Best of Troodos Mountains & Villages tour from Limassol
Description
Welcome to Cyprus! We’re Ascot Travel & Tours, a family-run company established in 1990. Discover the best of the Troodos Mountains and traditional villages on this small-group journey through nature, history, and local culture. Our first stop is the picturesque village of Laneia, where flower-lined streets and stone houses reveal the island’s charm. Continue to Troodos Square, surrounded by pine forests — enjoy a coffee and browse stalls with local products. Next, visit the magnificent Kykkos Monastery, founded in the 11th century and famed for its gold decoration and the holy icon of the Virgin Mary. Nearby, admire breathtaking views from Throni tis Panagias, the resting place of Archbishop Makarios III. Enjoy lunch at a traditional mountain restaurant, taste local wines at a family winery, and end the day in Omodos Village — visit its monastery, try local sweets, and stroll through its pretty stone streets with small craft shops.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our first stop will be at the picturesque Village of Laneia; a walk through the beautiful flower lined streets and stone houses. We will see the Old Wine press of the village, as well as the Olive Mill.
Next stop will be in Troodos Mountains Square, in the surroundings of the pinewoods, you may enjoy a coffee break and wander around the Stalls selling traditional products.
Continuing up the mountains with beautiful forest views, we will arrive at the island’s most famous and wealthiest monastery - Kykkos. Founded at the end of the 11th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. With its impressive gold decoration, paintings and mosaics, the monastery possesses a precious icon of the Virgin Mary painted by the Apostle Luke.
Following on the peak of the mountain, we will have the opportunity to visit the stunning (Throni tis Panagias) of Kykkos. Well worth it, to experience the wonderful views of the beauty of nature all around; it is here that during long periods of drought, the monks of the nearby Kykkos Monastery used to climb to the top of the mountain, place the Virgin Mary icon on a wooden “throne” and pray for rain. It is also the location of the tomb of the first President of the Republic of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios III.
Next, you will have time to relax and enjoy lunch at a nearby mountain traditional restaurant.
After lunch, we will visit a winery for wine tasting, located in the island's best grape region. Here you can try a variety of locally produced exquisite wines, including the famous “Commandaria”, which is one of the oldest named wines in the world.
Lastly, we will stop at Omodos village; where you can visit Timios Stavros Church of the Holy Cross; the local bakery, try a Cypriot coffee made in the traditional way. Wander around this interesting village with its craft shops. Omodos is situated in the heart of the wine producing countryside, with the beauty of nature all around.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Minibus will start picking up by 7:45 AM. Here is the pick-up time for each location: 7:45 AM (Be ready at exactly 7:45) - Elias Beach Hotel - Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa - St Raphael Resort - Grand Resort 7:50 to 8:00 AM (Be ready at exactly 7:50) - Four Seasons Hotel - Mediterranean Beach Hotel - Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol - Atlantica Bay Hotel - Amara 8:00 to 8:15 AM (Be ready at exactly 8:00) - Park Beach Hotel - Atlantica Miramare Beach - Atlantica Oasis - Harmony Bay Hotel - Royal Apollonia - Pigeon Beach Hotel Apartments - Poseidonia Beach Hotel - Navarria Blue Hotel 8:15 to 8:30 AM (Be ready at exactly 8:15) - NYX Hotel Limassol By Leonardo Hotels (Pickup is from the bus stop. You cross the road and walk approximately 30 meters to your left) - Kapetanios Limassol Hotel - Pefkos Hotel - Odysseia Hotel Kapetanios (pickup is at the bus stop opposite Olympic residence on the sea road) - Crowne Plaza Limassol - Ajax Hotel
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The remaining time is designated for transportation purposes.
- Modest attire is required to enter the monastery (covered shoulders and legs down to knees)
- Pickup and drop-off of all travelers takes approximately 40 minutes from first to last location (depending on traffic)
- This is a group tour not a private Tour
Reviews(122)
Great experience with amazing views. Guide Socrates was very knowledgeable and gave a great insight into the history of Cyprus and answered all our questions. Lunch was lovely and the minibus was comfortable with good air conditioning. We visited beautiful places including Churches which were stunning. Highly recommend.
This was the second tour with Ascot travel that my father & I had. Chris was our driver but also the guide. He was absolutely fantastic! Being English & moving to Cyprus a few years ago, he had some awesome playlists in the vehicle, great banter & excellent knowledge of Cyprus! We loved our experience with Chris, it felt more like wandering around beautiful places with a knowledgeable friend than a guide. Everything was so smooth. The places we explored, the beautiful views & history shared were breathtaking. I can't recommend Ascot travel or Chris enough!
The long hair guy is 👌🏽 he is very knowledgeable and reliable with loads of information that we learnt so much thank you
Although this was a very tiring day, as there was so much to see and do in the heat, it was also an unmissable experience. We visited villages we didn’t know existed and would have missed if we didn't have Socrates and his minibus, as he is such a knowledgeable tour guide. He walked around the villages at a pace that suited us all and gave us so much information we easily understood what we were seeing and experiencing. The monument to the first president of Cyprus was a hard walk, but well worth it for those able to do so. It was absolutely stunning! The golf cart used to take those less able was not working on the day we went, so some missed seeing this, which was a great shame. Kykkos Monastery was also beautiful and I have never seen such an ornate church, although we couldn't take photos, so a visit is essential. The buffet lunch (not included) was delicious, but you weren't expected to have this if you didn't want to pay for it, although it was worth the €18, in my opinion. Finishing the day in the village of Omodos was a treat, as it is really pretty, with lots of shops guaranteed to tempt you. Socrates driving was exemplary considering the constant switch-backs in the mountains, and he constantly checked that we were all okay, and he stopped regularly for breaks, at places where food, drinks and toilets were available.
Good guide, good attitude, adherence to schedule good pick up we took 3 tours and all of them were very good.
Efficient tour with a seasoned and knowledgeable guide (Chris) who does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of driving. Lania is a quaint albeit expat heavy village, the monastery and shrine are beautifully situated. If you’re not keen on wine tasting, you might have more time at stops on a different tour. Esp. Stop at Omodos was quite short.
"If you are planning a trip up to the Troodos Mountains, do yourself a favor and book this driver! Driving those winding mountain roads can be intimidating, but our driver was exceptionally skilled, calm, and made us feel incredibly safe the entire time. The vehicle was pristine, comfortable, and handles the climbs perfectly. Beyond his excellent driving, he was a fantastic guide—helping us plan the perfect itinerary through traditional villages, suggesting a wonderful spot for a traditional Cypriot lunch, and showing us some incredible hidden viewpoints. He was punctual, professional, and so warm and accommodating. It was the absolute highlight of our trip to Cyprus. 10/10!"
We booked the services of a driver and private guide for a day my sister and I so we could visit at our own pace. We highly recommend this company and especially our driver and guide, Socrates, who has proven to be cultured, professional and very courteous. Flexible formula and affordable price. Exchanges with them were easy and responses were always quick.
Dear Marie Claude, Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re glad that you enjoyed your private tour and the flexibility it provided. Socrates was very pleased to receive your compliments. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you and your sister back to Cyprus in the future.
Our guide Chris was very knowledgeable about all things Cyprus. We were a small group of 4 so in a comfortable SUV instead of a bus. We managed to avoid the coaches all day so it was a rather peaceful day. Lania village is beautiful. I was really surprised by the size and beauty of the mountains. I would love to come back and stay in the mountains. Chris was the perfect host and answered all our questions about Cyprus. I strongly recommend this tour with Chris.
Dear Julie, Thank you for your great feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the small-group experience, the scenery, and Lania village. Chris will be happy to hear your kind words. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again.
This is a really great day out! Chris was a fantastic guide. He was considerate of the different needs of all; incredibly knowledgeable about the flora, fauna & history of Cyprus as well as about the places we visited. Always keen to answer questions & a careful driver. He made our day!
Dear Reviewer, Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re glad you had a great day and that Chris made it memorable. We’ve shared your kind words with him and hope to welcome you again soon.
