Arriving to Cyprus, on a budget, I had 4 days in to enjoy the island as much as possible and reach Mount Olympus. 

I thought this would be a walk in the park. It was supposed to be easy. Kind of like walking up a hill for a few hours. 

As I had a few work meetings on Monday and Tuesday, the peak would have to wait until Wednesday, the day before my flight. 

My time in Limassol was flying by and I was doing what I could to enjoy and prepare as much as possible. On Tuesday I went to the bus station to organize everything. I couldn’t find information online for the schedule to Troodos Mountains during that time of year so I wanted to be sure I’d make it. 

I learned that there would only be one bus at 7am to Pano Platres. This drop off point at Pano Platres would leave me near a trail that I had planned to take with feet if no snow, and skis if snowing.

Well, guess what? It snowed overnight. I briskly walked to the bus station a half hour away from my Airbnb and stopped to get a coffee and breakfast before heading out. The locals at the coffee shop had a good little giggle when they found out I’d be going to Troodos Mountains. They told me it wouldn’t be possible. I laughed with them and said I’d be trying anyways.

Vasco was the bus driver’s name. I knew because he wrote it down on a piece of paper with his phone number. I was surprised when he handed the paper over. He told me he couldn’t take the bus all the way to Pano Platres, it would be too dangerous - so if I got into any trouble he said I could call him and he would try to help. This really warmed my heart, just a genuine great person!

The bus wouldn’t go any further than a tiny town with one café open, so I got out and decided it was ‘go time’. I wouldn’t have time to walk all the way to the peak from here and back down for the bus to pick me up at 3:30pm so I needed to get a little higher to make sure I wouldn’t be sleeping on the side of the road.

Christmas lights were still hanging outside the only café that was open. It looked warm and welcoming so I asked to use their toilet. Before leaving, I did something I usually don’t do… I asked if they had any friends or knew anyone who could take me to Pano Platres (I hate putting people out of their way). They shook their heads no, but called a hotel who had a 4x4. My eyes lit up! I asked how much and my stomach fell in my butt… it would be more than my accommodation, food, and transport combined… I couldn’t do it. I kindly declined and asked if hitchhiking was a thing on the island.

Yes, it’s popular, and the locals are usually nice. That was my answer. I would hitchhike up to Pano Platres and go on foot from there. My first ride was from the café owner’s son. I hopped into his truck and he brought me a couple of kilometers higher and left me at a trailhead. I thanked him and went on my merry way… only to find that the trail was closed due to perilous conditions.

And so the hitchhiking began.

The first car were a couple of tourists, a mother, and daughter. They were from Israel and had never driven in snow. The Canadian inside me cringed with fear. I find it so ironic that I’ve been driving in snow my whole life but I can’t drive stick shift… and here we were with the opposite. After slipping and sliding a bit, I wished them a safe journey down and continued onwards.

Next up was a lovely local family. They brought me to where I needed to go. From there it would be me against the elements. I still had the time crunch in the back of my mind so I needed to hurry.

A few kilometers and a few mystified glances from passing snow ploughs later, I made it to the chilly top. The view was spectacularly underwhelming because of the snow, but to me, it was pure beauty. I’d reached peak 2!

Fun fact for you, at the top of Mount Olympus there is actually a military base so legally, you can’t go higher. But that’s fine, I did what I could!

The final mission of the day would be going down…

And that’s a whole different story.