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North Cyprus
From $3,415
Summary
Cyprus offers a beautiful setting for archaeological discovery. Amidst the unspoiled natural landscape of this sun-blanched land, on our journey through the northern part of the island we discover an array of Medieval castles and churches, expansive classical sites and gentle villages. Meet with a local archaeologist at her dig site and gain a real insight into ongoing excavations uncovering the prehistory on the island.
Salamis is, of course, a real highlight and easily North Cyprus' best archaeological site. Discover the restored Roman theatre, a gymnasium with a monumental bath house attached, cisterns, Byzantine churches and much more.
Meet your Experts
Expert guides, whenever you travel
We are proud of our team of expert guide lecturers. Whenever you travel, your guide lecturer will be on hand to answer questions, tell stories and deliver insights to make your trip truely remarkable.
Terry Richardson
Guide Lecturer
Terry Richardson has a university background in ancient history and classical civilisation. He first travelled to Turkey as an undergraduate back in 1977 and has been back countless times since then, and he also lived in southwest Turkey for around 13 years.
Maureen Bond
Tour Manager
Maureen Bond is an artist who specializes in portraying the natural world.
Your itinerary
Day 1 - Kyrenia
Upon our arrival, we check into our hotel.
We enjoy a snack in our room due to the late arrival
Day 2 - Kyrenia - Lamboussa
We start the day with a guided tour of the impressive Kyrenia Castle, which dates back to the Byzantine period, and has also served the Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and British in the long contest over the ownership of the island. We also visit the Shipwreck Museum, housed in Kyrenia Castle, which tells the story of trade in the Mediterranean at the turn of the 4th century BC. After lunch, we explore ancient Lamboussa, including the necropolis and Roman fish tanks.
| Hotel | The Arkin Colony Hotel & Casino, Kyrenia |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 3 - Akanthou - Bellapais
This morning we head for the Neolithic settlement of Akanthou. Recent archaeological research here has altered our understanding of the earliest permanent occupation of the island. The site includes a faithful reconstruction of one of the dwellings discovered on the site. This afternoon we travel to the famous Bellapais Abbey, a 13th century monastery noted for its superb Gothic architecture, set in a pretty village immortalised in Lawrence Durrell’s 1950s memoir ‘Bitter Lemons of Cyprus’.
| Hotel | The Arkin Colony Hotel & Casino, Kyrenia |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 4 - Nicosia - St. Hilarion
We drive to Nicosia, the divided capital of Cyprus, to visit the northern, Turkish part of the city. We visit the 16th century Buyuk Han, an Ottoman caravanserai, Nicosia’s Selimiye Mosque, converted from a Lusignan-era cathedral in 1570, and walk along the Green Line. The afternoon is spent at the magnificent Castle of St. Hilarion. The best preserved of the Kyrenia castles, it was originally founded as a monastery, later fortified by the Byzantines as a defence against Arab raiders, and then as a mountain retreat by the Lusignans.
| Hotel | The Arkin Colony Hotel & Casino, Kyrenia |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 5 - Palace of Vouni - Soli
This morning we travel to Guzelyurt, stopping en-route to see the well-known altar at the late Bronze Age sanctuary of Myrtou Pigadhes, set in a lovely valley. We continue to Morphou to see the small but interesting Museum of Archaeology and Natural History before heading to the 5th century BC, hill-top Palace of Vouni, with its beautiful views out across the sea. Our final visit is to the ruins of Soli, once one of the ten ancient city kingdoms of Cyprus.
| Hotel | The Arkin Colony Hotel & Casino, Kyrenia |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 6 - Famagusta
We spend a full day in Famagusta. Our walking tour of the atmospheric, Venetian-walled old city includes visits to the Gothic St Nicholas Cathedral, turned into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest, the fascinating churches of various Eastern Christian denominations, the remnants of the Venetian palace, and the wonderfully well-preserved city walls themselves, including the Martinengo Bastion.
| Hotel | Arkin Palm Beach Hotel, Famagusta |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 7 - Salamis - Enkomi
We enjoy a morning at the ancient site of Salamis, famous for its archaic period ‘Royal Tombs’, as well its 15,000 capacity theatre, impressive bath house complete with mosaics, and numerous other remnants from what was once Cyprus’ premier city. This afternoon we wander the Bronze Age city of Enkomi. Seldom visited today, a major trading centre that once produced and exported copper ingots across the Mediterranean world.
| Hotel | Arkin Palm Beach Hotel, Famagusta |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 8 - Kyrenia
Today we fly home and bid farewell to this fantastic tour.
| Meals included | Breakfast, Lunch |
|---|
Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Professional Tour Manager
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Accommodation
- Meals as per the itinerary, wine and tea or coffee with dinner
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- All taxes & gratuities
- Field notes
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single Supp. | Offer | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 14 2020 | ANCY200414 | April 14 2020 (Tuesday) | April 21 2020 (Tuesday) | Terry Richardson Maureen Bond | $3,415 (ex. flights) |
$750 | $495 | Book Now | |
| October 15 2020 | ANCY200415 | October 15 2020 (Thursday) | October 22 2020 (Thursday) | Terry Richardson Cem Boyvadaoglu | $3,415 (ex. flights) |
$299 |
$495 |
$3,190 save $225 |
Book Now |
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