PRICES FROM ONLY £1345 NORTHERN PER PERSON CYPRUS Escorted Explorations of Kyrenia & Beyond staying at the Onar Village Hotel 2017 NORTHERN CYPRUS – ANCIENT & MODERN An escorted exploration of Kyrenia & beyond with an optional ‘Taste of Cyprus’ programme 8th to 18th May; 18th to 28th September & 13th to 23rd October 2017 yprus with its significant position in the Eastern Mediterranean has, since the earliest times, held great political importance. Greeks, Romans, Persians, Crusaders, Venetians and COttomans 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 or the opportunity to join some optional excursions which focus on the gastronomy of Northern Cyprus. Wild flowers 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, a delightful, family run property located just outside the harbour town of Kyrenia which we have been associated with for many years. The Itinerary Day 1 London to Larnaca. Fly by scheduled flight. Drive to the Onar Day 4 Famagusta & Salamis. Enjoy a full day excursion to the old Village, crossing the border to Kyrenia, for a ten night stay. walled city of Gazimagusa (Famagusta) including Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (formerly St Nicholas Cathedral), the Othello Tower and the Day 2 Kyrenia. A day of relaxation whilst you become acquainted with the ruins of the Venetian Palace. Continue to the important ancient site of delightful Onar Village Hotel. Salamis, a former capital of Cyprus. Our lunch will be taken at Salamis in a local restaurant by the beach. The day concludes with a visit to Day 3 Kyrenia. Today we drive up into the mountains to the 13th century St Barnabas Monastery which is home to the Archaeological and Crusader castle of St. Hilarion. The view of Kyrenia and the coastal plain Icon Museum containing many ancient artefacts from local is stunning from here. Continue to nearby Bellapais Abbey, a magnificent excavations. 13th century Gothic building in the village where Lawrence Durrel wrote ‘Bitter Lemons’. Drive down to picturesque old Kyrenia harbour and, after Day 5 Nicosia. This morning, drive to Lefkosa (Nicosia) and enjoy a walk lunch, visit Kyrenia Castle with its unique Shipwreck Museum. around the city, visiting the Girne Gate, Venetian Column, the Buyuk Han (a Roman theatre at Soli Gymnasium at the ancient site of Salamis Buyuk Khan, Nicosia Five Finger Mountain Lala Mustapha Pasha Mosque, Famagusta 2 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Kyrenia harbour 16th century inn), the Selimiye Mosque (formerly St Sophia Cathedral) and a traditional Turkish House. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. ‘A TASTE OF CYPRUS’ - Day 6 Kyrenia. A day at rest for individual sightseeing. OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS Day 7 Soli & Vouni. Drive west to Guzelyurt (Morphou), surrounded by We have incorporated four days at leisure into the itinerary, orange groves and market gardens. Continue to the 5th century B.C. however if you would like to join some optional excursions palace of Vouni, from where there are breath-taking views of the sea and exploring the gastronomy of Northern Cyprus we have arranged the Troodos Mountains. Visit the ruins of Soli, a Hellenistic and Roman city, the following tours. Please note that these excursions will only famous for its 5th century Basilica with mosaic floors and a Roman theatre operate with a minimum of six guests. with seventeen tier stone seating. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the nearby archaeological museum and Monastery of St Mamas. Paramali Olive Grove (Day 2, full day tour with lunch, £48 per person) Spend the day amongst the olive trees, on the foothills of Kyrenia Mountains. Paramali Olive Grove will awaken your senses. Join in the Today we will drive into the mountains for a climb to the Day 8 Kantara. collection of seasonal fresh herbs and vegetables that will be used Crusader castle of Kantara, high on a ridge with dramatic views. En-route to prepare the various mezes demonstrated to you. We will then we will stop at a picturesque fishing harbor. The excursion will include watch the preparation and baking of the traditional dish Kleftico, lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. slow cooked in a Cypriot clay oven. Learn the skills for making local desserts, sweets and coffee. Finally, enjoy all the tastes of Cyprus over Days 9 & 10 Kyrenia. Two days free for relaxation. Join the optional lunch as we indulge in the beautifully prepared foods of the day. excursion or perhaps take the complimentary bus into Kyrenia for some individual exploration and lunch in one of the many outdoor restaurants Buyukkonuk Eco-Village (Day 6, full day tour with lunch, £60 per person) that face the delightful harbour. Take this opportunity to have a unique insight into traditional Turkish Cypriot culture. We make our way towards the east to the village of Bukukkonuk, taking in the beautiful surrounds, admiring the rich Day 11 Larnaca to London. Transfer to the airport for the return scheduled population of carob and olive trees. The grounds of this eco-village flight to London. are abundant with crops of wheat, barley and several fruit trees, as well as sheep and goats providing milk and meat for the locals. Watch the preparation of traditional Halloumi Cheese and prepare PRICES PER PERSON and sample delicious local breads. Afterward we will enjoy a lunch of Based on double occupancy local fare. Before we depart we will take a tour of the village sights, we will visit the restored olive mill factory which has been turned CATEGORY May September & October into a functioning museum, and the quaint local church. Hotel room with balcony £1495 £1495 Forest Walk and BBQ (Day 9, full day tour with lunch, £36 per person) Garden villa N/A £1595 We start the day with a scenic drive up to Five Finger Mountain, Hotel room with balcony for sole occupancy £1595 £1595 a uniquely shaped mountain range that runs parallel to the north coast. We will make our way through the forests, pausing at various Supplement for additional seven nights on half board basis without excursions vantage points to take in the spectacular views. As we move to Hotel room with balcony £395 exploring the forest on foot, the pine and conifer trees offer a path of Garden villa (not available for May departure) £495 natural beauty. Once we emerge, enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch within Hotel room with balcony for sole occupancy £495 the grounds of the 12th century Byzantine Church of Aniphonitis, and charming building thoughtfully adorned with frescos. Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, 10 nights accommodation at Onar Village on half board basis (breakfast and dinner), lunches during The above tours can be booked for the package price excursions on days 3, 4, 7 and 8, excursions with local guide, tour manager, entrance fees, transfers, airport taxes. of £135 per person. Not Included: Travel insurance, optional excursions, gratuities. +44 (0)20 7752 0000 3 MUSIC IN KYRENIA An escorted tour of Northern Cyprus at the Onar Village in Kyrenia with London Festival Opera 2nd to 9th October 2017 ue to the continuing popularity of our music tours in collaboration with London Festival Opera, we are delighted to Dbe once again hosting a music-themed stay at the Onar Village in the beautiful hilltop village of Kyrenia. The beautiful scenery, fascinating history and calming ambience of the region 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. Bellapais Abbey The Itinerary Day 1 London to Larnaca. Fly by scheduled flight. Drive to the Onar tracing the life of Maria Callas in words and music. Enjoy dinner at the Village, crossing the border to Kyrenia, for a seven night stay. hotel this evening. Day 2 Kyrenia. Today we visit Bellapais Abbey, a magnificent 13th century Day 5 Famagusta & Salamis. Full day excursion to the old walled city of Gothic building in the village where Lawrence Durrell wrote “Bitter Gazimagusa (Famagusta), including Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (formerly Lemons”. Our day continues with a drive down to the picturesque old St Nicholas Cathedral). Continue to the important ancient site of Salamis, Kyrenia harbour and, after lunch, we visit Kyrenia Castle with its unique a former capital of Cyprus. Enjoy lunch by the beach at Salamis. Dinner this Shipwreck Museum. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner in the hotel this evening. evening will be at the hotel. Day 3 Kyrenia. We will drive up to the Kyrenia Mountains known as the Day 6 Kyrenia. Drive up into the mountains to the 13th century crusader Five Finger Mountains which run for 120 kilometres parallel to the North castle of St Hilarion. The view of Kyrenia and the coastal plain is stunning from Cyprus coastline. Enjoy a barbecue before we return to the hotel and enjoy here. The remainder of the day is at leisure and dinner will be at the hotel. the afternoon at leisure. After an early dinner at the hotel we will transfer to Bellapais Abbey for a performance by London Festival Opera featuring the Day 7 Kyrenia.