Day 1 – Dublin to Paphos 

Arrival at Larnaka International Airport. Meet your local English speaking escort and transfer to Limassol. Check-into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 2 – Limassol Town & Surroundings

After breakfast, your guide will take you for a tour that starts at 9:00am. The first stop this morning is the Temple of Apollo, one of the main religious centres of ancient Cyprus, where Apollo was worshipped as god of the woodlands. We then visit the ruins of Kourion, a city built in 1200 BC . Of interest are the public baths, the necropolis, the Fountain House, House of Gladiators and House of Achilles. The most spectacular site at Kourion is the Greco-Roman theatre that has been completely restored and is used today for open air musical and theatrical performances. Continue to Kolossi Castle, which was built in the 15th century on the ruins of a former fortress dated to the beginning of the 13th century. We then pass through the wine growing region around Limassol and through the fragrant citrus plantations – lemons, oranges, and grapefruits we arrive to the old centre of Limassol for lunch (Optional) and some free time to browse round the local shops.  Before we return to the hotel, we visit Limassol Fort, just above the old harbour. According to tradition, this is where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191. The fortified walls are of considerable archaeological interest and thought to be fragments of a much larger castle. Dinner & Overnight at your hotel.

Day 3 – Nicosia 

Breakfast at your hotel. Start todays tour at 9:00am, today we visit Nicosia, the only divided city left in Europe, which part of the city is under Turkish occupation. We begin the day with a visit to a handicraft centre where we can see the traditional skills still performed, and then continue to the “Green Line” which divides the city. We will have a panoramic view of the capital passing in front of the Venetian Walls, the Famagusta Gate, the Statue of Liberty and finally we will stop in front of the Archbishop’s Palace. We will visit Saint John’s Cathedral which was built in 1662. The tour continues towards the newly restored “Laiki Gitonia”, an example of an Old Cypriot Neighbourhood, where we will have time for shopping (folk art, jewels, pottery).  After lunch we visit the Cyprus Archaeological Museum. Founded in 1882 it is the oldest and largest archaeological museum in Cyprus. The museum houses artefacts discovered during numerous excavations on the island and is home to the most extensive collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world. Of note is that only artefacts discovered on the island are displayed. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 – Troodos Mountains Villages

Breakfast at your hotel. Today we will explore the Troodos Mountains, we head to the south west part of Troodos, where the delightful wine villages are located. We visit the most picturesque village, Omodos, famous for its monastery, dedicated to the Holy Cross, followed by a visit at a local winery where we will have the chance to taste the wine and other products.  Omodos is also famous for lace and crafts and the traditional wine press known as ‘Linos’. We then continue to Troodos Square, which is situated 1800m above sea level, and on to the 11^th century church of “Saint Nicholas of the Roof” which in 1985 was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List alongside nine other painted Byzantine churches of the Troodos range. Close by is the beautifully cool and green village of Kakopetria where huge plane trees line the streets, squares and the banks of the river. Here we have a traditional lunch followed by a walk in the old part of the village to admire the architectural style of the restored houses. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 – Free Day

Breakfast at your hotel. Today enjoy a Free day to relax & unwind at you leisure. Return to hotel for Dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – Paphos / Ayios Neophytos Monastery 

Breakfast at your hotel. start the day at 9:00am with a tour of Paphos. First stop will be the most famous landmark in cyprus “Aphrodite’s Rock”, the birthplace of the Goddess of Love and Beauty. We continue to Saint Neophytos monastery founded by the Cypriot hermit and writer Neofytos. It is built in what used to be a secluded location at the head of a picturesque valley.  The “Egkleistra”, an enclosure carved out of the mountain by the hermit at the end of the 12th century, contains some of the finest Byzantine frescoes from the 12th to the 15th centuries. The later monastery church contains some of the best examples of post – Byzantine icons of the 16th century. Then onto Paphos where we will visit the 13^th century Chrysopolitissa church which is shared by the Anglican and Catholic congregation, who hold regular services at the invitation of the local Orthodox priest. Within the compound one can see Saint Paul’s Pillar. Saint Paul visited Pafos in 45 AD in an attempt to convert the ruler of the time to Christianity. After lunch and some free time in the picturesque fishing harbour of Paphos we continue to the archaeological park, known as the House of Dionysos with the fabulously preserved mosaics and which dates back to the second century A.D. The name “House of Dionysus” is mainly due to the many representations of Dionysus, the god of wine. The house most probably belonged to a member of the ruling Roman class or to a wealthy citizen of Paphos. Our final stop in Paphos is at the Tombs of the Kings.  Spread over a vast area, these impressive underground tombs date back to the 4th century BC. They are carved out of solid rock while some are decorated with Doric pillars. High officials rather than Kings were buried here, but the magnificence of the tombs gave the locality its name. On our way back to our hotel we stop at Geroskipou village which is famous for its “loukoumia”, or what the rest of the world calls Turkish delight. Indeed, it has Protected Geographical Indication, like champagne or Cornish pasties. We will visit a family-owned delights factory and the remarkable five-domed Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi. Return to your hotel for Dinner & Overnight.

Day 7- Free Day

Breakfast at your hotel. Today enjoy a Free day to relax & unwind at you leisure. Return to hotel for Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Departure 

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the Airport for departure. Flight home to Dublin.