Park Rest Journal — October 2026 · Activities
Alongside golf, diving and yachting, North Cyprus offers two proper hiking routes for anyone keen to stretch their legs on dry land: the Beşparmak ridge from Alevkaya forest station, and the Karpaz loop running from Apostolos Andreas Monastery to Cape Zafer. October suits both — the heat has eased, while the sea still holds at around +24°C, so it makes sense to finish a hike with a swim.
Getting there
The Beşparmak peak is reached from Alevkaya forest station, where there's free parking — from there it's 10–12 km on foot with 700–800 m of ascent. The Karpaz route starts at Apostolos Andreas Monastery, right at the eastern tip of the peninsula: it's the end point of the long road running the length of Karpaz, so allow extra time just for the drive. The monastery is open for visits throughout daylight hours, free of charge.
What to bring
By October the springs along the ridge and across Karpaz have dried up completely, so carry your own water — 2.5–3 litres per person per day of walking, as there's nowhere to refill. The trails on Beşparmak and Karpaz run through maquis scrub with thorny bushes, and you may encounter the blunt-nosed viper (gürza), a venomous snake native to the island, so wear sturdy trousers and trekking gaiters rather than shorts. Trail markings have faded or vanished in many places — download an offline map in Maps.me or Wikiloc beforehand, as mobile signal is patchy both in the mountains and on Karpaz.
How much time to allow
The climb from Alevkaya to the Beşparmak peak takes 4–6 hours there and back, given the ascent. The Karpaz loop from the monastery to Cape Zafer is shorter — 11 km on dirt tracks, 90 m of ascent, 3–3.5 hours at an easy pace. After the Beşparmak route, it's worth stopping for lunch at Kozan Experience near Kozan village — lunch there costs 350–500 TL.
Bring water and an offline map without fail: the springs are dry and the markings have faded in places.
- Buy your gear, poles and gas canisters in advance at Cyprus Outdoor Shop in central Kyrenia (Girne) rather than looking for them along the route.
- Set off for Karpaz in the morning: the drive back from the peninsula is long, and the shorter autumn daylight ends earlier than in July.
- After the loop near the monastery, head to Golden Beach 15 km to the west for a swim after the hike — a sun lounger costs 100–150 TL.
- Wear gaiters and sturdy trousers even in October's warmth — the maquis scratches your shins, and running into a blunt-nosed viper on the trail isn't rare.