Cyprus Escapes

18/10/2026

30/09/2026

A lone sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum), also called sea lily or sand lily. A little past its best but I thought there was something beautiful about it.
They’re not true Narcissus daffodils, though their large white flowers have a daffodil-like trumpet.
Sea daffodils are native to Cyprus and adapted to sandy beaches and dunes. Their bulbs grow deep in the sand, which helps them cope with shifting ground, heat and dry conditions. In Cyprus, they’re found in surviving dune habitats, including parts of Akamas and the Limassol and Episkopi coast.
They usually flower in late summer, often from August into autumn.
The white, fragrant flowers open in the evening and I think it is especially striking against the dry sand.

30/09/2026

We pulled onto the beach and couldn’t help admire this perfect view.
Wild flowers growing in the sand, an old boat, the bench looking out to sea…
Pomos has a way of making the simplest things beautiful.
Pomos. Paphos District

30/09/2026

What could a Winter short break in a quiet Cyprus village look like?
Well, Imagine arriving in the late afternoon, when the light is beginning to soften….
The fire is already laid for you. There’s a welcome tray with hot chocolate, marshmallows, cookies and a gift waiting beside it. You put the kettle on, make a hot drink and wander down to the lower deck to watch the waves lap the shore.

As evening falls and the sun drops below the horizon, light the candles, put another log on the fire and watch the colours of the sky change over the sea. Pomos, on the spectacular northwest coast of Cyprus enjoys some of the most spectacular sunsets on the island.

If you’re travelling solo, perhaps this is finally the chance to read that book you’ve been meaning to start. Or choose something from the Shambala shelves. If you’re with someone, there are cards to play or a board game to rediscover. Maybe put on a favourite film, or simply watch the flames of the fire flicker and listen to the sound of the sea on the pebbles.

Before bed, you take a night cap, wrap yourself in a cosy blanket and wander out onto the terrace to watch the moonlight move across the waves.

And when the fire burns low and sleep calls, head up to your comfortable bed, open the shutters and let the sound of the waves drift you into dreams of tomorrow’s adventures.

In the morning, you wake to the morning light catching the water. No alarm.

Take a coffee down on to the deck. Bare feet, if the winter sun is warm enough.
Later, take the little wicker basket down to the beach and wander along the shoreline collecting interesting pieces of driftwood and smooth sea stones,
Bring them back to Shambala and spend a slow afternoon making something with them - all of the artist tools are provided free of charge.

Paint a sea stone. Make a little winter talisman. Paint a Winter seascape
Create something to take home.

Wander along to the lovely Chrysta’s Cafe Pomos in the village for a lazy late lunch, then a gentle stroll back to your accommodation for another cosy evening by the fire.

This is winter Hygge at Shambala Beach House in Pomos village.
There is no packed itinerary, just a few days beside the sea to recharge, or to be creative and completely unhurried.

**Shambala Beach House, Pomos. Paphos**

www.villasincyprus.net/villas/shambala

**Special offer -Winter short breaks**.
December 2nd to 15th.
January 3rd - 8th
February 18th - 28th

**2 nights €295 with additional nights €99**

WhatsApp +357 97904984

Shambala is fully licensed by the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

28/09/2026

28/09/2026

26/09/2026

Fytiotiko weaving—usually called Fythkiotika—is a distinctive hand-weaving tradition from the village of Fyti in the Paphos district. I’m lucky enough to have been gifted some of these exquisite textiles 🙏
Its roots are associated with the medieval period, and Fyti became the region’s best-known weaving centre.

The textiles are made on a traditional loom called a voufa. Their signature feature is ploumia: colourful, raised-looking geometric motifs inspired by everyday life, people, animals and plants. Motif names can be wonderfully vivid—such as “Four Walnuts,” “Little Girls,” and “the Teacher’s Shoe.” The patterned bands are arranged in rows, and the finished edges are often completed with hand-tied fringes called klosia.

Traditionally, women learned the craft within their families and wove textiles for household use and special occasions, including pieces prepared for weddings. Today, only a small number of weavers continue the practice, adapting the designs for items such as scarves, bags and bedcovers.

You can see examples and learn about the craft at the Fyti Weaving Museum, where traditional textiles and loom demonstrations are featured, which is well worth a visit while in the Paphos district. The village itself is just beautiful.

Fyti village Square
3-4th October 2026

21/09/2026

Everyday life. You know the commute, the kitchen drawer, and the version of yourself those patterns reinforce. The brain thrives on that predictability. It spends less energy noticing and more energy executing, which is practical until the same loop begins to flatten your mood, curiosity and perspective.
Travel breaks the loop. Different landscape, sounds, smells, food,and social exchanges stop being background and become information again. You walk more. You sleep to a different rhythm. You meet people outside your usual circle. Most tellingly, you step, for a while, outside the roles that usually define you.

A 2026 study in the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management approached tourism through the view of narrative therapy. Rather than asking only whether people enjoyed a trip, the researchers looked at emotional arousal, shifts in self-identity and affective wellbeing. Tourism experiences were associated with emotional change and with the way people understood themselves.

Reflective writing emerged as one way travellers could make meaning from what happened and gently revise parts of their personal story.

That personal narrative sits with all of us whether we name it or not. It is built from history, relationships, duties, successes, disappointments and the quiet assumptions we form about who we are and how life is supposed to look. Sometimes it takes distance for the story to become visible.

https://www.onesonghealing.com/post/slow-and-wellness-travel

Why familiar places keep us on autopilotEveryday life is efficient by design. You know the commute, the kitchen drawer, the people who expect something from you, and the version of yourself those patterns reinforce. The brain thrives on that predictability. It spends less energy noticing and more en...

07/09/2026

Free full day exploration of Polis and the beautiful Akamas 💙🌊

🌿 Discover Polis Chrysochous & the Akamas Peninsula like never before!

Join us for a FREE full-day exploration and immerse yourself in the region's authentic beauty.

From breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity to rural traditions, local crafts, and fascinating history—this experience captures the true essence of the area.

🗓 Every Saturday (October – November 2026)
🕘 Departure: 09:15 | Return: 16:15
🗣 Free guided tour in English & Greek

📲 Scan the QR code or book here: https://shorturl.at/T8kE8