Paphos to Akamas: Jeep Safari, Avakas Gorge & Turtle Bay

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration8h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Jeep ride through Cyprus wilds, turtle nests at Lara Bay, cool gorge walks

You’ll bounce out of Paphos by jeep to see shipwrecks and sea caves before hiking through shady Avakas Gorge with a local guide. Watch for turtle nests at Lara Bay, grab lunch near Aphrodite’s legendary baths, then finish with a relaxed wine tasting among Cyprus hills. You’ll leave dusty and smiling—and maybe thinking about those turtles long after.

Step-by-step itinerary

Jeep Safari Akamas National Park Tour

Visit Shipwreck Edro
Explore Sea Caves
Walk through Avakas Gorge
Visit Lara Bay Turtle Conservation Station
Drive through Akamas forest with swim stop
Free time for lunch at Baths of Aphrodite
Visit Baths of Aphrodite grotto
Wine tasting at local winery

The Experience

We jolted out of Paphos in an old jeep that rattled just enough to make us laugh. First stop was the Edro shipwreck—rusted and stubborn against the sea, with waves slapping its hull. Our guide, Andreas, pointed at the sea caves nearby and told us how smugglers used to hide there. I tried picturing it but mostly got distracted by the way the light bounced off wet rocks. The air smelled like salt and engine oil (not unpleasant, somehow). Then we bumped along dirt tracks toward Akamas, dust swirling behind us so thick I could taste it if I opened my mouth.

The Avakas Gorge walk was cooler than I expected—literally shady, with water trickling somewhere out of sight. There were wild oleanders and some plant Andreas called “lentisk”—he crushed a leaf for us to smell (kind of peppery?). At one point we had to squeeze sideways between boulders; I nearly lost my footing and everyone laughed. It felt good to move after all that driving. Birds made these quick darting sounds overhead—I think he said Cyprus warblers? Not sure I’d recognize them again.

Lara Bay was emptier than any beach I’ve seen near hotels—just sand, wind, and those odd wire cages over the turtle nests. No baby turtles this time (wrong season), but seeing all the signs warning about nests made me weirdly protective of them anyway. Andreas explained how foxes try to dig up eggs at night; he shrugged like that’s just life here. We stopped for lunch near the Baths of Aphrodite—simple food under shade trees, nothing fancy but honestly perfect after hiking around in the heat.

Last bit was a winery tucked into green hills—cool stone floors inside, glasses lined up for tasting. The local white was crisp and almost grassy; not sure if that’s a wine word but it fits. We clinked glasses with a couple from Limassol who’d done this day trip from Paphos before (“Best way to see Akamas,” they said). On the drive back, sunburned and tired in that happy way you get after being outside all day, I watched dust trails disappear behind us and thought about those turtle eggs under the sand—quiet now but waiting for their own adventure.

What’s included

Your day includes travel by air-conditioned jeep with pickup from your accommodation in Paphos.
All parking fees are covered along the route.
There’s time set aside for lunch near Aphrodite’s Baths (at your own pace), plus a relaxed wine tasting session at a local winery before heading back home in the evening.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by ConstrucTOUR Travel Agency