If you are looking for something different whilst planning a trip to North Cyprus and you enjoy the great outdoors, then there are a growing number of specialist tour operators adding itineraries to accommodate the likes of the walkers, bird watchers and divers amongst us.

North Cyprus has so much to offer those who love an environment orientated holiday, and the world seems to be taking a stand of sorts against mass tourism these days, so it’s nice to see that there are companies who are grasping all that is beautiful about this part of the island and promoting its unique qualities in terms of nature and the environment.

You can do your own research to see what takes your fancy, but we will detail some of the different types of holidays that you can take in North Cyprus, and some of the organisations which can offer some great deals and packages to suit your requirements.

Walking Holidays

There are a variety of companies offering walking holidays which focus mainly on the cultural and historical as well as wildlife and scenery.  Whilst walking with these companies there are scheduled visits to historical sites, cultural centres and other places of interest for example.  When you are doing your research you will find that most of them have a detailed itinerary already available to view, so that you can see exactly what’s planned for the trip and where you will be staying.

Try www.responsibletravel.com or www.kudutravel.com and also check our article on walking groups which gives useful information on ways to go about joining a group when in North Cyprus.

Bird Watching

There are a great many interesting species of birds which are either resident or migratory in North Cyprus, and companies are quick to promote the island’s worth as a great bird watching country.  Specialist operators offer packages from 7 to 12 nights usually, and you will visit different parts of the island renowned for their bird spotting opportunities.

Try www.ornekholidays.com and check our article on birds in North Cyprus and where to see them.

Activity Holidays

If you fancy some action whilst you are visiting or even living in North Cyprus then there are tour operators who can organise an array of sporting activities for you to try, such as paragliding, diving, quad biking, tennis etc.  If you fancy something a little more sedate then there are themed holidays which will allow you to try your hand at making bread and local cheese and take part in traditional village life perhaps.

Try www.iah-holidays.co.uk / www.ornekholidays.com / www.ecotourismcyprus.com, and also check our articles on land and water activities to choose from when in North Cyprus, as well as opportunities to experience a more eco-tourism themed holiday.

Diving

Diving in North Cyprus is a fantastic opportunity to add to your existing catalogue of dives, improve your skills and attain additional certificates, or to learn from scratch.  North Cyprus is well known for its wonderful marine life and some excellent dive sites, with shallow waters that are ideal to learn the basics of diving.

Try www.cyprusholidaysave.com/cyprus/scuba-diving-north-cyprus or check out our in-depth article on diving which gives some useful information on companies and ways to go about diving whilst in North Cyprus.

Orchid Hunting

There are some specialist groups which can take you on walks to some of the best countryside in North Cyprus, where you will be able to find many different and rare varieties of orchid for which the island is famous.  On the itinerary will also be the chance to sample some of the many historical sites that North Cyprus has to offer.

Try www.walksnorchidsnorthcyprus.com.

Golf

What holiday destination these days doesn’t have the opportunity to swing your clubs should you so wish?!  North Cyprus doesn’t disappoint in that area either, and you can book a package deal that will give you the opportunity to try your hand around this challenging but excellent 18-hole championship golf course, Korineum.

Try www.directtraveller.com/north-cyprus/golf-holidays or www.cyprusparadise.com/golfpackages.

Cycling

If you are a cycling enthusiast then how about trying out a weeks mountain biking which will take you from one side of North Cyprus to the other?  Tailored packages to suit, or a set itinerary – the choice is yours – with transfers and bike transportation all accommodated.

Try www.cyprusactive.com

That’s our round up of the more specialist type holidays available here in North Cyprus, and we hope it’s given you some food for thought!

Considering North Cyprus is surrounded by water, it comes as no surprise that there is a wealth of water activities and sports to participate in, and in this article we will give a brief summary of what is available and some of the companies that can offer a variety of facilities to ensure you have a great time, whatever you choose to do.

Boat Trips are a very relaxing way of viewing the Mediterranean and the wonderful coastline of North Cyprus.  There are many companies offering boat trips, and they can be found in the old harbour of Kyrenia, where prices usually cost around £20 per person, with lunch provided on-board.  Leaving each morning they will take you either east or west along the coastline, stopping off for lunch and a swim before returning in the early evening.  Try Blue Dolphin which has a wonderfully crafted gullet boat.

Diving or Snorkelling is a great introduction for children and adults to water activities in North Cyprus, and there are several diving centres which either operate within a hotel resort or beach club, so they are very easy to find out about.  You can participate in trial dives if you are on holiday and then go on to do a diving course if you have time, or if you feel diving is something that you want to do more of.  Instructors should be fully qualified and be able to provide the necessary accreditation and insurance.  Why not try Amphora Diving in Alsancak, Kyrenia, who offer a great range of dive courses and some excellent dive locations to explore www.amphoradiving.com, or Famagusta is also another popular diving area so try www.themarineacademy.com. Our more in-depth article on diving in North Cyprus gives you more information should you wish to know more.

Fishing is another relaxing way to spend your holidays or free time!  Again many of the boats located in any of the harbours such as Kyrenia or Boğaz offer fishing trips, or you can even ask a local fisherman if you can join him!  The waters in North Cyprus are home to around 80 species of fish, ranging from the small parrot fish, mackerel, cod, plaice, sea bass, bream and eel to the larger tuna, swordfish and mineri, so you should be able to catch something on a trip!  Try the Amanda Suzanne Tel :  +90 (0)533 842 9965 or +90 (0)533 877 9607.

Sailing/Yachting courses can be found in the local harbour towns and is actually a very calm and tranquil way of skirting the coastline with the summer weather meaning the seas are extremely calm.  It’s become a very popular pastime since the first Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally in 1990 which visited North Cyprus as part of its route, which is now a major feature of the yachting calendar featuring around 100 vessels.

Water Sports are certainly one of the most popular ways of enjoying your holiday.  You can try anything from inflatable donuts and bananas to jet-skis, dinghies, parasailing, waterskiing or wakeboarding.  Again a lot of these facilities are available at beach clubs and hotel resorts so they are easy to find.  No websites are available but why not try Camelot or Sunset Beach Clubs in Alsancak who provide all sorts of fun water sports for the family to try.

Water Parks are another favourite for the kids – and perhaps adults too!  The Oscar (tel. +90 (0)392 815 4801) and Acapulco Resorts (tel.+90 (0)392 824 44) to the east of Kyrenia, both have great water slide parks to spend hours mucking around in, with slides, huge pools, flumes and even organised daily pool and poolside activities for children in the summer.  Both are open to non-residents of the hotel, but you should expect to pay an entrance fee for the day.  If you are on the west coast of Kyrenia then there is the slide park and wave pool at the Club Lapethos in Lapta, or in Famagusta there is the Club Exotic which has a slide park.

Swimming comes last but not least!  There are without question plenty of places to have a dip in the Med, and you can either drive along the coast to find some wonderfully secluded and sheltered spots, or spend the day at one of the many beach clubs around the central areas.  There are also indoor and outdoor pools at the major hotels that are also open to non-residents, normally being free for use if you have a bite to eat whilst you are there.

So, we hope this has given you a good idea of what is here in North Cyprus to tempt you in the way of water based activities, now all you have to do is find time to try them all!  You can find out more about land based activities in other our related article as well as a more in-depth look at diving.