Holidays in north Cyprus have become ever more popular over the last few years and that really is no surprise to anyone who has ever been there. The island is rich in culture and history, eating out is a real pleasure, prices are very reasonable and the landscape is largely unspoiled and beautiful. Not to mention one of the most favourable climates in the whole Mediterranean region. But until quite recently, the one thing that has put off many would-be visitors is the lack of available flights.
To condense and simplify a mass of history and politics, the island of Cyprus was effectively separated into two parts in 1974. The north part is occupied mainly by the Turkish Cypriot community and the south by the Greek Cypriots. At the time of the partition, a rigid border was put in place, known as the Green Line. Monitored and patrolled by forces including the United Nations, the politics of the time left the north part of the island all but completely isolated. Officially recognised only by mainland Turkey, flights to Northern Cyprus were only possible if they included a stop-over in Turkey. Whilst this is, and was, by no means impossibility, it does mean both a longer and more costly journey. However, following the recent acceptance into the EC of The Republic of Cyprus (the Greek Cypriot ruled part of the island) there have been many changes.
At the time of the EC accession, both communities held referenda, with the Turkish Cypriots voting strongly in favour of the proposed United Nations plan for re-unification of the whole island. Although the Greek Cypriot population voted against the settlement plan, the end result has been some important changes. To visitors, residents and tourists alike, the most important of these has been the effective complete relaxation of border controls between the two parts of Cyprus. In the past, only resident citizens were able to cross the border, and even then, this was a complicated and often difficult process. Today, anyone holding an EC passport can freely cross the border at any time. Apart from normal customs requirements, there are no longer any effective restrictions. To residents and business people, this is obviously significant. To tourists and visitors, the effect is staggering.
Anyone from the UK wanting to take a Northern Cyprus holiday used to be restricted to only a very few airlines and even more limited departure airports. Travellers from other countries were even worse off, usually having to arrange flights to one of the major Turkish cities, then book connecting journeys with a different airline. Today, it is possible to take a much shorter flight to Larnaca airport and simply arrange a taxi to a final destination. It really is that simple and the differences in journey time are substantial. For someone in the midlands wanting to stay in, for example, the Kyrenia region, the journey used to involve travel to one of the London airports followed by a six hour flight. Today, a quick search of the internet offers flights from all the regional airports, most of which are about four hours duration. Even better, Larnaca airport is fairly close to the border and to somewhere like Kyrenia, the transfer time is only half an hour or so longer than before.
Just as great are the differences in the actual ability to even travel in the first place. Most regional airports in the UK offer flights to Larnaca, but so do a massive number of airports worldwide. For many potential visitors from mainland Europe, a holiday to Northern Cyprus is now a viable option, as opposed to a near impossibility.
As for Northern Cyprus itself, the place really does still feel like an undiscovered treasure. Some of the Mediterranean's most important historical sites can be found here. Bellapais Abbey is a fantastic monument and St Hilarion Castle (supposedly the inspiration for Walt Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty') is one of the world's best preserved Crusader Castles. Not to mention the Roman ruins of the city of Salamis. For long the capital of Cyprus, this site is immense and truly spectacular. There are sleepy villages galore, but also bustling towns and some fascinating shopping opportunities. The adventurous are well catered for too, with a thriving tourist industry offering fabulous diving sites, quad-biking safaris and go-karting amongst other things. The north is also the home of the Karpas Peninsula. All but untouched, this vast expanse of nature has expanses of empty beaches which include the protected nesting sites of rare marine turtles. For anyone just interested in a relaxing holiday in the sun, there are plenty of ideal spots, but spending the afternoon over a coffee or two, watching the world go by, feels like a national pastime that is hard to ignore.
The quality of Northern Cyprus hotels is also likely to surprise many. There is a superb range on offer here. Many are the smallest of family-run hotels, frequently comprising a handful of villas around a pool with a small bar and restaurant. Friendly and excellent value, these are excellent places to stay. But don't imagine that is all that is on offer. Travellers seeking the ultimate in luxury are also likely to be amazed by the abundance of choice. There are a number of true five-star hotels and some with a range of facilities to rival the best anywhere.
North Cyprus has been described as 'a corner of earth, touched by heaven' and a visit to the island will quickly demonstrate how true that is. With better flights, the island is bound to become more visited and though the people and the sites will mostly stay unchanged, some of the magic is bound to disappear. Grab the opportunity now and visit while you can!
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Richard Bowles
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