Northern Cyprus Hidden History

Day 2 Kyrenia

After breakfast, join your Holiday Director for an included guided tour of Kyrenia Town. We'll discover the horseshoe-shaped Venetian harbour and Kyrenia Castle, which boasts a fascinating Shipwreck Museum. You may choose to visit this during free time. It houses one of the oldest trade ships in the world, which was discovered in the 1960s after laying on the seabed for more than 2,000 years. The afternoon has been left free, so you might choose to make the most of your hotel's facilities, which include two swimming pools. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome drink before dinner.

Meals included: B,D

Day 3 Kyrenia - at Leisure

Today, our optional excursion takes us to the ancient city of Salamis, home to a treasure trove of ruins. Highlights of our tour include the Roman bath house, which still displays traces of its original mosaics, a gymnasium boasting an elegant colonnade and impressive statues, and a restored Roman amphitheatre. We'll continue to the medieval walled town of Famagusta. Stroll around the walls and take in sights including the 14th century St Nicholas Cathedral, the Venetian Palace, St Barnabas Monastery, the abandoned quarter of Varosha and the Royal Tombs, which date back to around the 7th century BC. Meals included: B,D

Day 4 St Hilarion Castle & Bellapais Monastery

Our included excursion today takes us through picturesque countryside to the Kyrenia Mountains, also known as the Five Finger Mountains. Firstly, we will visit St Hilarion Castle with magnificent views and afterwards we will visit the village of Bellapais to see the ruins of its 13th century monastery, a fine example of Renaissance Gothic architecture. Meals included: B,D

Day 5 Kyrenia - at Leisure

Our optional excursion today takes us on full day exploration to the very east of the island of Cyprus. We will stop in Yeni Erenkoy where you can visit the Ayios Thyrsos Church which has a very scenic location near the sea. After this we will head on to Dipkarpaz which is a small stop for buying water or carrots for the famous donkeys on the Karpaz peninsula. These wild donkeys have been living on the peninsula for years. They are very tame and friendly, and are also a protected species by law. We will then drive all the way to the end of the peninsula to see the St Apostolos Andres Monastery. There are plenty of wild donkeys here too. We will then start the drive back to the hotel, but will stop at Golden beach which is one of the best in the whole of Cyprus where you can swim. Lunch is included on this excursion. Meals included: B,D

Day 6 Kyrenia

After breakfast, we will drive west of Kyrenia, through remote villages to Akdeniz. Here we will visit a bakery to see how the locals make bread, followed by a visit to a farm where we will see how halloumi cheese is made. We'll then head to a local beach side restaurant and enjoy lunch, with free time to swim if you wish. We will return to our hotel in the afternoon. Meals included: B,L,D

Day 7 Kyrenia - at Leisure

You can spend a further day at leisure or maybe you'll join our optional excursion to Nicosia with included lunch. The capital of Cyprus is split in two by the 'Green Line', dividing the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot communities. A stroll through the Old Town will introduce a picturesque combination of 16th century walls, pavement cafés, charming squares and historic monuments including St Sophia Cathedral and the Kyrenia Gate. After your guided tour, there's time to explore with your fellow travellers or indulge in a spot of shopping. Meals included: B,D

Day 8 Departure

Today it's time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as your trip comes to an end. Meals included: B