Cyprus Harvest Tour

Departure

 Depart Harrisonburg for Dulles International Airport, arriving into Cyprus the following day.

Arrival

Land, unpack and unwind at our hotel. Dinner at the hotel. 

Paphos, Petro Tou Romiou

We travel to the Western and Southernmost tip of the island to the seaside city of Paphos. We will stroll through downtown Paphos and visit with local artists at The Place. We will have the opportunity to watch and learn how local icon makers, glass painters, sculptors and more. Meet with locals as they work, and take a stab at working with the medium. Lunch in old town. https://www.theplacecyprus.com/

Then we hike around Aphrodite’s Rock or Petro Tou Romiou, the birthplace of Aphrodite.


Lefkaria & Omodos

Today, we will visit the village of Lefkara, renowned for handmade lace and silversmith. We will meet with the ladies who weave to learn about this artwork that has sustained their village for centuries. We will have lunch in the village. Then travel to the mountaintop village of Omodos and tour a family-run vineyard and learn how to make Commandaria and other local grape varieties. Transport back to hotel for dinner.  https://www.lefkaravillage.com/


Aphrodite’s Temple and Kourion

We pack up and travel to the Western and Southernmost tip of the island to the seaside city of Paphos. Here, we will dip our feet into the crystal clear waters by Aphrodite’s Rock or Petro Tou Romiou, the place where Homer claims Aphrodite stepped onto the beaches from the seafoam and changed history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra_tou_Romiou

We will also visit the Tomb of the Kings and the ancient Roman city of Kourion. https://www.visitcyprus.com/index.php/en/discovercyprus/rural/sites-monuments/item/2402-kourion-archaeological-site 


Downtown Paphos, Turkish Delights

 We will stroll through downtown Paphos and visit with local artists at The Place. We will have the opportunity to watch and learn how local icon makers, glass painters, sculptors and more. Meet with locals as they work, and take a stab at working with the medium. Lunch in old town. https://www.theplacecyprus.com/

Afterwards, we walk towards a local confectionary and enjoy a real treat. We will go to Aphrodite Delights to learn how Loukoumiou is made (Turkish Delights - or as they call it in Cyprus – “Cyprus Delights”). https://www.aphroditedelights.com/

*Travel to new hotel*


The Five Fingers, Buffavento Mountaintop

After breakfast, we travel to the North eastern shores of the island, and trek across the Five Fingers Mountain range. Our professional tour guide will share with us the long history of Cyprus and the many civilizations and empires that have captured this strategically located island. We will visit an ancient Coptic Orthodox Monastery, nestled in the mountain range. We will enjoy a traditional Cypriot lunch at the Buffavento Mountaintop restaurant plus choice of drink. Return to hotel approximately 4 PM, in time for a quick dip in the pool or beach and dinner on the terrace.Down day at the hotel to rest and enjoy the amenities


Famagusta, Salamis, Othello’s Tour

After breakfast, we visit the far eastern side of the island and tour Famagusta. We will trek through the ancient Roman city of Salamis, visit Saint Barnabus’s final resting spot and Monastery, and visit Othello’s Tower. Lunch at a seaside restaurant for fresh locally caught fish and mezzehs. https://www.bibleplaces.com/salamis-cyprus/

Crusader Castles, Olive Mill

After breakfast at our hotel, we will visit one of the three main Crusader Castles in Cyprus. Perched on top of the Five Fingers Mountain range is the Saint Hilarion Castle, built in the 4th century. Bring a camera and wear comfortable shoes, as there will be a lot of walking and scaling with our professionally-guided tour. we will then head down the mountain to one of the most beautiful parts of the island: to the village of Bellapais (translated as “Beautiful Land” in French). http://www.sacred-destinations.com/cyprus/bellapais-abbey

Lunch will be held in the Old Bellapais Olive Mill. Once the island’s largest olive mill, it was in disuse for decades. The Olive Mill was recently restored to its historical beauty. We will meet with owner-founder and learn how olives have been pressed to perfection for centuries on the island and around the Mediterranean. Today, we will also learn how to make some traditional Cypriot cuisine: stuffed grape leaves and stuffed flower blossoms, tzatziki and tahini salad. Then we will enjoy a traditional Cypriot lunch with more mezzes and wine. After lunch we will stroll through the village and tour the 11th century Bellapais Monastery built by the Lusignans. En route, take a picture in front of the home of Laurence Durrell, the author of the famed book “Bitter Lemons” and the television series The Durrells. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellapais_Abbey

*Semi-required reading: “Bitter Lemons” by Laurence Durrell. We will sit, have coffee in the same restaurant and that he penned his famous book about the long history of Cyprus. 


Nicosia (The Last Divided Capital), Buyuk Han, the Green Line

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll depart around 09:00AM to visit the island's capital city of Nicosia. The capital of Cyprus is split in two by the 'Green Line', dividing the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot communities since 1974. On the bus ride over, our tour guide will discuss the politics of Cyprus, and hopefully share both sides of the sad story that caused the island to divide. A stroll through Nicosia will introduce a picturesque combination of 16th century walls, pavement cafés, charming squares and monuments such as St Sophia Cathedral and the Gates of the Walled City. Take a tour of the whirling dervishes, if you can. Shopping is fun and fabulous here - think leather goods, handbags, embroidered scarves, natural loofahs, Turkish towels, organic soaps, fine jewelry and more. Lunch will be at a famous, downtown cafe, in the middle of the beautiful and famous Buyuk Han - a caravan destination for spices, textiles and jewelry during the Ottoman period. It is famous for its tart, handmade lemonade (using bitter lemons!) http://www.whatson-northcyprus.com/interest/nicosia/north_nicosia/buyuk_han.htm

Wine Tasting, Cooking Day

We end our holiday with a culinary treat. After breakfast at the hotel, we will meet with Israeli Chef Ben, who will take local produce and turn them into a 3-course feast. Top-rated Trip Advisor wines from Gillham Vineyards will be along to taste and add to our day. https://gillhamvineyard.com/

Flight Home

Transfers to airport included. 

13-day tour price to be $2550, which includes hotel, professional tour guides, all meals (minus lunch on Free Day), daily excursions, ground transportation and gratuity. Pretty much all your expenses, minus airfare and insurance. 

For more information on your tour, please contact Claudia at chveysel@yahoo.com. Claudia has been an LLI instructor for five years and leads culinary tours to Cyprus (her home country). She is excited to show a local’s perspective to her second home. Her goal is for you to leave happy, well rested, well fed, and have gotten an intimate view of island life. 


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