Snowboarding In Cyprus, an Unexpected Adventure

Cyprus is a destination that’s known for its warm and sunny climate. But, during the winter months, Troodos transforms into a snowy paradise. Full of greenery and birdsong for most of the year, a precious few weeks of winter offers a truly unique snowboarding experience.

When I arrived on the island I didn’t even know there was snow, let alone snowboarding in Cyprus, but Troodos is a great place to learn or to refresh your skills or just have a day out with friends. The resort offers stunning mountain views, challenging slopes, and the best ski lift known to man.

While it isn’t somewhere to plan an alpine break to, it’s a great quick, low budget option. For example it’s not possible to fly anywhere because the dogs are at home and there are no places available in the local kennel. Or it’s 2020 and all of the airlines being closed because of a pesky pandemic.

Being only 90 minutes away from all major cities makes Troodos very accessible and great for a day’s adventure.

Know Before You Go

Snowboarding in Cyprus doesn’t meet the status quo, be prepared for some quirks of the resort before you hit the slopes.

Rentals

When you get to the only rental shop and have to queue for 3 hours to then be told there is no equipment left, you’re going to be mad. Turning up late on the day is not an option so aim to leave at around 07:00 if you’re travelling from Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia or Paphos and probably an extra 30 minutes from the Protaras/Ayia Napa area.

If you can’t get there early you’ll need to find somewhere to rent item’s from the day before. Facebook and Bazaraki are the places to search.

Parking

One of the most frustrating things about snowboarding in the Troodos Mountains is the parking situation. There is no Gondala to the slopes it is just drive right to the bottom. If you’ve ever seem parking in Limassol, it’s that kind of chaos. If you’ve not, it’s basically a free for all, despite the no parking signs.

As soon as you arrive at the resort, you’ll notice that the parking lot is non existent. There is an endless line of cars parked up against the snow mounds, which are piled up against the walls, which mark the sides of the road.

There’s very little room to maneuver. And if that wasn’t bad enough, once you have got to this point you’re probably in gridlock so there’s no option of turning back. The ideal transport for this trip would be a four wheel drive moped, which I’ve not created yet.

Weather

As you know all snow days are not equal and snowboarding in Cyprus is no different. especially since the season is so short and snow dumps are not consistent. Best to check if there has been any fresh powder in the last few days to avoid some nasty scratches on the bottom of your board. This can be done here

On the Day

Despite the parking ordeal, the snowboarding experience in the Troodos Mountains is mostly worth hassle. The resort may be small, but it boasts a variety of runs suitable for all skill levels – Some some off piste.

From the gentle green slopes to the challenging black runs, there’s something for everyone.

As an experienced snowboarder who hadn’t been on the slopes for some time, I was excited to shake out the snow legs and get back on it. The views of the surrounding mountains were breathtaking.

There are four lifts and two different areas in the resort. Each with one has lifts and it’s possible to ski between them if you know the routes and are confident. It gets quite tight in places, and it is always possible to walk.

The cost of an all day lift pass is 20 euro and grants access to all of the lifts.

Sun Valley

This area is for beginners and has two button lifts accompanied by blue runs. It’s a good place to start if you’re new to the area or just want to get your confidence back. You will see a lot of families and sleds, but don’t be fooled by the groups of small children. THEY ARE FAST.

Mt Olympus

Here there is one button and one chair lift with red and black runs and a blue to link the lifts.

The lifts can be extremely busy at peak times as they are quite old and slow. However, the runs here are a bit longer so I think it’s worth the travel.

Coming Back Down the Mountain

After a long day of snowboarding in the Troodos Mountains, there’s nothing better than unwinding with a warm drink and a bite to eat. Enter Sun Valley Cafe, cozy, overflowing with home comfort vibes and the perfect spot to relax and refuel.

Located at the base of the slopes, Sun Valley Cafe offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and is open year-round, even during the summer when there’s no snow. The cafe boasts a diverse menu of hot and cold drinks, as well as freshly made sandwiches, burgers, and other light bites.

I personally like to end my day is by making the journey back down the winding roads (not for the faint of heart) to be greeted by the warm late February 18-degree temperatures and the stunning sunset over the sea. A cool Keo is high on my list of priorities and La Place Royale has a very nice pork chop.

or if your just a passenger maybe check out one of our other blog posts and learn something new. Kubernetes for Beginners

My Top Tips

• If you’re visiting Cyprus and only plan to snowboard/ski once, don’t bring your own gear. Here are last season’s prices, as you can see they’re a lot less than any airline will charge for adding sports equipment.

• If you aren’t an early riser, visit on a weekday and be sure it’s not a public holiday.

• Impatient? Take a flask and a sandwich. Sun Valley Café is the only café and it gets busy.