The Karpaz Peninsula, North Cyprus

Popularly know as The Panhandle which describes graphically this strip of land projecting well out to the north east. It was fairly well populated in ancient times evidenced by the number of small archaeological sites and churches but times have changed. Today it is in the hands of rural communities, has only a small population and remains one of the most unspoilt parts of the island. Only its remoteness has protected the miles and miles of beautiful golden beaches.

Roads in the Karpaz are good but not fast so a tour of the peninsula does take time and demands a good few hours of driving. To do justice to the area, it is best to plan at least one overnight stop.

Gently undulating farmland awaits with well scattered villages but there are plenty of places to stop to break the journey. The 5th century basilica of Agia Triás at Sipahi is worth a stop if only to see the very fine mosaics including the very unusual sandal mosaic.  The opportunity to catch sight of the wild long-legged donkeys or enjoy the golden beaches increases as you progress towards the final section. Awaiting almost at the end is the famous Monastery of Apóstolos Andréas which is tended by the now elderly Greek community which became isolated after the 1974 troubles. From here a good stabilised track leads to the ultimate turning point, Zafer Burnu, the 'Land's End' of Cyprus