Cyprus Stay-put

We fly from Canada to Cyprus via London.

Coach transfer to hotel, with time to relax and get oriented before our Welcome Dinner.

We’ll begin our journey in Kourion, an ancient Greek city-kingdom, where we’ll explore the Greco- Roman Theatre and the House of Eustolios, a bath complex adorned with stunning two-thousand-yearold mosaics. Next, we’ll visit the Phassouri citrus plantation to pick fresh lemons and enjoy a glass of local lemonade. From there, we’ll head to Limassol’s old city to wander its charming streets, savour local cuisine, and visit the historic fort where King Richard the Lionheart of England married Berengaria of Navarre in 1191.

Day at leisure, with time to sunbathe, swim and explore to our hearts’ content.

Today we head to the ancient mountain village of Kakopetria. We will take a guided tour of the charming old town, with free time to explore on our own. Then it’s off to the ancient Church of Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis, a UNESCO World Heritage site with wall paintings dating back to the 11th century. Finally, we will stop in Omodos, one of the island’s most beautiful villages, to taste wine from a family-run press, enjoy a traditional lunch, and marvel at the oldest monastery in Cyprus.

Day at leisure.

Today’s full-day tour visits more incredible (and incredibly ancient) Cypriot sites, including the towns of Larnaca and Kiti, where will see beautiful Byzantine churches dating back over a thousand years. We’ll explore Choirokoitia, home to a well-preserved Neolithic settlement. We will visit the home of a local artist, who will show us how to make fresh halloumi (Cypriot goat cheese) and serve a traditional lunch in his garden. The last stop is Lefkara, a village famous for its lace and silver.

Day at leisure.

We will explore Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage site Inhabited since the Neolithic period and home to Aphrodite’s “birthplace,” the Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock). We will see the impressive underground Tombs of the Kings in Kato Pafos, which date back to the 4th century BC and were used as catacombs by early Christians. We will enjoy a traditional local lunch, then visit Pafos’ archaeological park to see the Houses of Dionysus, Theseus and Aion, with their remarkable mosaics beautifully preserved after being buried for 1,600 years.

Day at leisure.

Today we will visit the 1,000-yearold capital of Cyprus. Its enchanting old city is enclosed by 16th-century Venetian walls and dotted with museums, medieval buildings and ancient churches. Our guided walking tour through the city’s narrow streets includes stops at the Cyprus Archaeological Museum and St. John’s Cathedral. After lunch, we will explore Nicosia’s northern section and see the Gothic Cathedral of St. Sophia.

Today we head to the Pentadaktylos Mountains to see St. Hilarion Castle, one of the three crusader castles along the northern coastline. We will visit Kyrenia, to see its ancient harbour and 7th-century castle. After some free time, we will proceed to Bella Pais for lunch and a visit to the 13th-century Abbey of Bella Pais.

Free days at leisure, with time to relax on the beach, snorkel or scuba dive, learn more about the island’s fascinating ancient history, and take advantage of everything this wonderfully under-the-radar destination has to offer.

Day at leisure.

Day at leisure.

We fly from Larnaca to Canada via London.