Cyprus is a gravel paradise! Wonderful gravel roads connect the blue sea, soft mountains, beautiful valleys and Mediterranean fruit plantations. The Bedrock Gravel Festival is a cultural and gravel week in Cyprus and takes place in the run-up to an international gravel race. Olympic and World Championship cycling coach (and festival founder) Mike Hadjioannou knows every corner of the island and lets you get to know the culture and, above all, the cuisine of his home country with all your senses. He combines trail riding, technical descents and steep climbs to offer you the best mix of gravel fun. He also has an easier option up his sleeve for each day, for those who want to start the season at a leisurely pace. During the festival, Mike will show you where to get the best homemade halloumi, how Cypriot crafts work and how to stretch and relax after a day on the bike. You’ll meet people from all over the world and enjoy the EU’s easternmost country to the full.
Individual arrival to Cyprus. Transfer from Larnaca to Tochni (transfer from/to Pafos: see extras). Tochni is a small village on two hills in the Cypriot inland. You can discover the village on foot on the first day. The village consists of typical stone houses that are lovingly cared for by the villagers (you can find out more about Tochni below). Alternatively, you can also ask Mike (the festival organizer) to give you GPS data for a first short exploration tour on the first day. If you are accompanied by non-riders, we recommend a tour to the supermarket 7 km away, as restaurants in Tochni are not open every day at lunchtime and Tochni itself only has a small grocery store. In the evening, meet up at the Feed Zone Cafe for a few snacks and drinks, with which the small festival team around Mike will welcome you. Overnight stay in Tochni for the duration of the trip.
Day 2: 1st round trip (75 km / 45 km)
Riders
After an early breakfast, you meet up with Mike and all the festival participants at the Feed Zone Cafe. Today’s ride is the longest of the festival week. If you find it too long and ambitious, you will receive the GPS data for an easier variant; this option is available every day, but without a guide. Today’s routes take you north of Tochni, into the Valley of the White Rocks. You ride through villages with houses built from limestone. You will finally return to Tochni via quiet gravel roads and goat paths. Dinner together.
If you want to sleep in and miss the early daily breakfast, you can take a short walk to the local grocery store and pick up something for breakfast. Afterwards, you can relax by the hotel pool, for example, or explore Tochni on foot. The Greek Orthodox church and the many alleyways between lovingly maintained stone houses and restored historical buildings are well worth a visit. In the evening, you will meet up with the other festival participants for dinner together in a local restaurant.
Day 3: 2nd round trip (50 km)
Riders
A shorter relaxed tour is on the agenda for Tuesday. You will slowly get a feel for the Cypriot gravel and will be able to enjoy and observe the nature and surroundings more. Who knows, you might come across adders, lizards or partridges on your way today. Your taste buds won’t miss out either, as you can pick fresh medlars and oranges from the trees. After a nice shower, you meet up for yoga. Today you will learn how to stretch and relax after an extensive bike tour. Later, a minibus will be waiting to take you to the coast. In the fishing village of Zygi, you end the evening together with sea fish. Return transfer to Tochni.
After breakfast, you can explore the area around Tochni by foot with the help of the hiking map that we will send you in advance. Depending on which route you choose, you can expect beautiful views of untouched Mediterranean nature and the surrounding villages. Alternatively, you can also walk to a neighboring village for lunch – you will receive a small list of restaurants with your travel documents. Back in Tochni, you can join the cyclists and relax with yoga. Later, a minibus will be waiting to take you to the coast. In the fishing village of Zygi, you end the evening together with sea fish. Return transfer to Tochni.
Day 4: 3rd round trip (75 km / 60 km)
Riders
Have you ever ridden on gravel roads right by the sea? Today you can, because the day is all about the Mediterranean Sea. Drive along the coast towards Larnaca and enjoy the wonderful air and the blue sea. Cool off in the crystal-clear water – what an experience to climb or jump into the water from the bright rocks! At the end of your tour, you drive to Tochni’s beautiful neighboring village of Choirokoitia. Petros will be waiting for you there to show you how to make traditional baskets in Cyprus. In the evening, you can enjoy local Cypriot food in one of Tochni’s authentic restaurants.
Today you can relax by the pool again. If you want to see how Cyprus’ traditional baskets are made, you’ll walk to Choirokoitia at around 2 pm, where you’ll meet the cyclists. There you will meet Petros, who is a master of Cypriot craftsmanship. Afterwards, return to Tochni on your own and enjoy a local dinner together in one of Tochni’s authentic restaurants.
Day 5: 4th round trip (70 km / 55 km)
Riders
Today you’ll also discover beautiful Cyprus together. On the way, you can enjoy the Mediterranean air and relax in the midst of beautiful scenery. Land and sea – today will be full of variety. In the evening, you will be taken to Nicosia. The capital of the Republic of Cyprus is divided, just like Berlin once was. You take a short city tour and then have dinner together in a restaurant selected by Mike with live music. Return transfer to Tochni.
Today is capital city day! A driver will take you to Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, about 45 minutes away. You can get to know the most beautiful places in the city on your own. We recommend the old town with its beautiful alleyways, and there are many museums and galleries to discover. In the evening, you will meet the cyclists who are also coming to Nicosia by minibus. You will go on a short city tour together and then have dinner together in a restaurant selected by Mike with live music. Transfer back to Tochni together.
Day 6: Free time in Tochni
Riders and Non-riders
There is no guided tour today. Instead, you will visit a nearby goat farm in the morning. Did you know that halloumi cheese comes from Cyprus? Today you’ll see how the cheese is traditionally made – and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to taste some fresh, warm halloumi. Afterwards, you can either ask Mike for tour dates for a self-drive tour. Or you can relax by the pool. If you want to work your muscles in a different way, go hiking – you will receive a hiking map with beautiful routes by post before you leave for Cyprus. Hiking around Tochni is a great adventure: there are no marked trails, but your hiking map will describe the routes in detail and you will get the most beautiful views of medieval Tochni and the surrounding hills and valleys. In the evening, you meet up for a pasta and beer party and receive a briefing for the race the next day.
Day 7: Race day (85 km)
Riders
RToday is race day! Participation is of course voluntary. In addition to the festival participants, many other gravel bikers will be traveling from Cyprus and abroad. The ranking will be based on gender and age group. There will also be a shorter and moderately strenuous route, which has not yet been determined.
In the morning we meet at the Feed Zone Cafe, where everyone gets ready. Mike hands out the GPS data and explains the rules. And then it’s off – out of the village and across the island on beautiful asphalt and gravel roads. There are several registration points along the way where you can refuel with water, snacks and electrolytes. After the race, there is a small award ceremony and a barbecue with local beer. Then you can end the day in peace and say goodbye to the festival team and the other festival participants.
Today is race day! It’s also exciting for non-riders, because you can experience the race from start to finish and cheer on the festival participants, who you probably know well by now. If you go along to the Feed Zone Cafe in the morning, you can feel the joyful and exciting atmosphere. It’s not just the festival riders who take part in the race, but gravel cyclists from all over Cyprus and abroad. It’s fun to look at the bikes lined up in this Mediterranean setting and watch the race participants prepare. During the race, it’s worth staying at the feed zone, as the route is a loop, so you can experience the start, intermediate station and finish live. Afterwards, you can join in the celebrations and attend the award ceremony. There is also a barbecue with local beer. Then you can end the day in peace and say goodbye to the festival team and the other festival participants.
Day 8: Departure Tochni
Riders and non-riders
The festival ends today. After breakfast, transfer from Tochni to Larnaca (transfer to Pafos: see extras). If you have a late flight, Mike will provide you with GPS data for an independent tour. Independent departure from Cyprus.
The location
Tochni is a beautiful historical village in the inland of the European republic of Cyprus. The village with 400 inhabitants has dedicated itself to sustainable tourism and becomes more and more a base for active holidays. Worth seeing are not only the Greek-orthodox church and the ruins of the Latin church, but also the traditional stone houses that are almost all restored. The village is built on two hills, and it is surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains very inviting for visitors to be discovered. What we particularly liked is the calm location of the village that allows travelers to get the know the “real Cyprus”.
The accommodation
Some of the traditional stone houses in Tochni have been converted into small vacation accommodations in recent years and are scattered throughout the village. All accommodations have a pool and an inner courtyard, which is lovingly planted with plants. The studios and double rooms are right next to the pool. All rooms and studios are equipped with a small kitchenette. The accommodations in Tochni are licensed agritourism resorts.
Services
RidersNon-ridersExtras
Included services:
7 nights
7x breakfast, 6x dinner
Visitor’s tax
English speaking guide (Days 2 to 5)
GPS data (on spot)
Race entry for the Bedrock Gravel Race (Day 7)
Transfer Larnaca-Tochni-Larnaca (incl. bike+luggage transfer) (additional fee for Paphos: see “Extras”)
Nearest airports: Larnaca, Paphos Transfer Larnaca-Tochni-Larnaca: included Transfer Paphos-Tochni-Paphos: 150 EUR (für 1-3 persons) resp. 180 EUR (for 4-6 persons), see “Extras”
Please take account of the travel and safety notice of your home country for the European Union country of Cyprus, as same as the applicable regulations in this country.
The main guide for this tour is Mike Hadjioannou. He was born in Cyprus, speaks English and Greek and is the founder of the Bedrock Gravel Festival. In Cyprus, Mike coaches professional cyclists who compete in the Olympic Games and World Championships in the road and mountain bike categories. He runs a bike stop in Tochni, the Feed Zone Cafe, which is also the starting point for numerous cyclists. Mike knows Cyprus and especially the area around Tochni inside out and can spontaneously adapt routes to weather conditions. Depending on the number of festival participants, Mike is supported by additional guides.
