Sunday 14th November – Nicosia

• Getting to Cyprus is rather easy, as the Mediterranean island has multiples connections with a number of affordable airlines from all around Europe.
• You will be checked for evidence of holding a vaccine certificate now that Cyprus has opened its borders to 65 nationalities who have received a Covid-19 vaccination.
• We check into our small hotel in Nicosia, which remains the only divided capital city on Earth!
• We meet our guide and head out with the rest of the tour group for a welcome meal.
  After getting in a few drinks, we return to our hotel for a night’s sleep.

Monday 15th November – Kyrenia

• After breakfast, we board our tour bus and cross into Northern Cyprus. As we pass the Metahan Road border, we see a number of large Turkish military outposts and a giant Turkish flag on the mountainside. Clearly, the large display is meant to be clearly visible from the opposing Cypriot side.
• After passing through passport control, we visit a site known as Buyuk Han, or “The Great Inn.” The structure was originally made by the Ottomans, who seized control of Cyprus from the Venetians in the 1500s. It features a beautiful open courtyard with a mosque but has long-since evolved into a thriving art center.
• Returning to our bus, we pass through the decayed streets of Lefkosa on our way to Saint Hilarion Castle. An imposing structure built upon a high mountain, the castle was built by the Byzantines during the 11 th century. The goal of the fortress was to defend the Cyprus coast from pirates. Today, however, it is one of the most peaceful and picturesque areas in the country.
• On our way into the nearby city of Kyrenia, we visit the training ground of the Turkish military’s parachute regiment.
• *Tour Highlight* TRNC National Day Celebrations which may include a military flyover, military parade and a great atmosphere around Kyrenia.
• We enjoy a late lunch near the Kyrenia harbor and check into our hotel with our group.
  After a day of seeing some really stuff, we will have worked up a thirst by now so this evening consists of a pub crawl around the town, peppered with a few unique sites and hidden gems.
• Return to our hotel for a night’s sleep.

Tuesday 16th November – Kyrenia

• After breakfast in the hotel and a stroll around the harbour, we jump on our bus and head west.
  Our first stop is a place called Mavi Kosk, or “The Blue House.” Before the war, it was owned by an infamous arms dealer, who used his ill-gotten gains to create a beautiful villa furnished in all styles of the 1970s. It also features a hidden tunnel, which allowed the previous owner to escape capture. It’s a truly unique spot – almost like stepping back through time.
  The next stop is the Bellapais Monastery, a gorgeous ruin overlooking some of the most beautiful scenery on the island. After exploring, we enjoy a lunch of kebabs and other local goodies.
  The next stop is Amaranta, a literal ghost town once intended as a housing development. Unfortunately, the men behind the properties were fraudsters, who ran off with the money and left the site and left nothing but the skeletons behind.
  We return to Kyrenia for an evening meal and some free time to explore the place yourself and/or have a few drinks
  After dinner, it’s back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.