The Troodos National Forest Park covers an area of 9,147 hectares around Mount Olympus. The highest point is Chionistra (1,952 m) and the lowest is Moni forest (700m). It is an area of great natural beauty, suitable for activities such as hiking, winter skiing, biking, nature study, camping and picnics.
Machairas National Forest Park Machairas Park in the Pitsilia Region contains over 600 plant species, including 27 indigenous to Cyprus. The dominant forest trees are the Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia), the native Golden oak (Quercus alnifolia) and other shrubs. The fauna includes foxes, hares and hedgehogs, snakes, lizards and rare endemic species of butterflies. Birdlife in the Park includes the Bonelli’s Eagle, the Cyprus Warbler, the Cyprus Wheatear, the Coal Tit, the Scops Owl, the Jay and the common Chukar and Wood Pigeon. The island’s two most important rivers, the Pediaios and the Yialias, spring from the park.
Troodos is ideal for hiking and rambling, with a wide range of trails suited to all ages and abilities. For a list of available trails visitors may consult the Cyprus Nature Trails’ and ‘European Long Distance Path E4’ publications, available at any CTO Information Office. Furthermore, the CTO map of the Troodos area marks the Troodos E4 section, as well as 23 area scenic trails.
Troodos is ideal for all year round biking. It provides excellent biking terrain, quiet paved roads, breathtaking scenery and plenty of fresh air.
Recent archaeological foundings confirmed the production of wine in Cyprus for nearly 5,000 years. Most A great number of vineyards are located in the Troodos area, predominantly on the southern slopes of the ‘Krassochoria’ and ‘Koumandaria’ regions. Local communities grow many indigenous and other varieties of grapes, ideal for wine.
