Day 1 – Dublin to Paphos

Depart Dublin for Paphos. On arrival in Paphos Airport meet your professional tour manager and transfer to your hotel in Limassol for check-in.  Dinner and overnight.

Day 2 – Limassol Town & Surroundings

Following breakfast, we take a guided tour of Limassol. Visits include the Temple of Apollo, one of the main religious centres of ancient Cyprus where Apollo was worshipped as god of the woodlands; the ruins of Kourion, a city built in 1200 BC; and Kolossi Castle, which belonged to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem and for a few years in the 14th century it came under the control of the Knights Templar. Pass through the wine growing region around Limassol and through the fragrant citrus plantations with lemons, oranges, and grapefruits.
By the afternoon we arrive to the old centre of Limassol for lunch (at own arrangement) and some free time to browse 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. Dinner and overnight

Day 3 – Halloumi and Basketry Work Shop -Winery -Lefkara village

Departure for Choirokitia village to visit a traditional stone-built house of 1903, where the Halloumi and Basketry Workshop is a place safeguarding this ancient profession. Visitors can see and also participate in the creation of products made of reed which is found in Cypriot fields and rivers.
Traditional Basket weaving workshop and preparation of traditional halloumi in a “Talari” Basket, served with local bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, local eggs, warm fresh anari cheese, honey and carob-syrup, homemade cake and served with Cypriot coffee and fresh homemade lemonade. Additionally, each participant gets a handmade basket as a souvenir.
Our next stop is Christoudias Winery where we will have the chance to have a tour at the winery and taste some of their products.
Our tour continues with a visit of Lefkara village. Lefkara is where the Cypriot folk needlecraft art was born and the magnificent Lefkara Church is dedicated to the Holy Cross and dates back to the 14th century. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 – Troodos Mountain Villages -Cooking lesson

Following breakfast in the hotel, we depart to 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 wine and other products. Omodos is also famous for lace and crafts and the traditional wine press known as ‘Linos’.
Then we continue to Platres village where we will have our Cypriot dish lesson by a professional Chef. All participants will learn and help to prepare a local dish call “Moussaka” and then when its ready to eat, together it will be served with some other local specialties.
Return to Limassol via Lania Village. Lania is one of the grape cultivating villages of the island. Interesting sights include the old wine press, the Commandaria Storage Museum, and an old olive press. The church of Panagia Valana is located in the centre of the village, whilst the chapel of Panagia Valana can be found just outside the village.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 – Day at leisure

Breakfast in the hotel and full day at leisure to spend relaxing, shopping or further sightseeing.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 6 – Paphos

Following breakfast in your hotel, depart for full day tour of Paphos. Our first stop will be most famous landmark in Cyprus – “Aphrodite’s Rock”, the birthplace of the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
Then on to Paphos where we will visit the 13th 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 Paphos in 45 AD in an attempt to convert the ruler of the time to Christianity. He was successful in his efforts, but not before being tied and whipped to this otherwise unremarkable lump of stone. The Pillar of Saint Paul is one of several popular stops for pilgrims who come to see the religious sites of this early bastion of the Christian faith. He received 40 lashes for evangelising on the island. 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 dating to the 2nd century AD.
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. The village is also famous for the remarkable five-domed Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi.
Return to Limassol for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 – Nicosia

Following breakfast, 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. Then on to the Byzantine museum, to admire its remarkable collection of icons dating from the 9th through to the 19th centuries and salvaged from all over Cyprus. The tour continues towards the newly restored “Laiki Gitonia”, an example of an Old Cypriot Neighborhood, 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. Return to Limassol for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Paphos to Dublin

Breakfast at your hotel and check-out. Transfer to Paphos airport for your return flight to Dublin.