JANIS BUCKLAND and her young son chill out with an activity-based adventure at the family-friendly Aliathon Holiday Village

WHO said I couldn't walk on water? I might have been inside a 7ft-high transparent, inflatable "hamster ball" but let's not split hairs.

Balancing precariously, I started to run for all I was worth to propel myself from one side of the pool to the other, trying desperately not to fall. Within seconds, I was rolling around in a heap at the bottom of the Waterwalkerz ball. Hilarious.

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This was just one of the many activities my nine-year-old son Brady and I tried at the Aliathon Holiday Village just outside Paphos.

The family-orientated complex is split in two: a traditional Aegean village and the newer cream-and-yellow buildings that circle the freeform pool to resemble a Cypriot fishing village.

Our room was in the latter and more like a small house.

Spacious, light and stylishly furnished, it comprised a living room, a kitchenette and a bathroom with stairs leading up to a large balcony bedroom and en-suite bathroom.

Patio doors led to a huge terrace overlooking the pool, perfect for relaxing with a good book while Brady took advantage of the excellent facilities at Wavelength, the children's club for nine to 15-year-olds that runs from 11am to 11pm.

He usually spent breakfast working out his day's itinerary while I tucked into a delicious omelette. Should he choose archery and Aeroball (two-player basketball on a trampoline) or steer towards Grand Prix-style pedal-car racing followed by a lesson at the DJ workshop?

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Late afternoons would see him heading for In2Action; wearing a safety harness, it was time to tackle the assault course with a difference, suspended as it was 15ft above the ground. Another favourite was the Leap of Faith.

Securely harnessed, the object was to climb a 40ft pole to a platform and leap off, trying to kick a huge white ball in the process.

Unlike my son, the most competitive I got was a game of table tennis and a doubles match on the tennis court.

I would probably have headed for a pampering session in the spa had it not been for the 34C heat and the adult-only pool beckoning.

In fact, there were four pools including the main beach-effect one and a children's splash pool with a huge pirate ship with water cannons.


I emerged from the water to hear my son's familiar mantra of "I'm hungry". There's no excuse here. A visit to Faros pool bar, built in the shape of a lighthouse, for drinks, a burger for him, salad for me and obligatory ice cream for both.

Evening meals were served in the buffet-style Pantheon restaurant and included international cuisine, local dishes and English food.

To avoid repetition, there is also a Mexican and Greek restaurant on site. The Saturday Cypriot buffet was accompanied by singers and entertainers, including one who danced with seven glasses piled high on his head, topped with a wine bottle. If I didn't know better I'd have thought he'd had too much Zivania, the local firewater.

The dancing was cut short however as Brady had an appointment at a Chocolate Party (I asked for an invite but was informed I was "too old").

So as he disappeared with his new-found Wavelength chums, I was left to take solace in the peaceful atmosphere of the adult-only cocktail bar.

Outside the complex, Cyprus has lots to offer such as island tours, four-wheel-drive safaris to the Arkamas Peninsula, trips to the Troodos Mountains and even day excursions to the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

Closer at hand, a 15-minute bus ride brings you to the pretty harbour at Paphos.

Having walked on water, we decided to try walking under it.

After a short minibus trip up the coast we were given wetsuits and led down a ladder at the end of a small pier into the water up to shoulder level.

Scott, our instructor, balanced a yellow goldfish bowl-style helmet on my shoulders. A constant supply of air was pumped from a compressor on the shore so there were no heavy tanks to carry or breathing apparatus to worry about.

Descending the remaining rungs, we found ourselves 10ft under the water where we strolled along the seabed, stopping to feed the fish who seemed as intrigued as we were. Amazing.

Back at the Aliathon, Brady had a try at the Waterwalkerz.

You could say he was having a ball, and so was I.

THE KNOWLEDGE:
First Choice (0871 200 4455/www.firstchoice.co.uk) offers seven nights at the Aliathon Holiday Village from £539 per adult, £339 per child (two sharing), all-inclusive. Price includes return flights from Gatwick and in-resort transfers.Departs September 22, 2010.

Cyprus Tourism Organisation: 0207 569 8800/www.visitcyprus.com