Join our five-day tour and discover an island rich in history and culture, glorious cuisine, glittering coasts, waterfalls, and sandy beaches. This tour offers a myriad of experiences and change of scenery, from vineyards to the historical places, all surrounded by the beautiful Mediterranean landscape. Explore Petra tou Romiou, regarded since ancient times as the birthplace of Aphrodite, goddess of love and fertility, the Troodos mountains with its unique Byzantine Churches, and admire the fascinating collection of Cypriot artefacts at the Archaeological Museum in Nicosia.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Paphos: famous for its sun-kissed beaches and believed to be the birthplace of the Greek Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, proudly boasts the remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses, and tombs that belong to Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Nicosia: renowned for the archaeological and artistic treasures collected in its museums and, especially, to be the last city in the world divided by a wall.
Troodos Mountains: visit the churches built in a pine-clad area, it has some of the finest examples of Byzantine wall painting on the island.
Day 1: ARRIVAL PAPHOS/LARNACA AIRPORT – LIMASSOL (70km – 1hr)
Welcome to Cyprus! Upon landing at Paphos’s Airport or Larnaca’s Airport, a tour representative will meet and greet you before guiding you to the transfer to your hotel in Limassol. Settle in your room before spending the rest of this first day at leisure.
Overnight in Limassol.
Day 2: LIMASSOL – PETRA TOU ROMIOU – PAPHOS – LIMASSOL (140km – 2hrs)
Spend a day sightseeing the wonders of Paphos: the whole town is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. Proceeding westbound along the beautiful coast, we stop at Petra Tou Romiou, where, according to Greek mythology, Aphrodite emerged from the foam of the water. We will begin our day by visiting the Ayios Neofytos monastery founded at the end of the 12th century by the Cypriot writer and hermit Neofytos. The Engleistra contains some of the most beautiful Byzantine frescoes (12th and 15th centuries). We will continue to visit the Tombs of the Kings which date back to the 4th century BC, carved into the rock and decorated with Doric columns. Then we will be able to admire the famous mosaics of the house of Dionysus. The floors of these patrician villas date back to a period between the third and fifth centuries AD and are considered among the most beautiful mosaics in the eastern Mediterranean. The last stop will be at the church of Panagia Chrysopolitissa, built in the thirteenth century, within whose complex you can see the column of St. Paul, where according to tradition the saint was scourged.
Overnight in Limassol.
Day 3: LIMASSOL – CHIROKITIA – NORTH AND SOUTH NICOSIA – LIMASSOL (190km – 3hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with the guide and departure for Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus outlined by the ancient Venetian walls, known thanks to the wealth of archaeological and artistic finds contained in its museums and above all for being the last city in the world divided by a wall. Along the way, a stop at the archaeological site of Chirokitia, an ancient Neolithic settlement; the excavations carried out have brought to light evidence of one of the most important Neolithic cultures in the world. Visit to the Cathedral of San Giovanni in the archbishop's palace which houses frescoes from 1731. Passing through the Venetian walls and the Famagusta gate we will arrive at the National Museum where you can admire the fascinating collection of Cypriot finds and treasures of inestimable value. We continue to the historic center of Nicosia (Laiki Yitonia). Free time and crossing the checkpoint, visit the caravansary, Buyuk Han, one of the most famous architectural works of the Ottoman period. The Buyuk Han is located in the center of the traditional market inside the walls. We continue to the Saint Sophia Cathedral transformed into a Mosque (visit from outside until the works are finished). Return to the hotel in the afternoon.
Overnight in Limassol.
Day 4: LIMASSOL – TROODOS MOUNTAINS – LIMASSOL (100km – 2hrs)
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and depart to the Troodos mountains for a guided tour of some of the famous Byzantine churches, included in the 'UNESCO "World Heritage list: the Church of Ayios Nicolaos, completely painted with frescoes ranging from the eleventh to the seventeenth century and the Byzantine church of Panagia of Pothithou. After free time for lunch we continue our journey by visiting the Panagia Tis Asinou Church in Nikitari village, one of the ten UNESCO World Heritage churches on the Troodos. Built in a pine-clad area, it has some of the finest examples of Byzantine wall painting on the island. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.
Overnight in Limassol.
Day 5: LIMASSOL – DEPARTURE PAPHOS/LARNACA AIRPORT (70km – 1h)
After one last breakfast at your hotel, bid farewell to Cyprus as you hop onto a comfortable transfer to the airport, where you will catch your flight to your following destination.
Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Cyprus. Appropriate clothing is required to visit the church. Sleeveless clothing, shorts and short skirts are prohibited. Sun protection, sunglasses and a hat can be very useful during your stay.
