A Gravel tour in Akamas
Embark on a much-anticipated gravel adventure, a dream ride for one of our passionate gravel enthusiasts. With the weather in Cyprus still delightful, making it the perfect time for a gravel expedition, planning and executing this tour became a breeze.
We commenced our journey from Peyia, parking conveniently next to the beautiful chapel of Agia Matrona. The ride kicked off immediately, fueled by our eagerness to explore off-road terrain. The breathtaking view of the sea under clear skies set the tone for an incredible journey. The terrain, mostly descending and flat until reaching the toxeftra beach, offered a relatively easy start.
As we ventured along the coast, the swift transition between the lush green forest on our right and the azure Mediterranean sea on the left made the ride truly enjoyable. Photo stops were frequent, given the consistently stunning scenery. Around 20km in, we began our ascent inland toward the Akamas Lighthouse, perched atop the westernmost hill of the island. The view from the lighthouse was nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the unique landscape where land meets sea.
The descent towards the renowned "Blue Lagoon" was thrilling but manageable, thanks to the gradual gradient. Despite the gathering clouds hindering a full appreciation of the lagoon's mesmerizing blue, the experience was unforgettable. Our ultimate destination was Arnaoutis Cape, the western tip of Cyprus. The rocky and rough terrain posed little challenge for our bikes equipped with 45mm wide tires.
A sense of accomplishment filled us as we stood at the land's end of our own country. Our next stop was Neo Chorio, where we were fortunate to find a local cafe open. Indulging in a delightful Halloumi cheese and ham sandwich, we savored the taste of local flavors.
The return journey to the starting point involved a long uphill stretch of approximately 12km, with manageable grades of 4-6% steepness. A challenging 1km section tested our fatigued legs, but the reward was the panoramic view from the forest heart to the hilltop, offering vistas of the Mediterranean sea on both sides of the peninsula.
As the weather changed and a chill set in, we pedaled faster to warm up, relishing the descents at high speed. The perfect culmination to an outstanding gravel ride was a fast descent, facing the hills of Akamas, and witnessing what is often hailed as the most incredible sunset in Cyprus.
Mike with Jeroen, Luca and Nestor!
