Relaxed skiing resort in Luxury Cyprus Villas Coral Bay

Cyprus a very relaxed skiing resort

Nevertheless most people head for the mountains in the winter as the Cyprus ski season is short and a little unpredictable, but great fun! Usually the skiing season is between early January and mid-April and the temperatures can vary from 15°C to a very chilly -8° C. On average throughout the year, the temperature in Troodos is 15C lower than in Nicosia and even during the hottest summer days the temperatures remain at a maximum of 27C. The ski season is usually declared open officially once officials from the Cyprus Ski Club are happy that everything is ready for skiers. The Cypriots love the snow and can think of no better way to enjoy a day at the weekend and at the roads do get very busy and the queues for the ski lifts longer. Whilst the Troodos will never compete against any of the major European ski resorts, the skiing facilities are definitely improving and the snow -clad pine trees have a magic of their own.

The ski slopes were first created in the clearing in the pine trees in the 1940s by the British Royal Engineers who also built the first ski lift. The snow does vary depending on the time of day. By mid-afternoon it is often a little slushy as the top layer has melted in the sunshine, but this hardens overnight and often gains an icy layer so watch out you'll definitely travel faster!

Head for the slopes!

Once up in the mountains if you wish to ski you have to head towards the Cyprus Ski Club. The ski slopes are easy to find, when you have reached Troodos village you simply follow the signs to the ski lifts and the other cars! If you are a relative beginner the perfect slope to start on is Sun Valley One which is close by the hut where the ski club hires out all the equipment (so you don't have to worry about bring your own on the plane). You can park near by which is particularly convenient if you have children and want to leave all the re-supplies of clothing and snacks in the car! You can also buy the ski - lift passes and enjoy the essential drinking chocolate in front of the log fire in the little café before you start your skiing. If you are skiing for the first time its well worth booking a lesson or two from one of the well qualified instructors who will soon have taught you all the basic rights and wrongs - failing that toboggans are available for hire too!

There is a slope just for you...

Whilst Sun Valley 1 is recommended for beginners and families, a short distance away is Sun Valley 2. This slope is slightly more demanding as it has a steeper gradient and there are several paths through the pine trees down to the next T-bar where you can get a lift back up again! Both runs are 150 metres in length. The great news is that like all other sports in Cyprus, the various tariffs for skiing and the use of the lifts.

Three kilometres from Sun Valley is the North Face which has definitely has the most demanding slopes including a really good slalom slope that is used for various competitions. This slope is known as the 'Jubilee' Slope {in honour of the Royal Engineers' jubilee}and is quite a tricky one as it is an easy-going traverse that suddenly plunges steeply down. The two runs on North Face are 150 metres and 350 metres in length.

Sensible precautions.

Clothing is always a top priority when skiing and to wear several light layers is definitely the best advice for Troodos. The weather can be gloriously warm and sunny one moment but colder and cloudy the next, and of course there are frequent snow showers so a good waterproof is a definite must to keep the wind and melting snow off - huge Alpine style jackets are not needed and will be too hot. Gloves and a hat are musts too, although often the weather will be so good you won't need either - and a word of warning - don't forget the sun can be very bright so use a total sunblock or your nose could end up as good as Rudolph's!

Before heading up to Troodos it's well worth tuning into BFBS Radio (British Forces Broadcasting Services} on 92.1FM {in the west}, 96.6FM {in the Larnaca area} & 89.7FM {if you are in Nicosia} as they have regular snow reports during the winter. They also tell motorists if the roads are only passable using four-wheel drive vehicles. You can also telephone the police station in Troodos for the latest weather and details about the snow depth. If you're staying up in the mountains for a few days it is well worth having snow chains or 4WD as the roads can be surprisingly slippery and the snow at times, very deep.

Where to stay...

One of the most popular resorts is Platres which is very much a 12-month resort - popular in the summer months for those who want to escape the intense heat of the central plain and in the winter the perfect place for budding skiers! The resort is situated just 15 kilometres from Troodos and is ideal for everyone -romantic couples and families with a complete range of hotels and restaurants available. There are several other places to stay in various villages in the mountains including Kakopetria on the north side of the mountains.
What if you don't want to ski?

Troodos is a great day out for all the family and there is much more than skiing to enjoy. There are many traditional mountain villages to visit including Platres and Omodhos and on the road from Limassol to the mountains Pera Pedhi and Lania - which is known as the 'Village of the Artists'. All of these villages have lots of character and a strong ongoing tradition and wonderful examples of traditionally styled architecture. For nature lovers there are several well-defined trails to follow and the views from the summit down over Limassol and the Akrotiri Salt Lake are very special. After a long tiring day exploring there are plenty of family- run village restaurants or taverna's where you can enjoy a wide variety of village-style food including an authentic Meze - Happy winter!