All around the town of Lapta, mountain springs erupt from the mountainside, giving any holiday villa in the hillside village a feeling of green lushness when all around is parched and dry. As you drive up the winding road to your villa for rent in Lapta, you'll past through fragrant orange, lemon and olive groves, fed by the ever-flowing mountain waters. At each twist and turn, you'll see a different view of this intriguing town, built on natural terraces in the mountainside.

Villas for rent in Lapta or Lambousa, now there's a question! Holiday villas in Lapta are not always in or near the town centre, as Lapta is unofficially 'divided' into the mountain town itself, and the coastal Lapta 'strip' in the area around ancient Lambousa.

From any villas to rent in Lapta, golden-sanded North Cyprus beaches are just a short drive away. Denizkizi Beach is great for the kids, who will enjoy the safe, sheltered swimming in the Mediterranean Sea and the play area, while their parents will appreciate the shady umbrellas, cool showers and changing cabins. Action sports on offer include sailing, windsurfing, parascending and water-skiing. For another fun-filled day by the sea, head for The Sunset Beach Club for jet skiing, banana boat rides, a beach bar and even wi-fi access if you need it. (Just don't take your laptop on the sandy beach!)

Mare Monte beach 'belongs' to the hotel of the same name, and you can combine a day of swimming in the sea to the little offshore raft, with a but of history too! Just beyond the end of the beach is the ancient Roman settlement of Lambousa, where you can still see ancient Roman fish tanks, as large as swimming pools, cut into the rocks. Keep your eyes open too; a vast hoard of 7th century gold and silver was found here back in 1904...

Lapta is a lovely town to simply wander around from your holiday villa, and it's well worth a gentle stroll into town to see the fine Ottoman stone mosque and picturesque, if somewhat decaying, old churches.

On your villa holiday in North Cyprus, you'll always find Lapta restaurants to suit your tastes, or a bar to serve you a cool drink on warm evenings. Villa owners in Lapta always recommend the Aphrodite fish restaurant, for their fresh fish and stifado, a rich game stew with onions, red wine and cinnamon, served with chips. The owner Cemal also makes his own wines, well worth a glass or six! The Veni Vici Italian restaurant serves excellent traditional pasta dishes, for a taste of the other side of the Mediterranean while in North Cyprus. Popular bars on the coast include JK's, and the ex-pat's favourite, the Stumble Inn.

The sun on your face, a cooling, breeze, the scent of lemon groves... Ah, it must be a perfect villa in Lapta from Amy Villas!