Countryside Villas in Cyprus: Private Escapes for Families and Groups

Latchi, Polis and the Akamas. This is the north-west corner of the Paphos district. Latchi has a small harbour with seafront restaurants, Polis is the nearest town, and the Akamas Peninsula brings walking trails and some of the island's wilder coastline, with the Baths of Aphrodite and boat trips to the Blue Lagoon close by. Most of Ezoria's countryside villas are listed under "Latchi and surrounding areas".

Latchi is the practical starting point for the area. The harbour has the seafront restaurants, and boat trips along the Akamas coast set off from here. Polis, a short drive away, has the supermarkets, cafés, pharmacies and weekly shopping that a self-catered stay needs, so plan your food shopping there. From the Baths of Aphrodite, a walking trail climbs into the Akamas, and the peninsula's other routes lead to gorges, headlands and coves that are hard to reach any other way.

Paphos district. Wine villages such as Kathikas and Droushia, scenic drives and wineries sit inland from Paphos and its coast. Villa Aris is listed under Paphos.

This side of the district suits a stay built around villages and vineyards. Kathikas has family-run wineries that welcome visitors, and the roads between the villages are good for slow drives with a stop for a taverna lunch. Paphos itself is within reach for the harbour, the Archaeological Park and the Tombs of the Kings, so a stay here can mix village evenings with a day of sightseeing in town.

Countryside villas from Ezoria

Villa Ocean Pearl, listed under Latchi and surrounding areas, has four bedrooms and four bathrooms for up to eight guests. One bathroom per bedroom makes it the easier choice for two families sharing.

Akamas Bay Villa 42, 43 and 44 are three villas in the same area, each with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and room for six. With identical numbers, the choice comes down to your dates and the details in each listing. Because there are three of them, they also work for a group that wants to holiday together in neighbouring houses: two or three families can book separately and still arrive at the same place, each with its own pool and kitchen if the listings show them.

Villa Aris in the Paphos area sleeps six in three bedrooms with two bathrooms, a good size for one family or two couples. It is the only villa here that is listed under Paphos rather than Latchi, so it is the one to look at if you want the wine villages and the town rather than the Akamas side.

Choosing between the villas

Start with the group. Ocean Pearl is the only one of the four with room for eight, and its four bathrooms suit adults sharing. For six guests, the three Akamas Bay villas have a bathroom for each bedroom, while Aris has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, so a party of six adults may prefer Akamas Bay. Then look at the location: Latchi and the Akamas for sea, harbour and walking trails, or Paphos district for vineyards and a longer drive to the north-west coast.

Rates differ between the villas and between dates, so compare the price for your own dates rather than from a general figure. Check the listing for what each villa has outdoors, because that is what you are paying for in the countryside: the pool, the terrace and the garden.

What the countryside gives you

Villages with tavernas and local bakeries, wineries and tasting rooms, hill walks and village festivals. Near the Akamas, trails run through the peninsula's gorges and headlands. Inland, summer temperatures are often lower than on the coast, and spring and autumn are good seasons for walking and sightseeing.

A typical day starts with a walk or a drive to a village for coffee and a bakery stop, a swim from a beach on the way back, and an evening back at the villa. Spring and autumn suit the hill walks best, and in summer the countryside is a way to avoid the hottest hours of the day on the coast.

Getting around from a countryside villa

A car is part of the plan. Beaches, supermarkets and restaurants are a drive away, and the roads in the hills are narrower and winding, so allow extra time and avoid driving them for the first time after dark. Arrange a hire car in advance if you are flying in, and ask Ezoria support if you need help with airport transfers.

Plan your food as well. A big shop in Polis or Paphos at the start of the stay, with an evening out in Latchi or in a village taverna from time to time, covers most needs. Check each listing for parking and for the road up to the house.

Before you book

• A car is almost always needed for beaches, shops and restaurants, so check parking and road access.
• If a pool, cot, workspace or enclosed garden is a must, confirm it in the listing.
• Availability, minimum stay and seasonal rates differ by property.
• Questions before arrival go to Ezoria support.

Save suitable properties to your Ezoria wishlist, compare the practical details, then check live availability and current pricing for your dates.