Posted on Monday, 9 March 2020

Cyprus is perhaps better known for its glorious Mediterranean climate and long sandy beaches - than for its ski season. But this pretty island often provides excellent winter sports opportunities between December and April - costing considerably less than resorts on mainland Europe. Best of all, perhaps, you can ski in the morning and be on a beach by the afternoon!

Snow Coverage

Do bear in mind that snow coverage can vary, and you'll need luck on your side for top-class skiing and snowboarding

Mount Olympus and Troodos

The focal point for skiing in Cyprus is the Troodos Mountains, where snow can vary from 2 to 2.5m in a good year, with the deeper snow found on the highest peak, Mount Olympus. As you might expect, it can get rather chilly up here, with average daytime temps of around 4C and nights of -5C.

Where can I hire skis/snowboard equipment?

If you don't bring your own gear, you can rent it from the Sun Shop in the Sun Valley area. A good choice of skis, country skis, snowboards and boots are available.

How much does it cost?

You can enjoy a day of skiing for as little as 18 euros - which, as mentioned, is a good deal cheaper than many resorts, particularly France, Austria and Switzerland. You can get an afternoon pass (after 1pm) for 10 euros and a season pass for 100 euros.

How do I find out about ski conditions?

Check out the Skicyprus webcam, which gives you a live feed of conditions. As you ascend you may wonder: where's the snow? But looking from the south, the slopes can appear quite bare - fear not, there is (or should be) more snow on the other side!

What about accommodation?

There are numerous hotels to choose from in the Troodos area, most of which are located in Platres, not far from the ski slopes.

How to reach the slopes

As a small island, Cyprus is easy to get around. There are good highway links from Larnaca and Paphos (which both have airports) to Limassol. Intercity Buses run routes from the big cities to Limassol. From Limassol you can reach Platres and the Troodos area by local bus.

You can also rent a car in a city or airport - for greater freedom.

What about travel insurance?

The UK government strongly recommends British holidaymakers take out comprehensive travel insurance before travelling overseas. Choosing a policy with winter sports cover is also a good idea. Here at starttravel.co.uk you can add Winter Sports cover to a travel insurance policy for a small extra fee.

Winter Sports Travel insurance Includes:

• 24 hour emergency medical assistance.

• Cover up to a total amount of £1,000.

• Up to 40 days of winter sports cover available on single trip policies. Annual policies will cover you up to 31 days in total per year.

• Cover for ski equipment up to the total amount of £750 for the value or repair of your own ski equipment, or up to £500 for hired ski equipment.

• Cover provided for Piste Closure up to £300 when there is a lack of snow and your resort closes between 1st December to 30th April.

• Cover is provided if your trip is disrupted due to a direct result of an avalanche up to £300.

• Available for customers up to the age of 64.

Get your winter sports insurance quote now

What about my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?

Until the end of 2020 UK citizens can still use their EHIC cards, which guarantees free access to some government (but not private) healthcare while in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. However, you may still need to pay for treatment in some countries.

As Gov.uk states, "An EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance."

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