If you’re planning a trip to Cyprus with your family and wondering how to make the most of a week in and around Polis and the Akamas Peninsula, our family holiday travel diary might help you plan the perfect itinerary.

Here’s what we got up to on our 7-night trip to Cyprus in April 2025, staying near Polis in a peaceful villa surrounded by nature.

Click the links for the full reviews of each adventure, photos and more!

Day 1: Arrival Day – From Bristol to Paphos

We flew with Jet2 from Bristol Airport to Paphos and collected our hire car from Enterprise. The process was easy, straightforward and problem-free — we’d recommend them for car hire in Cyprus.

From there, we drove to our villa for the week: Villa Kambos Dio, a secluded, spacious family villa surrounded by citrus trees. It had a fantastic outdoor space and pool, and made a perfect base for exploring this side of the island.

Here’s where the villa was:

Day 2: Rest Day at the Villa

After a long day of travel and an early start, we decided to spend our first full day relaxing. We stocked up on groceries at the local supermarket in Polis, then spent the day enjoying the sunshine, working remotely from the terrace, and watching the kids play in the large private pool. The freedom of self-employment means work always comes with us on holidays, but working remotely poolside isn’t too bad!

Day 3: Hiking to the Blue Lagoon

Keen for a more active day, we headed to the Baths of Aphrodite and walked the coastal trail to the Blue Lagoon. It took us around an hour each way with plenty of scenic stops along the way. Although the sea was too rough for swimming in the Blue Lagoon that day, it was still a stunning hike along the coastline with views of the turquoise waters and rocky cliffs. Make sure you pack comfortable footwear like the Asics Gel-1130s if you enjoy hiking along coastal paths and mountains like us while on holiday!

Day 4: Another Villa & Work Day

A quieter day again, as we needed to catch up on some work. The kids didn’t mind — they loved the pool! Being self-employed and our own bosses means we can travel more often, but running the businesses single-handedly means there’s never a true break on weekdays, so a balance of exploring and work is key for us.

Day 5: Lara Beach, Turtle Conservation & Rusty Viewpoint

Time for another outdoor adventure — this time to Lara Beach and Lara Point, famous for turtle nesting. On the way, we passed the scenic village of Ineia and stopped at Rusty Viewpoint, a unique metal structure offering panoramic views across the Akamas coast.

We walked the headland from the beach to Lara Bay, admiring huge crashing waves and discovering the unique bottlecap jellyfish.

Day 6: Avakas Gorge & Agios Georgios Harbour

We started with a walk through the Avakas Gorge Nature Trail, an exciting hike through a dramatic narrow canyon with towering rock walls and trickling streams. The kids loved the stepping stones and climbing over rocks.

On the way back to Polis, we stopped off at the small but scenic Agios Georgios Harbour, a peaceful place to take photos and admire the coastal views.

Day 7: Latchi Harbour, Latchi Beach & Polis

For our final full day, we explored the beautiful local area. We started at Latchi Harbour and Beach, where the kids played at the park, and we admired the boats in the marina. I then walked along the shore to Polis Municipal Beach, a long stretch lined with pathways, gardens, and secret garden gates. A lovely way to end our Cyprus adventure.

Day 8: Heading Home

After an incredible week, and wishing we’d booked a longer stay for more exploring, we packed up and left the villa by 10am, ready for our journey back to Cornwall. A long travel day, but full of fond memories and new discoveries.

Final Word

We loved exploring this quieter side of Cyprus, from mountain hikes and turtle conservation beaches to scenic harbours and peaceful villa life. If you’re planning your own trip, here are more helpful reads from our family’s Cyprus experience:

• Visiting Cyprus in April: Weather, Activities & Travel Tips
• Surprising Things About Cyprus: What We Didn’t Expect!
• Free Things to Do in Latchi with Kids