Larnaca’s bee villages seek to attract more visitors (with video)

A new initiative will see Larnaca’s beekeepers offer interactive programmes and tours to visitors, the Larnaca tourism board (Etap) announced on Tuesday.

The Honey Road initiative is “a sustainable action that contributes to tourism development and the revitalisation of life in the countryside,” Etap said.

Activities include: ‘Become a beekeeper for a day’, beekeeping tours, honey and beeswax cosmetics workshop (candles and crafts), and honey-tasting.

The bee villages can be found in the mountainous areas of Larnaca including Ora, Odou, Lagia, Vavla, Melini, Kato Drys, Vavatsinia, Ayioi Vavatsinias and Kato Lefkara.

“The broader goal is to preserve and promote local recipes… and to encourage local restaurants to include honey recipes,” Etap said.

Traditional honey foods will be served including loukoumades and pastelaki.

Three annual honey and beekeeping festivals are organised in the mountainous region.