North Cyprus

Cyprus is in the Eastern Mediterranean, about 45 miles south of the Turkish mainland and about 60 miles west of Syria. Only Sardinia and Sicily, of the Mediterranean islands, are larger. The TRNC occupies around 3,355 square miles and has a population of about 200,000. In addition, there are about 20-30,000 students at the various Universities.

The Island

CYPRUS, THE TURKISH AND GREEK SECTIONS

There are significant political differences between the Turkish north, and the Greek south, of the Island. There is a border zone controlled by the UN. The major evidence of these differences is a considerable, though subdued, Turkish military presence throughout the north. It is now possible to travel into the South either on foot or by car at several border crossings.

There are good beaches, warm seas and some of the cleanest water in the Mediterranean to be found around the shores of North Cyprus. There are wooded mountain tracks, Crusader Castles, many sites of antiquities reaching back more than 2000 years and a growing range of modern pastimes. Cyprus time is 2 hours ahead of the UK. Useful guidebooks are "North Cyprus", the Windrush Press, ISBN 1900624184 and "North Cyprus", Diana Dark, Bradt UK, ISBN 84162 0122.

North Cyprus or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is much less commercially developed than the South and the pace of life is slower and generally less sophisticated.

The people are friendly and helpful. The scenery can be spectacular, plains, hills, mountains, unspoilt beaches, Crusader castles, ruined temples, ancient towns and there is very little you cannot reach with a car, but for the slightly more adventurous, a small 4x4 offers both open top motoring and easier access to some areas.

This is very much a country where the independent traveller can make of their holiday what they will, sipping a cool drink by the harbour in Kyrenia, scrambling up the track to the castle at Buffavento, inspecting the mosaics at Sipahi, finding good food in a village taverna.