Arrive in Larnaca on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), a private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 18:00, join your tour leader Paul Donnelly and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing at the hotel, followed by dinner.

(D)

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and visit the Larnaca Archaeological Museum, housing a large collection of archaeological finds from the region. Exhibits include artefacts from the Neolithic period, the Copper Era and the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods, and unique items of Egyptian, Mycenaean, Phoenician, Assyrian and Persian origin.

Afterwards, transfer to the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, one of the most important archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean and one of the earliest examples of settled farming communities. The site shows that inhabitants lived in circular stone and mud-brick houses and cultivated crops while raising sheep, goats and pigs.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the vibrant coastal city of Limassol.

(BLD)

This morning, depart Limassol and visit the scenically located Kolossi Castle, a Medieval stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller built in 1454 and closely associated with the production of Cyprus’s famous Commandaria wine that was exported all over Europe. Then, continue to the remarkable archaeological site of Kourion and visit its Sanctuary of Apollo, theatre, Roman baths and the impressive mosaics in the House of Achilles and the House of Gladiators.

Continue to Petra tou Romiou (‘Rock of the Greek’), a great limestone sea stack on the shore where the goddess Aphrodite is said to have emerged from the foaming waves. Afterwards, visit the Palaipafos Archaeological Museum whose highlight is a piece of beautiful Roman-era floor mosaic of Leda and the Swan. Finally, visit the Sanctuary of Aphrodite, the most famous place of worship for this goddess, which was in use between the 12th century BCE and the fourth century CE.

Arrive in Paphos in the late afternoon and check in to the hotel, followed by dinner in the evening.

(BD)

Today, spend a full day exploring the superb archaeological sites of Paphos, beginning with the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park whose excavations have uncovered relics of the habitation of Paphos from prehistoric times until the Middle Ages. Then, visit the Tombs of the Kings, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed necropolis where Paphos aristocrats were interred from the fourth century BCE to the third century CE.

In the afternoon, see the Agia Solomoni Catacombs, comprising a series of stone tomb chambers with remnants of 12th-century religious paintings, before continuing to the Hellenistic-Roman Theatre, built around 300 BCE by the Ptolemies of Alexandria. The theatre stands as a testament to the enduring love for the performing arts during Greek and Roman times.

Finally, see St. Paul’s Pillar, part of an important early Christian complex and traditionally believed to mark the place where St. Paul was bound and flogged for preaching Christianity on the island.

(B)

In the morning, check out of the hotel and journey to Omodos, a charming cobble-stoned village nestled in Cyprus’s renowned wine country and still home to a historic medieval wine press. Explore the village on a private, guided walking tour before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue to Kykkos Monastery, one of the wealthiest monasteries in Cyprus set high in the Troodos Mountains. Founded by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos in the late 11th century, the monastery contains a veiled icon of the Virgin Mary supposedly painted by St. Luke. Kykkos was also where Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, began his monastic career and where his body was laid to rest.

Continue to Kalopanayiotis, an enchanting town dating from the Byzantine era nestled in the verdant Setrachos Valley. Arrive in the late afternoon and check into the hotel.

Tonight, join Paul for a talk before dinner at the hotel.

(BD)

Start the day with a private, guided walking tour of the picturesque mountain village of Kakopetria, at the foothills of the Troodos Mountains. Then, drive to the Church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, one of Cyprus’s UNESCO World heritage-listed ‘painted churches’, so named for their lively and colourful Byzantine frescoes. The entire inside of the church is covered with icons and murals, created between the 11th and 17th centuries.

Later, continue to the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Lambadistis, featuring three distinct medieval churches and rare Byzantine frescoes, an ancient wooden templon, a complete series of Italo-Byzantine paintings in the Latin Chapel and the 12th-century tomb and relics of St. John Lampadist.

Return to the hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure.

(BL)

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and visit the Church of Panagia tis Asinou which contains some of the country’s finest Byzantine murals, dating from the 12th century.

Then, cross the UN Buffer Zone, commonly known as the Green Line, into Northern Cyprus. While the days of active conflict are long past, the island’s historic division remains evident in the distinct cultural traditions and influences found across its northern and southern regions.

Visit the evocative ruins of the 13th-century Bellapais Abbey and the village where British author Lawrence Durrell lived in the early 1950s while writing his novel Bitter Lemons.

Arrive in Kyrenia in the late afternoon and check in to the hotel, followed by dinner.

(BLD)

Begin the day with a visit to St Hilarion Castle, a spectacular Byzantine fortress first constructed in the 11th century as a key defensive stronghold against Arab raids. In the 13th century, the castle was transformed into a summer retreat for the Lusignan kings of Cyprus, before the Venetians later dismantled much of the fortifications to reduce the cost of maintaining its garrison.

Then, enjoy a private, guided walking tour of Kyrenia’s picturesque harbour before exploring Kyrenia Castle, an imposing 16th-century Venetian fortress. Continue to the Kyrenia Shipwreck Museum, home to the remarkably preserved remains of a fourth century BCE merchant vessel discovered by a local diving instructor in 1965.

(B)

This morning, travel south to Nicosia, Europe’s last divided capital which straddles both sides of the Green Line.

Gain deeper insights into the city on a private, guided walking tour, including visiting the 17th-century Old Archbishop’s Palace, formerly the official residence of the Archbishop of Cyprus; the Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, where the Archbishop of Cyprus is enthroned; and the Famagusta Gate, a Venetian structure from the 16th century which was once the main gate in the city walls.After some free time exploring the Old City, visit the Leventis Municipal Museum, whose extensive collections trace Nicosia’s history from the present day back to 3000 BCE through an intriguing array of jewellery, pottery, clothing, furniture, maps and engravings.

Check in to the hotel in the late afternoon, followed by dinner later.

(BD)

Enjoy a full-day tour to Salamis, the ancient city on Cyprus’s east coast, traditionally believed to have been founded by Teucer after the Trojan War. Explore the evocative Royal Tombs, dating from around 800 BCE, and discover the city’s significance as a flourishing Greek city-state and centre of trade.

Under Roman rule, Salamis thrived as Cyprus’s principal commercial centre, with extensive remains including a theatre, gymnasium, baths and monumental cistern. A series of earthquakes in the fourth century CE, followed by an Arab sack around 650 CE, brought about the city’s eventual decline.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure.

(B)

Today, visit the Kyrenia Gate, situated at the northern edge of Nicosia’s historic walled city. Built by the Venetians in 1567, the gate was later restored by the Ottomans in 1821 when a lookout was added amid concerns over a potential Greek uprising.

Then, walk to the Selimiye Mosque and appreciate this iconic landmark that began life as a Christian cathedral before being converted into a mosque by the conquering Ottomans in 1570. With a capacity for 2,500 worshippers, the mosque is the largest surviving historic building in Nicosia and once served as the coronation church of the kings of Cyprus.

Afterwards, enjoy a traditional Turkish-Cypriot lunch before a private, guided walking tour of the Buyuk Han Caravanserai, the largest and best-preserved 16th-century Ottoman caravanserai in Cyprus.

(BL)

In the morning, join Paul for a special visit to CAARI, the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute, dedicated to advancing the study of archaeology, history and culture in the Eastern Mediterranean. Reflecting Cyprus’s longstanding role as a crossroads where diverse civilisations and cultures have converged, this non-profit organisation promotes a deeper understanding and appreciation of the island’s rich archaeological and cultural heritage.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Byzantine Museum, home to Cyprus’s most important and representative collection of Byzantine art. The museum showcases centuries of history through exquisite icons, mosaics, frescoes, manuscripts and sacred objects.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.

(BL)

This morning, enjoy a private, guided tour of the Cyprus Museum, the oldest and the largest archaeological museum in Cyprus. Founded in 1882 following a petition by the Cypriot people, the museum is home to the most extensive collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world and houses artefacts discovered from continuous excavations on the island.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax or to further explore the city at your own pace.

This evening, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Paul and fellow travellers at a local restaurant.

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude with an included private transfer to Larnaca Airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)