Cyprus Stay-Put Holiday
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
We fly from Canada to Cyprus via London.
Coach transfer to hotel, with time to relax and get oriented before our Welcome Dinner.
We will explore Curium, an ancient Greek city-kingdom, seeing the Greco-Roman Theatre and the House of Eustolios, a bath complex with beautiful mosaic floors dating back two millennia. We will stop at a Phassouri citrus plantation, where we’ll pick fresh lemons and sip local lemonade. Then it’s off to Limassol’s old city to eat, explore, and visit the fort where British King Richard the Lionheart 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 Pafos, 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.
3 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.
Transfer to the airport for our flight back to Canada.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
