Why Nothern Cyprus?

Why Northern Cyprus

Over 330 days a Year of Sun, Fantastic Beaches, Superb Restaurants & Cuisine and the amazing North Cypriot Hospitality.

The Climate

Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from May to the end of October and mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons.

Summer is the season of high temperatures and cloud free skies but the sea breezes create a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas. Winters are mild with some rain, but even in January the coolest month you still have six hours of bright sunshine during the day. During the summer months very light clothing is all that you will need. In spring and autumn daytime temperatures are still warm enough for light summer clothing, but in the evenings, one might feel the need for a light jacket or pullover. In winter, you should be prepared for all kinds of weather that a European spring may bring. It is advisable to pack a light jacket and pullovers, although you probably wont need them during the day.

Beaches

The Beaches are a major attraction in North Cyprus, and vary widely in character from the busy hotel beaches, which offer lots of facilities to the secluded stretches of sand in the Karpaz, where visitors may have the entire beach to himself. Visitors are urged to clean there rubbish away with them as, Do not forget to use hi factor sun-screen lotion, after 20 minutes under the summer sun, with temperatures reaching the high 40 degrees you will begin to burn.

Water sports are available on some beaches, in particular at the Escape Beach or the Deniz Kizi beach, some 5 miles west of Kyrenia, where Dolphin Sailing, which is recognized by the Royal Yacht Club, offers a wide range of water sports with professional tuition and supervision. In general, the beaches associated with hotels are kept clean and provide facilities such as toilets, deck chairs, parasols, bars and restaurants. The visitor is encouraged to explore for himself the many commercial and secluded beaches that stretch as far as the unspoilt Karpaz region.

Cypriot Cuisine

The culture of a place is always reflected in its kitchen, and in Northern Cyprus ther is no exception, Cypriot cooking is like its people, unique. In a typical Turkish Cypriot restaurant a meal consists of meze, kebabs (lamb or chicken) or a variety of fish, followed by fruits and a coffee. Meze is a selection of hot and cold appetizers. The way Cypriots cook at home is different and is only found in a handful of restaurants, so you will have to look out for them. Probably the most famous of Cypriot culinary dishes is hellim cheese, this full-fat soft cheese is made from whole goat's milk, salt and a touch of mint. It is served with salads, melon or cucumber. It also makes an excellent side dish, as well as fried or grilled topping. Another is molehiya a speciality in Northern Cuprus its a green leafy vegetable which grows only in Cyprus and on the banks of the Nile, It is usually prepared with chicken or meat and is delicious and wholesome.

In Northern Cypriots you have two kinds of unique kebabs and both of them can be found in most restaurants. One is Kup kebab (lamb or goat) wrapped in foil with potatoes and herbs and cooked for hours in a clay oven. The other a sheftali kebab, which are small spicy and sausage like. They are traditionally skewered, and cooked over hot charcoal.

Beverages

Turkish wines are a favorite with tourists when dinning, but there are locally produced drinks too. There are Turkish Cypriot beers, raki and brandy and imported Turkish beer effes which is very popular along with all your favourite Europeen beers. One favorite amongst visitors, usually as an aperatif, is brandy sour, a cocktail made with brandy, lemon juice and angostura bitters. For those who prefer something non-alchoholic, there is some home-made lemonnade called limonata.

Eco system

With an average of only 51 people per square kilometre, North Cyprus has the enviable reputation of being relatively free of pollution, industry or high concentrations of population.

Northern Cyprus has 387 km of coastline and pine, cypress and maquis covered hillsides and is a haven for wildlife. Northern Cyprus plays host to over 1600 plant species 350 species of birds, and 26 different species of reptile and amphibian. The two main reasons for this amazing diversity are, that Cyprus was not affected by the last ice-age, and secondly, that Cyprus forms a resting, and nesting, station for birds migrating between Africa & Eastern Europe.

In Northern Cyprus will find crystal-clear, unpolluted water where the marine life is still undisturbed. Underwater visibility can be more than 30 meters, you can enjoy one of the longest diving seasons in the Mediterranean.

Down in the deep and warn blue you will meet sting rays, grouper, amber jacks, cuckoo, bream, wrass, and sea turtles. The under water terrain is furthermore an ideal place for octopus and moray eel, soft corals, colorful sponges as well as treasures from ancient times.

You can choose from about twenty diving sites east and west of Kyrenia as well as diving safaris to other places along the coast. These sites will give you the thrills and the warm crystal-clear waters to experience the truly amazing undersea worlds and there are also limited depths to provide perfect learning conditions for beginners. You can experience wreck diving including the site where in the 1960's one of the world's oldest shipwreck was found 2 300 years old, which dates from the time of Alexander the Great. The excavated hull of the ship, and its cargo of amphorae and millstones are hosed in a special museum in Kyrenia Castle.

When diving in Northern Cyprus it is advised to be be accompanied by professional drivers who will do everything to give you an unforgettable diving holiday. We also want to inform you that Scuba Diving along the coast of North Cyprus is not allowed on your own as you must be in a minimum of pairs, and it is illegal to move or touch any historical artifacts.