SKIING & SNOWBOARDING
IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS
WINTER SPORTS IN CYPRUS
Skiing and Snowboarding in the Troodos Mountains makes for a great day trip during the winter months on the island. Cyprus is one of the cheapest skiing destinations in Europe. the skiing season normally begins in late December and can last up to early April.
MOUNT OLYMPUS
The snows of Mount Olympus make for excellent snowboarding and skiing. The highest ski resort on the mountain extends to an altitude of just under 2,000 metres. Snow coverage generally reaches a depth of around two metres on the lower slopes and around three metres on the highest peaks.
FOUR SKI SLOPES
There are four main slopes, each with its own ski lift to choose from and they vary in accordance to skiing ability. The Aphrodite slope is predominantly for beginners and spans 150 metres. The Hera slope is also predominantly for beginners but is longer and spans 350 metres. The Hermes slope is predominantly for intermediate skiers and spans 150 metres. The Zeus slope is predominantly for advanced skiers and spans 500 metres.
SKI CLUBS
There are several ski clubs, such as the Famagusta, Nicosia, Limassol, and Troodos ski clubs that form an integral part of the ski resort, but the Cyprus Ski Federation & Club is the largest and most well-known ski club on the island. The latter is aptly located at the ski resort on Mount Olympus, and this club is generally at the centre of all skiing and snowboarding activity in Cyprus. The resort itself includes the Cyprus ski Federation & Club shop, which offers casual day passes, equipment hire and areas of refreshment. Ski and snowboarding lessons are also generally available and can be arranged on the day. The whole area is well served by two local retreats that offer skiers and snowboarders a good choice of accommodation and amenities. Troodos Square is the closest and Platres, which is larger, is just a short drive away.
SMART GATES ON ALL LIFTS
All ski lifts operate with smart gates at the Troodos Ski Resort and the all types of ski lift passes, for the gates, can be obtained from the cash desks at the Sun Valley and North Face in Troodos. Daily ski lift passes can be paid for online, and then collected at the cash offices on arrival. A refundable small deposit in addition to the fee will be required and the deposit is returned when the chip and pin ski lift pass is returned to either cash desk.
