Once a quintessential Mediterranean seaside resort and one of North Cyprus’ busiest tourist towns, the sandy beaches of Famagusta were left deserted in 1974, when the island was divided. Not all of Famagusta has been abandoned though and strolling around the walled old quarter offers a glimpse into the town’s former glory. This tour will give you a chance to explore the daily life of ancient people at Saint Barnabas hometown of Salamis. The excursion includes a visit to Saint Barnabas monastery, the Icon Museum and the archaeology museum. Light lunch included at a seafront restaurant followed by a visit to the modern part of Famagusta, one of the well preserved walled cities in the world.

No holiday to North Cyprus can be complete without a visit to the Karpaz Peninsula, this is the Cyprus of old, a land almost unspoilt by the savage hand of modern development, where Mother Nature still holds the reins of power; where donkeys, trees, flowers, and cereal crops dot the landscape as far as the eye can see, before tapering off into the blue waters of the Mediterranean. There is also an abundance of history with ancient city sites, Byzantine period basilicas with intricate mosaics; conglomerations of timeworn churches; rural traditional Cypriot villages whose inhabitants pursue a way of life now as they have done for the past few hundred years.

All too often overlooked in favor of the beach front coastal resorts, the Cypriot capital offers an intriguing glimpse into modern-day island life. Nicosia’s (Lefkoşa) most unique claim to fame is its status as the world’s last divided capital and the imposing ‘Green Line’ provides a visual marker between the Turkish-ruled Northern Cyprus and the southern Republic of Cyprus. Passports required for this excursion.