The Wayside
Bikepacking Cyprus
Alba Xandri and Ricard Calmet put our new Adventure line through the paces on a multi-day trip in Cyprus. From downpours to coastal landscapes, read on to discover what happened.
It’s about four in the afternoon when the rain starts pouring down.
We decide to change our route and take shelter in a church, but the porch is too small to pitch a tent underneath. Not far off, we spot a little bar with a "Wi-Fi" sign, so we decide to head in.
A thick cloud of smoke greets us as we step through the door, and a few men playing backgammon glance up curiously as we shake off the rain near the stove. One of them, noticing how soaked we are, invites us to stay at his home. Dimitris, a retired builder, offers us a place at his mountain house in the village of Saint Nicholas. He treats us to a warm bowl of trahana soup with halloumi cheese, and as we sit down to eat and chat about life, the rain and cold suddenly seem to fade away.
We’re in Cyprus, the Mediterranean island where the sun is supposed to always shine.
The next few days are tough—the rain doesn’t let up, and the trails turn into a muddy field. Our bikes get stuck more than once, and it’s a struggle to get them moving again. We have to remake our route over and over. The coast is stunning, the water is crystal-clear, when the sun is shining, and the forests are as impressive as we’d hoped. But one day, we decide we’ve had enough.
"The misty mountains seem to melt into the sky, and the vineyards stretching across the slopes create a serene, almost magical scene."
It’s late afternoon, and we change the route again, turning back toward the hamlet of Dörtyol. As luck would have it, while we’re pitching our tent, a Turkish family insists on inviting us to dinner. They offer us a shower and a bed, and even though we planned to camp, we gladly accept their kind offer. The warmth of their home, the crackling stove, and the delicious traditional meal make us feel like we’ve found a little piece of home.
Cyprus has surprised us—its landscapes are as stunning as its political history is complicated. The misty mountains seem to melt into the sky, and the vineyards stretching across the slopes create a serene, almost magical scene. The villages tucked away in the hills are charming, with narrow streets and stone houses that feel like they belong to another era. In winter, the quiet beaches, where the waves gently kiss the rocks, are the perfect place to stop and take it all in.
"Winding paths through the trees and the stillness of the villages remind us of how gently nature moves here—unhurried, undisturbed."
One of the most incredible sights we’ve seen is Cape Zafer Burnu, where the sea seems to stretch endlessly, and the horizon disappears into the vastness. Some winding paths through the trees and the stillness of the villages remind us of how gently nature moves here—unhurried, undisturbed.
"The best experiences often come from the most unexpected encounters."
Despite all the challenges along the way, it’s the kindness of people like Dimitris and the family in Dörtyol that has brought us back to what really matters. It’s about human connection, generosity without expecting anything in return, and the simple beauty in the little moments. This journey has reminded us that the best experiences often come from the most unexpected encounters.
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