Overview

Kyrenia - 4 nights
Limassol - 3 nights

Spendology - Widgets

CYPRUS, NORTH TO SOUTH

From north to south, mountain to shore, this tour charts the history and heritage of ‘Aphrodite’s Island’ via classical temples, Byzantine chapels, Venetian castles, and hidden villages

“A golden green leaf thrown into the sea”, is how Cypriot poet Leonidas Malenis described this beautiful island, but the leaf was thrown to a politically strategic position which invited invasions by Roman and Persian, Ottoman and Venetian empires, along with Crusader campaigns, all leaving their legacy on the landscape and heritage of Cyprus.

The country’s most recent occupation, the 1974 Turkish invasion, split the island, leaving Nicosia as ‘the world’s last divided capital’. With local guides in each area, the tour takes you to the most intriguing and impressive ancient and medieval landmarks, visiting northern sites from formidable Crusader forts to tranquil Bellapais Abbey, the sea-view ruins of Roman Salamis, Famagusta’s citadel, and Kyrenia’s harbour castle.

We visit monuments and museums on both sides of Nicosia’s divide, and learn of myths and miracles in a tour of the south, to the peace of the Troodos Mountains, the spectacular remains of Roman Curium (Greek Kourion), legendary Aphrodite’s Rock, and the catacombs and colourful mosaics of Paphos.

Key Features

Cultural & Countryside Tour
Jules Verne Sightseeing
2 UNESCO Heritage Sites
Local Guides Throughout
No Single Supplement
Solo Group Departure

Special Events

Local Restaurants

Enjoy Cypriot cuisine in local restaurants: a lunch at Kyrenia Harbour; lunch by the beach at Salamis; a traditional mezze lunch in Paphos and a dinner at Bellapais Abbey.

Day 1 Fly from your chosen airport to Larnaca, and transfer to Kyrenia for four nights at the 3-star Dome Hotel. (D)

Day 2 Full-day tour to St. Hilarion Castle, the largest of three crusader fortresses in the mountain range. Continue to the beautiful village of Bellapais, made famous by Lawrence Durrel in his 1950s book ‘Bitter Lemons of Cyprus’, and little changed since; and visit the 12th-century Bellapais Abbey. Return to Kyrenia to visit the Venetian castle. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Start in the ruins of ancient Salamis. Continue to Famagusta, recently re-opened to visitors. Visit the 14th-century St. Nicholas Cathedral (now a mosque), the medieval citadel ‘Othello’s Tower’, and the old city walls. After lunch by the beach, visit the Monastery of St. Barnabas, Cyprus’ patron saint. (B, L, D)

Day 4 A half-day tour to the northern sector of Nicosia includes visits to the iconic St. Sophia Cathedral (now Selimiye Mosque), the Covered Bazaar, the caravanserai, and the 17th-century monastery, Mevlevi Tekke, now the Whirling Dervish Museum. Dinner in Bellapais. (B, D)

Day 5 Cross the border to South Nicosia, to visit the Cyprus Museum, with the statue of Aphrodite and relics from the royal tombs of Salamis; the 17th-century St. John’s Cathedral, within the old city walls, and the neo-Byzantine style Archbishop’s Palace, housing the collection of 9th to 19th century art and icons of the Byzantine Museum. Continue to Limassol for three nights at the 4-star Mediterranean Beach Hotel. (B, D)

Day 6 Travel into the Troodos Mountains, visiting picturesque villages and UNESCO-listed Byzantine churches, and reaching Kikkos Monastery of the Virgin Mary on its 1,300m-high peak, built on the site of a medieval monastery. Within the monastery’s estate, we visit the tomb of the first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, who began his ecclesiastical life here. (B)

Day 7 Visit ancient Curium (Kourion), founded in the 12th-century BC and inhabited as a Greek, Roman and Christian town up to the early Middle Ages. Travel along the coastal road to Aphrodite’s Rock, the mythical birthplace of the goddess of love. Continue to Paphos to visit the harbour area and its medieval fortress; the haunting 2nd-century BC catacombs of Saint Solomoni; the 14th-century Ayia Kyriaki Church, and the House of Dionysus, its mosaics are the jewel in the archaeological park’s crown. (B, L)

Day 8 Transfer to Larnaca airport for your return flight. (B)

  • Key
  • B - Breakfast
  • L - Lunch
  • D - Dinner

Notes

St. Hilarion Castle on Day 2 involves many steps with steep climbs.

2023

Mondays
per person in a twin room/double room
British Airways from Heathrow

Date Price
October 2 £1995
October 16 £1845
November 13 £1795

2024

Click here for 2024 departures

Solo Group Departure

13 November 2023
11 November 2024

Supplements per person

Single Supplement

Solo Group Departure
(No Single Supplement)
2023: Nov 13

Single supplement £140 (Sep/Oct £175)

Flight Options

easyJet from Gatwick - On request
British Airways Club Europe - On request

Extension Options

Extra nights - Limassol
Mediterranean Beach Hotel
(per night) £75 
(Sep-Oct £95)
Single supplement £30 (Sep-Oct £40)
Departure transfer add £40

Privately Guided

Add £1195 per person

Tour Only

Save £250 
Arrival transfer add £55 
Departure transfer add £40

Price Includes
Air travel and taxes, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, 3 lunches and 5 dinners, itinerary as described, services of guides and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.

Not Included
Travel insurance, optional excursions, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.

Booking Form

Please complete this form and a member of our sales department will contact you as soon as possible to confirm your booking and take payment. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm

Cyprus, North to South

Please enter all passenger details (names as per passport)

Please supply a first name Please supply a surname Please supply an email address Please supply an address Please supply a postcode
Please supply a first name Please supply a surname
Please supply a first name Please supply a surname
Please supply a first name Please supply a surname
Please supply a first name Please supply a surname
Please supply a first name Please supply a surname
Please supply a first name Please supply a surname
Please supply a first name Please supply a surname
Please supply a first name Please supply a surname
Please select a travel date
Please complete all mandatory fields.

Please consider Fitness to Travel, Disabilities and Mobility advice which we give for this tour and confirm that all members of your party are fit and able to take this tour. Please complete the ABTA checklist if you need to declare any disabilities or mobility issues.

  • Please accept the Terms and Conditions

To confirm your booking you will be asked to make a non-refundable deposit payment, or full payment if within 61 days of departure.

From time to time, we may send you details of Jules Verne products (including new brochures), services, and news that we believe will be of interest to you.