Akrotiri and Dhekelia enjoy warm weather even in the winter (Image: Wiki/A.Savin)
Few areas flying the Union Jack can boast to see the mercury regularly reach double digits in December.
Among the lucky few is Akrotiri and Dhekelia, a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus.
While Akrotiri is a small peninsula in the southern part of Cyprus, Dhekelia can be found on the eastern region of the island, very close to the UN buffer zone established after Turkey invaded northern Cyprus in 1974.
While the two areas are home to busy British military bases, they also overlook the stunning Mediterranean Sea, offering a possible holiday destination to those seeking a warm holiday as the festive season approaches.
Akrotiri and Dhekelia, officially known as the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBA), were established in 1960 by the London and Zurich Agreements.
Episkopi Bay on the west coast of Akrotiri (Image: Public domain/Karpouzi)
At the time, Cyprus had just gained independence from the British Empire, but the UK was keen to retain these areas due to their strategic military bases on the island.
The geostrategic importance of both, with Akrotiri being located just north of Africa and the Suez Canal, while Dhekelia being mere miles from the Middle East, also made them too valuable to relinquish.
An agreement was struck, allowing Britain to continue stationing soldiers on the island and manning its garrison.
Both regions are sunny havens, consistently basking in high temperatures regardless of the season. In early January 2024, they relished peaks of 22C.
The territory include UK military bases (Image: (Image: GETTY))
Numerous historical sites can be found within these territories, all managed by the Republic of Cyprus, in accordance with the 1960 agreement.
These include the ancient ruins of Kourion, once a significant city-state during Ancient Greek times dating between 5500 and 4000 BCE, as well as the nearby Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates.
Moreover, the areas encompass also the Stadium of Curium and the Church, along with the historic Holy Monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats.
While the Cypriot government retains some rights over the land masses, the territory itself is governed by the Commander of British Forces Cyprus, appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defence.
A red telephone box in Dhekelia (Image: CC/Dickelbers)
Each sector operates under its own legal framework, which is designed to mirror, as closely as possible, the laws upheld in the Republic of Cyprus.
As the UK continues to capitalise on the strategic significance of the locations, the Cypriot authorities have labelled the territory as a lingering “remnant of colonialism”.
In 2005, government officials called on the British government to compensate for its control and “fulfil its financial obligations towards the Republic of Cyprus, which derive from the Treaty of Establishment”.
Local Cypriots have previously protested against the presence of British military personnel and their families.
For now, Akrotiri and Dhekelia remain part of the UK and offer much to the Britons residing there.
Both areas are renowned for their natural beauty and lie on crucial migration routes for birds travelling between Europe and Africa. The beaches on the military bases serve as vital nesting sites for the endangered green sea turtles and loggerhead turtles.
Interestingly, red telephone boxes are dotted across the areas, a further sign of Britain’s presence. Additionally, the BBC owns radio masts used to broadcast world service programmes across the nearby region.