FRESH air, uninterrupted views and a place to sleep in the high season for as little as €1 a night; in one location, the most you’ll pay for an entire summer’s accommodation is €250.
What’s the catch? Well when you get past the long beautiful walks, waking up in the middle of nature and fishing at dawn, it’s BYO (bring your own) everything.
The Forestry Department last week put out its annual call promoting camping as the best option for domestic tourism this holiday season.
There are five campsites on the island. Four are located in the Troodos mountains and one on the shore of Polis tis Chrysochous.
It’s not all roughing it though, areas have electricity, running water, several bathrooms with showers and toilets, BBQ and dining areas and some even have cafιs and kiosks stocking the bare essentials.
Troodos campsite is located right near the village square. It has around 250 camping spots and is run by the local council. As well as showers, running water, a small playground and BBQ facilities, it also has a small cantina and kiosk. There are also around 120 caravan sites with access to electricity. The site only operates from June to September.
Platania campsite is next to the village’s Troodos district forestry office. A smaller site, the area has around 35 tent and 17 caravan spaces. There’s a newer area under development that can also host 50 campers and 30 caravans. There are two separate amenity blocks, playgrounds for tots and cooking areas with around 70 tables. There is limited electricity and disabled access. It is open year-round for caravans and June-September for camping.
Kambi tou Kalogirou is located on the main Trooditissa-Prodromos road. It is more rustic with room for 80 tents or caravans or 300 people in total. There are two bathrooms, running water and around 12 tables.
The Stavros tis Psokas is on the west side of the Troodos range and located right near the forest ranger’s station. There is a small guesthouse and a restaurant also nearby. The area has all the facilities, including bathrooms, covered cooking areas, electricity access, washing up areas and disabled access. The area can host around 100 campers at once.
But it’s not all mosquito lotion and breathtaking sunrises. The department has issued a list of tips for outdoors-types, so people can better enjoy their getaway. They include: keeping the area clean for everyone, only camping in designated areas, no building of semi-permanent barracks, respectful noise levels and treating the local environment with the utmost respect, i.e. not cutting trees and local flora.
- The pre-booking status varies from site to site, so contact the Forestry Department on 22-805533 for locations and details on the mountain sites and 26-815080 for Polis.
Troodos: 25-470903.
Platania: 22-924423.
Kambi tou Kalogirou: 25-422625.
Stavros tis Psokas: 26-991860.
