Rooms

The main hotel building holds charming rooms and suites, most overlook the pool, while slightly farther-afield are independent houses (for 4-6) and separate studio cottages (for 2-3). The houses have sitting rooms and kitchens, the cottages have sofabeds and kitchenettes, while the rooms and suites are cosier but have a fridge.

Interiors are the perfect melange of Cypriot vernacular architecture and stylish global accessories, courtesy of Diana’s Limassol-based showroom Thesis. Expect lofty lime-washed beams, white walls with classy black-framed prints, perhaps a Balinese four-poster bed or scallop-handled apothecary's chest. Our favourite touch was the little wooden bedside box: lift the lid to find a stylised room map with green buttons for each lamp.

Barefoot bliss bathrooms have white polished floors, square porcelain sinks (his and hers, in some rooms), sleek Laufen tubs or wetrooms, funky Grohe taps and – Diana's hallmark – candle-snuffing scissors bent to form towel hooks.

Our favourite room for a couple was spacious studio Almond overlooking the pool, Provencal in style with pale palette and flagged floor. We also loved Olive, where we slept like a dream on the kingsize bed, with no sounds but the occasional hoot of an owl. For a couple with 1 or 2 children, stone cottage Sterna is ideal: it has a small courtyard, snug double bedroom and a lovely sitting room with kitchenette, balcony and 2 sofas.

As for the houses, Schoolmaster's is a gorgeous luxury escape for a large family, as we can testify on our most recent revisit. With 3 bedrooms, an excellent kitchen, a wonderful high-vaulted sitting area and small courtyard, you can retreat here in the evenings, and head to the hotel for breakfast (included) and swims (the house lacks its own pool). Since we last visited, Corner and Carpenter's Houses have been built – both of which would also suit families. Both the Carpenter's and Schoolmaster's houses are connected to the terrace garden through their private courtyards.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is a yummy spread of healthy delicacies enjoyed in the poolside sun beside fragrant camomile, sage and rosemary. We loved the homemade jams - fig, lemon, hawthorn; fruit salad with pomegranate seeds; medallions of fresh halloumi; sliced tomato and flavoursome lounta (pork loin) atop fluffy home-baked bread; the eggs cooked to order... all of it.

But dinner stole the show. The charmingly modest Eleftheria produced the most delicious mezes (mini-dishes) that we tasted on our trip. Ramekins of garlic-beetroot dip and smoky pureed aubergine, crisp-fried anari cheese still soft in the centre, slow-cooked kleftiko lamb with caramelised onions which fell apart in the fingers... She used to be the chambermaid until, one day, Vakis asked her to deputise for his highly qualified but underwhelming chef - and the rest is history. The coup de grace were some syrupy, hot loukoumades (pastry puff balls) offset by mastic ice cream - think slightly bitter vanilla - and a shot of signature herb liqueur (behind which lies another story).

We urge you to prebook half-board at a reduced rate , unless you're in one of the houses and set on self-catering. For more variety, head to one of 3 local restaurants, or to Limassol (30 mins) for a choice of international and Cypriot fare.

Features include:

• Bar
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

You're in the undulating, vine-rich foothills of the Troodos Mountains, between the pine-forested summits of Chionistra and buzzy Limassol on the coast:

• Upwards takes you past the mountain town of Platres for signed trails and mountain-biking tracks to hidden waterfalls, graceful Venetian bridges and imposing Orthodox monasteries, such as Trooditissa
  
• Downhill brings you to Kolossi, where the Crusaders built a chunky castle; it combines nicely with the Greco-Roman ruins at Kourion
  
• A little further west is Pissouri, one of Cyprus' nicer beaches (with mixed sand and pebbles); and beyond that the iconic sea-washed rock where Aphrodite herself emerged from the waves
  
• Staying in the foothills, Ayia Mavri winery (5 mins' drive away, in Koilani) has great muscadet, while Vlassides offers tasting tours
  
• Lofou itself is a pretty, sleepy village of 3 restaurants, 1 church and countless cats; most of its 2,000 inhabitants left when the local sherry market collapsed, but its handsome stone buildings are now being restored as summer houses. After a stroll retire to the small basement spa
  
• If you tire of village life, head to Limassol for some beach-and-bar action; or prebook Vakis' skippered yacht for a day cruise to Lady's Mile beach, with picnic and watersports

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Sailing
• Wine tasting

Kids

This is a good option for older or more adventurous children who like hiking, exploring villages and valleys, and returning to a comfy house or cottage with a (shared, unheated) swimming pool on tap. But don't expect any organised family activities at the hotel. There are chunky discounts for longer stays.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The three-storey Schoolmaster's House is perfect for a family of 4-6, with 3 bedrooms (a double and 2 twins), generous living spaces, and a well-equipped kitchen. If there's more of you, book bijou cottage Gatehouse as well, as both can share the courtyard. Archontiko is slightly smaller (2 bedrooms, a double and twin, plus a double sofabed) and cheaper. Both have private courtyards, flatscreen TV/DVD, and board games (including backgammon) for the evenings. This can connect to Stern via a courtyard door, for a 3-bedroom option. Since our last visit, Corner and Carpenter's Houses have been added. Corner has 2 sofabeds that can sleep 2 kids, while Carpenter's has a separate bedroom on a mezzanine level with 2 single beds. Both houses can be rented together as they share an entrance for 2 families (up to 8 people).

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 60 mins (Paphos)
• Hospital: 30 mins (Limassol)
• Beach: 30 mins (Kourion)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Apokryfo is in the small village of Lofou, which is 25km northwest of Limassol (Lemessos) in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains, in Greek-speaking Cyprus.

By Air:
Both Paphos (Pafos) and Larnaca (Larnaka) have scheduled and charter flights from UK and Europe. Paphos is slightly nearer, Larnaca has a slightly wider range of flights. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport:
You can take a taxi, book a transfer, or hire a car - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Cyprus and getting around