winding mountain roads.
Tip: Wear long trousers and cover your shoulders. Church hours vary and some are kept locked by a caretaker, so check ahead – about three churches in a day is plenty.
Web: Kykkos, Painted churches route, UNESCO

Akamas Peninsula and the Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon: glass-bottom boats from Latchi harbor take 2.5–3 hours, with about an hour to swim and snorkel. The track there is off-limits for most rental cars, so the boat is the easy option. Akamas cruises also leave Paphos harbor (see boat tours).
Baths of Aphrodite: a short drive from Latchi, a small grotto pool (no swimming) where legend says Aphrodite bathed. The 7.5 km Aphrodite nature trail starts here.
Avakas Gorge: the gorge trail has been closed by the Department of Forests since December 2025 because of falling rocks – check its status first.
Lara Bay: a protected turtle-nesting beach – see our beaches guide.

Drive: about 1 hour 15 minutes to Latchi. Avakas and Lara are on the western side, reached via Agios Georgios (Pegeia).
Tip: Book a morning boat and bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection and water. Rental car insurance often excludes unpaved roads, so for the interior, take a jeep tour.
Web: Aphrodite trail, Avakas Gorge

Paphos town

An easy half day. Paphos’s ancient sites have been on the UNESCO list since 1980.

Kato Pafos Archaeological Park: Roman villas with mosaic floors, an odeon and the Saranta Kolones castle. Allow at least two hours and bring plenty of water (see activities).
Tombs of the Kings: about 2 km north of the harbor, rock-cut tombs from the 4th century BC onward, built for aristocrats rather than kings. Little shade.
Harbor and castle: a small fort at the end of the harbor, rebuilt by the Ottomans in 1592.
Old town: the Old Town Market area has bars and restaurants (see shopping).

Drive: about 20 minutes.
Tip: The sites stay open until 19:30 from mid-April to mid-September, so in summer go early or late. For dinner, Seven St. Georges Tavern in Geroskipou is the one Paphos restaurant we make the drive for (see food and drink).
Web: Kato Pafos, Tombs of the Kings

Kourion and Kolossi Castle

Ancient Kourion sits on a promontory almost 100 meters above Episkopi Bay, with a Greco-Roman theater still used for summer performances and the 5th-century mosaics of the House of Eustolios. Three kilometers west is the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates. Closer to Limassol, Kolossi Castle was the Grand Commandery of the Knights of St. John, whose sweet wine became known as Commandaria.

Drive: about 30 minutes to Kourion, 35 to Kolossi.
Tip: Allow 1.5–2 hours for Kourion. The clifftop is exposed, so bring a hat and water, and pair it with an afternoon in Limassol.
Web: Kourion, Apollo Hylates, Kolossi Castle

Limassol

The old town is compact. Limassol Castle, where tradition says Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre in 1191, houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum. Behind it, the restored Carob Mill has a small carob museum and several restaurants and bars. The marina is a short walk from the Old Port, and the Molos seafront promenade runs alongside the old town.

Drive: about 40 minutes.
Tip: Park once and walk, and allow extra time for parking on summer evenings. With children, Fasouri Watermania is on the edge of town (see water parks).
Web: Cyprus Medieval Museum, The Old Carob Mill

Wine villages

In the Limassol hills, the Krasochoria (“wine villages”) route links 20 villages and 16 wineries, including Omodos, Koilani and Agios Amvrosios. North of Paphos, the Laona–Akamas route around Kathikas is known for Xynisteri whites and Maratheftiko reds.

Our favorite wineries are in the vineyards section of our food and drink guide, from Zambartas and Vlassides in the Limassol hills to Vasilikon in Kathikas and Tsangarides in Lemona.

Drive: about 50 minutes to the Omodos area, 45 to Kathikas.
Tip: Call ahead, as some wineries are by appointment only. For a day without a designated driver, Paphos Wine Tours can pick you up at the villa (for a surcharge).
Web: Krasochoria of Lemesos, Laona–Akamas

Opening hours at archaeological sites and museums can change at short notice, so check Visit Cyprus or the Department of Antiquities before you set off.