NORTHERN Escorted explorations of and beyond staying at the Onar Village Hotel - aNCIENT & mODERN An escorted exploration of Kyrenia and beyond staying at the Onar Village hotel

Kyrenia Castle and the Harbour Ballapais Abbey

yprus with its significant position in the Eastern Mediterranean has, since the earliest times held great political Cimportance. Greeks, Romans, Persians, Crusaders, Venetians and Ottomans have all left their mark on this beautiful island. This escorted itinerary focuses on the north of the island with its marvellous collection of sites from ancient Greek through to Venetian. Rather than rushing through the itinerary in the customary week, we have extended to a ten night trip, thereby allowing for some restful breaks in between the excursions. Northern Cyprus is still relatively unspoilt by the ravages of tourism and the development that goes with it and the base for our stay is the Onar Village Hotel, a delightful, family run property located just outside the harbour town of Kyrenia which we have been associated with for almost twenty years. The Itinerary Day 1 London to Larnaca. Fly by scheduled flight. Drive to the Onar Village orange groves and market gardens. Continue to the 5th century B.C. Hotel, crossing the border to Kyrenia, for a ten night stay. palace of Vouni, from where there are breath-taking views of the sea and the Troodos Mountains. Visit the ruins of Soli, a Hellenistic and Roman city, Day 2 Kyrenia. A day of relaxation whilst you become acquainted with the famous for its 5th century Basilica with mosaic floors and a Roman theatre delightful Onar Village Hotel. with seventeen tier stone seating. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the nearby archaeological museum and Monastery of St Mamas. Day 3 Kyrenia. Drive up into the mountains to the 13th century Crusader castle of St Hilarion. The view of Kyrenia and the coastal plain is stunning Day 8 Kantara. Today we will drive into the mountains for a climb to the from here. Continue to nearby Abbey, a magnificent 13th Crusader castle of Kantara, high on a ridge with dramatic views. En-route century Gothic building in the village where Lawrence Durrell wrote “Bitter we will stop at a picturesque fishing harbour. The excursion will include Lemons”. Drive down to picturesque old Kyrenia harbour and, after lunch, lunch in a local restaurant. visit with its unique Shipwreck Museum. Days 9 & 10 Kyrenia. Two days free for relaxation and individual Day 4 Famagusta & Salamis. Full day excursion to the old walled city of sightseeing, perhaps taking an optional forest walk with barbeque. Gazimagusa (Famagusta), including Lala Mustapha Pasha Mosque (formerly St Nicholas Cathedral), the Othello Tower and the ruins of the Venetian Day 11 Larnaca to London. Transfer to the airport for the return scheduled Palace. Continue to the important ancient site of Salamis, a former capital flight to London. of Cyprus. Lunch will be taken at Salamis by the beach. The day concludes with a visit to St Barnabas Monastery which is home to the Archeological and Icon Museum containing many ancient artefacts from local excavations. 2015 Departure Dates and Prices per person based on double occupancy Day 5 Nicosia. This morning, drive to Lefkosa (Nicosia) and enjoy a walk around the city, visiting the Girne Gate, Venetian Column, the Buyuk Khan 17th to 27th April; 1st to 11th May; 20th to 30th May, 1st to 11th June; (a 16th century inn), the Selimiye Mosque (formerly St Sophia Cathedral) 17th to 27th September; 6th to 16th October and a traditional Turkish House. Afternoon at leisure. Hotel room with balcony £1295 Garden villa £1495 Day 6 Kyrenia. A day of rest, or perhaps take the complimentary bus into Sole occupancy of hotel room with balcony £1495 Kyrenia for some individual exploration and lunch in one of the many outdoor restaurants that face the delightful harbour. Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, 10 night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast and dinner daily, lunches on days 3, 4, 7 and 8, excursions with guide, entrance fees, tour manager, transfers, airport taxes. Day 7 Soli & Vouni. Drive west to Guzelyurt (Morphou), surrounded by Not Included: Travel insurance, optional excursions, gratuities.

www.noble-caledonia.co.uk +44 (0)20 7752 0000 Ruins of St Hilarion Castle

Music in Kyrenia An escorted tour of Northern Cyprus staying at the Onar Village Hotel in Kyrenia with London Festival Opera – 28th September to 5th October 2015

ue to the continuing popularity of our music tours in collaboration with London Festival Opera, we are Ddelighted to be hosting a music-themed stay at the Onar Village in the beautiful hilltop village of Kyrenia. Our regular travellers will be aware that we have offered tours to Northern Cyprus for many years, however we recently introduced a music theme to our programmes which has proven very popular with some excellent feedback received. The beautiful scenery, fascinating history and calming ambience are the perfect setting to listen to the captivating music of the great composers. London Festival Opera will perform in the atmospheric Bellapais Abbey and the Bedesten, a former Byzantine church in Nicosia. Our week will also include explorations of the surrounding area, to learn of the different periods of history which have all left their mark.

London Festival Opera The Itinerary Joining us for our visit Day 1 London to Larnaca. Fly by scheduled flight. Drive to the Onar Village to Northern Cyprus Hotel, crossing the border to Kyrenia, for a seven night stay. Welcome will be members drinks and dinner at the hotel. of London Festival Opera. Bringing Day 2 Kyrenia. Today we visit Bellapais Abbey, a magnificent 13th century together established Gothic building in the village where Lawrence Durrell wrote “Bitter opera singers Lemons”. Our day continues with a drive down to the picturesque old from major British Kyrenia harbour and, after lunch, we visit Kyrenia Castle with its unique opera companies Shipwreck Museum. Enjoy dinner and cocktails in the hotel this evening. including the Royal Opera, English Day 3 Kyrenia. We will drive up to the Kyrenia Mountains known as the Five National Opera and Finger Mountains which run for 120 kilometres parallel to the North Cyprus Glyndebourne Festival coastline. After a BBQ lunch we return to the hotel and enjoy the afternoon Opera, London at leisure. After an early dinner at the hotel we will transfer to Bellapais Festival Opera have Abbey for a performance by London Festival Opera featuring the works achieved a considerable reputation for presenting opera and music of the great opera composers including Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet and performances internationally in palaces, castles, country houses, Puccini. theatres, embassies, private homes and some of the leading opera houses of the world. Particular attention is given to the design and Day 4 Nicosia. This morning, drive to Lefkosa (Nicosia) and enjoy a walk quality of their costumes which are as authentic as possible. around the city, visiting the Girne Gate, Venetian Column, the Selimiye Mosque (formerly St Sophia Cathedral) and the Buyuk Khan (a 16th century

www.noble-caledonia.co.uk +44 (0)20 7752 0000 Kyrenia Harbour Gymnasium at the ancient site of Salamis

Buyuk Khan, Nicosia

inn). After lunch at Buyuk Khan we transfer to Bedesten for a matinee concert by London Festival Opera who will perform a programme of opera Opera Venues tracing the life of Maria Callas in words and music. Dinner at the hotel. During our escorted tour, there will be three opera Day 5 Famagusta & Salamis. Full day excursion to the old walled city of performances by London Festival Opera in two Gazimagusa (Famagusta), including Lala Mustapha Pasha mosque (formerly magnificent settings: St Nicholas Cathedral). Continue to the important ancient site of Salamis, a former capital of Cyprus. Lunch will be taken at Salamis by the beach. Bedesten: Situated in the town of Dinner tonight is at the hotel. Nicosia, Bedesten was constructed in the 12th century as a Byzantine Day 6 Kyrenia. Drive up into the mountains to the 13th century Crusader church (The St. Nicholas Church). It castle of St Hilarion. The view of Kyrenia and the coastal plain is stunning was later enlarged with some Gothic from here. The remainder of the day is at leisure. This evening we return to annexes built by the Lusignans. After Bellapais Abbey for dinner and our final performance from London Festival some more changes in the Venetian Opera, ‘A Night at the Opera’ featuring popular repertoire with highlights period, the building was given to from the great operas of Verdi including ‘Otello’ which is set in Cyprus. the Greek Orthodox Metropolis. The building with its different A day of rest, or perhaps take the complimentary bus into Day 7 Kyrenia. architectural styles is of a hybrid nature. In the Ottoman period, Kyrenia for some individual exploration and lunch in one of the many it served as a depot and a market where mostly textile products outdoor restaurants. This evening we transfer to the harbour for our were sold. The masonry on its northern entrance resembles the farewell dinner in a delightful local restaurant. masonry on the entrance of the St. Sophia Cathedral.

Day 8 Larnaca to London. Transfer to the airport for the return scheduled Bellapais Monastery: This Gothic flight to London. building derives its name from French - “Abbaye de la Paix”, meaning monastery of peace. Bellapais Village NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON THE FIRST FIVE is built around this beautiful abbey, HOTEL ROOM BOOKINGS situated in the Five Finger Mountains near Kyrenia. The first building was Prices per person constructed between 1198 A.D. and based on double occupancy 1205 A.D. Later, between 1267 A.D. and 1284 A.D. French King Hugh III Hotel room with balcony £1695 gave it the present shape that exists today. The pavilions around Garden villa £1895 the courtyard and the refectory were constructed during the Sole occupancy of hotel room with balcony £1895 reign of King Hugh IV between 1324 A.D. and 1359 A.D. The Supplement for additional seven nights on half board basis without excursions Italian frescoes on the front walls were made in the 15th century. Hotel room with balcony £395 When the island was captured by the Ottomans, the building Garden villa £495 was given to the Greek Orthodox Church who built the 13th Sole occupancy of hotel room with balcony £495 century abbey church present today. Much of the Bellapais Monastery now consists of picturesque ruins with great Gothic Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, seven nights accommodation arches and towering stone walls. Many music events are held in at the Onar Village on half board basis, 2 dinners at local restaurants as described, lunches on excursions (days 2-5), 3 London Festival Opera performances as the Refectory Hall which has excellent acoustics. described, excursions with guide, entrance fees, transfers, airport taxes. Not Included: Travel insurance, optional excursions, gratuities. www.noble-caledonia.co.uk +44 (0)20 7752 0000 Onar Village HOTEL he Onar Village Hotel has an enviable location just outside Kyrenia occupying Televated ground with magnificent views over the sea and surrounded by lovely gardens. The relaxing and traditional hospitality at the family-run hotel make the Onar Village an ideal retreat for a relaxing break.

Your Accommodation Hotel room with balcony There are 18 garden villas and 44 hotel rooms. Both types of accommodation are air-conditioned and offer considerable comfort. The garden villas are set amongst landscaped pine tree gardens and consist of a double bedroom, sitting room, bathroom, kitchen, dining area, television, telephone and large patio. The hotel rooms are spacious and well designed with a balcony, bathroom, television, telephone and mini-bar. Your Space Hotel facilities include a large restaurant with sea views, a bar with outdoor terrace, an outside swimming pool with bar, indoor swimming pool, lounge and library, fitness room and health spa with sauna, Turkish bath and massage. There is also a complimentary daily shuttle service to and from the town and free wireless internet service in the restaurant, lounge and pool area. Garden Villa

Swimming pool with views of Kyrenia Indoor pool Kyrenia Harbour

2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0)20 7752 0000 | [email protected] | www.noble-caledonia.co.uk

Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover image: Ballapais Abbey.

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