A sweet getaway to the “Honey Villages of the Larnaca Highlands”: the kingdom of bees and honey
An escape full of wildflower scents, stone-paved alleys and the magic of the bee world awaits you in the Honey Villages of the Larnaca Highlands.
If you are looking for an experience that combines nature, tradition and sweet flavours, we have a wonderful destination to recommend in the heart of Cyprus. It is a journey into our island’s traditions, where bees and people have worked together for centuries — producing pure Cypriot honey and much more besides.
Get ready for a day trip exploring the distinctive “Honey Villages of Cyprus” – where local beekeepers offer interactive programmes and tours – including beautiful Melini, home to our Oros Machaira apiary.
What are the “Honey Villages of Cyprus”?
The nine Honey Villages of the Larnaca Highlands are the mountain communities of Ora, Lageia, Odou, Vavla, Melini, Kato Drys, Vavatsinia, Agioi Vavatsinias and Kato Lefkara in the district, where most of the apiaries and the largest number of hives on our island are located. As you will have understood, these villages are known for producing honey of exceptional quality! The honey villages offer a variety of activities related to beekeeping, and three annual festivals with the theme of honey and beekeeping are also organised in the area.
Beekeeping on our island has deep roots that reach back to antiquity. The geographical location and the rich natural environment favour the development of beekeeping, particularly in these communities, which is why the inhabitants of these villages have traditionally been engaged in honey production, making use of the region’s rich flora. Beekeeping is an integral part of the local economy and culture, with many families engaged in it and passing the knowledge down from generation to generation.
Beyond the products it provides us, beekeeping is also largely responsible for saving bee populations, which contribute decisively to strengthening biodiversity and the balance of our environment. How this happens, as well as many other interesting processes, you will have the opportunity to learn and also experience up close if you make this one-day excursion to the beautiful Honey Villages.
Start your excursion from Melini
If you have not had the chance until now to visit the beautiful village of Melini, we share with you a few reasons to do so. This small but distinctive village promises an experience full of authenticity, rich natural beauty and honey-sweet moments and delights. It is a suitable destination for families, and lovers of nature and tradition. It combines relaxation, wonderful local products, as well as activities that are both fun and educational. The tranquillity and picturesqueness of the village manage to charm every visitor.
Organise your next outing to Melini together with your loved ones and get to know up close the magic of this natural place by learning everything about bees and Cypriot honey!
Although its name refers directly to honey, it is believed that it was named after the plant “melini” (Melica), a type of grass of the Poaceae family. This plant has been mentioned since antiquity by the name “melini”, by Herodotus and Xenophon, while Theophrastus refers to it as “melinos”. The village’s connection with this plant is probably due to its abundance in the area in the past.
What to do in Melini
Entering the village, you will find the Bee Park where you can have a snack while the children play in the themed park. In the park there is also a bee hotel. We wholeheartedly recommend that you explore the village by walking through the beautiful alleys, among traditional stone-built houses with lovely gardens, and of course visit the Holy Church of Panagia Chryseleousa,
We look forward to seeing you at our apiary “Oros Machaira”
Since 2020, the beautiful Melini has been home to our new modern apiary “Oros Machaira”. It is a small family business that keeps the tradition of beekeeping alive and opens its doors to offer visitors unique family moments and experiences.
At our apiary you will be given a guided tour of the outdoor and indoor spaces, you will see the ‘’Bee’s Nest’’, you will learn where and how the bee lives, and what the difference is between the worker bee, the queen and the drone. Furthermore, you can see how honey is bottled, learn about apitherapy, the variety of products produced from a single hive as well as their multiple benefits. Finally, you will have the opportunity to play a knowledge game about the bee and honey, and to taste the natural and delightful products of our own production.
Of course, the activities do not end here. Through the hands-on workshops, you can make your own beeswax candles, food wraps made from beeswax, as well as beeswax candles of various colours and your own decoration.
If you visit us between March and October, another hands-on experience suitable for both children and adults awaits you. You will be able to dress up as a beekeeper for a day and come into contact with the society of bees with the help of our beekeepers and our experienced team.
Let’s climb higher to Odou
Continuing your excursion a little further north, you will come across Odou, the village from which our family business, “Oros Machaira”, started in 1983.
As the highest mountain village in the Larnaca district, Odou is just the place to enjoy magical landscapes that will stay with you unforgettably. Designed by architecture students, at the entrance and exit of the community you will find the wooden viewpoints where you can stop, enjoy and photograph the wonderful picturesque landscape. You can also pass by many more viewpoints, such as next to the small wooden bridge located in the heart of the village.
Many more beauties you will enjoy by following the “Gyrillithkia” nature trail, where you will encounter the wild vegetation of the area. Following the trail, you will reach the chapel of the Prophet Elias at an altitude of 1201 metres! Another church worth visiting is the church in the centre of the village dedicated to Agia Marina with its well-known icon dating from the 17th century.
Another getaway worth the trip is the “Bridge”, a unique recreational spot where you can relax while enjoying the combination of forest, river, the newer wooden bridge and of course the old stone-built bridge, from which the place took its name.
Of course, do not miss walking through the narrow picturesque alleys of the village, playing in the Bee Park, seeing the Bee Hotel and getting to know the hospitable inhabitants of the village!
For wonderful “bites” and beverages you will find a little shop in the village square where the freshly ground coffee, the herbs from the mountains of the area, the honey from the local producers, the freshly baked bread and many other products made with great passion by people who continue and enrich the tradition are all fragrant!
Flavours, aromas and tradition in every corner of Agioi Vavatsinias
A characteristic of the village is the traditional Cypriot delicacies that are prepared to this day, such as “epsima”, “palouze”, “soutzouko” and “kiofterka”, as well as spoon sweets. At the same time, as attested by the traditional cauldrons and an old winepress, the village continues the long tradition both in the making of local wine and of zivania. It is also interesting that the art of silk production survived in the village.
In Agioi Vavatsinias it is worth visiting the church of the traditional architecture of the Saints Anargyroi, Cosmas and Damian, which is built in the centre of the village, on the base of an older church.
If you want to add one more natural beauty to your excursion, you will find it useful to know that the Paliomylos waterfall is just an 8-minute drive from the village.
Walk in wooded Vavatsinia
The village of Vavatsinia offers you a unique opportunity to explore nature. The “Karvounarka” and “Cave of Athasia” nature trails will take you through the pine forests and give you a panoramic view that will stay with you unforgettably.
Of course, within the unique environment of the location you can also walk the themed beekeeping trail, among beekeeping plants and bee hotels.
In the village you will also find local taverns of traditional Cypriot cuisine surrounded by lush green vegetation.
A lovely stroll in Ora
Continuing the excursion to the next Honey Villages, you can visit the small and picturesque Ora.
In the centre of the village, you will see the renovated church dedicated to Agia Marina, who is considered the protector against infectious diseases. Of course, while taking your stroll through the village, also pass by the bee park, which also hosts its own bee hotel.
Express your creativity and pay attention to the details in Lageia.
If you choose to pass through Lageia, you can make a creativity stop at a local workshop where you have the opportunity to make your own bee hotels, as well as many other crafts.
Before you leave for the next Honey Village, don’t forget to make a brief stop at the historic Centuries-Old Eucalyptus and the old well next to the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, as well as the well-known “Old Fountain” of 1709.
Vavla, a honey village with preserved beauty
Thanks to its white stone houses and its traditional characteristics, the village of Vavla has been declared a preservable settlement. Today, one of the main occupations of the inhabitants is beekeeping, producing high-quality honey with aromas of thyme and the village’s wildflowers, as well as carrying out various activities related to beekeeping.
Among other activities related to beekeeping, in Vavla you can follow the themed beekeeping trail, 700 metres long, which starts from the church of Agios Georgios and ends at the traditional well and the cistern, which were the main source of drinking water for many inhabitants of Vavla between 1917–1925. Along the route you will experience an educational experience about the various phases of the life of bees. The end of the route holds in store for you a spectacular view of part of the valley of the “Honey Villages”
Travel through tradition and art in Kato Drys
Leaving Vavla and heading towards Kato Drys, you will come across the Holy Monastery of Agios Minas. The nuns of the 15th-century monastery, apart from their religious duties, practise iconography and produce traditional Cypriot sweets.
In the village of Kato Drys, you can enjoy a stroll through the picturesque neighbourhoods where you will admire the folk architecture and of course visit the Bee and Embroidery Museum, where you will get to know the tradition of beekeeping and the art of weaving.
If you love hiking, a good option is to walk the nature trail that connects Kato Drys and Pano Lefkara via a 2.5-kilometre route that lasts about one hour and will give you a wonderful view.
Complete the excursion to the Honey Villages with the small but charming Kato Lefkara
Kato Lefkara, although smaller in size compared to Pano Lefkara, retains its charm with its traditional architecture and authentic Cypriot atmosphere. The chapel of Agios Timotheos, a 15th-century structure, is an important religious monument of the area. Other religious places worth visiting are the church of Panagia Eleousa and the chapel of the Archangel Michael with frescoes dating from the 12th and 15th centuries.
In Kato Lefkara, you can enjoy Cypriot hospitality in local cafés and taverns, where traditional dishes and beverages are served. It is an ideal place to complete the rich outing of the day in a relaxing way, enjoying the tranquillity of the village and exploring the narrow streets and the stone-built houses.
A visit to this Honey Village offers an authentic experience of the Cypriot countryside and cultural heritage.
Take your family and friends and come to get to know the Honey Villages of Cyprus
Combine the Honey Villages and the activities that interested you most and plan this unique outing to the beauties of our island! Which Honey Villages will you choose to visit?
If you wish to get a first taste of the places you are planning to visit, you can do so through the virtual tour “Rural Larnaka Honey Villages”, an amazing tool created by the Larnaka Regional Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP).
The most honey-sweet excursion is to the honey villages of Cyprus, full of natural beauty, tradition and sweet flavours, waiting to be discovered! And remember, the doors of our apiary are open so that you can live unique and unforgettable experiences together with your loved ones! By browsing our website or contacting us by telephone, you can learn more information about our programmes and make your booking.