Christmas & New Year in Northern Cyprus

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Christmas & New Year in Northern Cyprus

Book by 30th September and save £50 on short haul products with Promo Code: BONUS50

Based close to fascinating Famagusta, where seasonal cheer is guaranteed, this wonderful 14-night holiday, features a mix of included highlights and optional tours, in addition to sparkling celebrations for both Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Holiday Highlights

Seeing St Hilarion's fairy-tale fortress
Christmas Day and New Year's Eve celebrations at your hotel
Exploring ruined but beautiful Famagusta
Ancient Salamis and its Roman architecture
Idyllic Bellapais and its Gothic abbey – once home to writer Lawrence Durrell
Seeing St Hilarion's fairy-tale fortress

What's Included

14 nights' all-inclusive accommodation at the Salamis Bay Conti Resort
A festive Christmas Day dinner
A special New Year's Eve celebration with live entertainment
A visit to Famagusta and the ancient ruins of Salamis
Return flights to Larnaca or Paphos
Coach travel and transfers throughout
The services of a friendly, experienced tour manager
One piece of hold luggage per person

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Cyprus and transfer to the Salamis Bay Conti Resort.

Day 2

Today's included excursion introduces you to nearby fascinating Famagusta. The city was once one of the world's richest and today is somewhat of a living museum. Explore its ruined churches, former-cathedral-turned-mosque, and Venetian Palace lying amid modern cafés and shops. You'll also take in the extraordinary Roman ruins of the ancient coastal city of Salamis, with its colonnades, a magnificent theatre and a bathhouse, which was once part of a much larger settlement, a lot of which is now submerged under the sea. This afternoon, return to your hotel to begin your celebrations with a Christmas Eve dinner.

Day 3

A day at leisure to relax and enjoy Christmas Day at your hotel, making the most of the facilities on offer before Christmas Dinner is served this evening.

Day 4

This morning you’ll have the chance to stretch your legs and get some fresh air by visiting historic Kantara Castle on an optional half-day excursion. Located around 1800ft above sea level in the Kyrenia Mountains, Kantara Castle is one of several castles in the area that formed a defensive perimeter protecting Cyprus’ northern shores from invaders. Thanks to its unique vantage point, Kantara was used to pass messages to the other castles. The castle’s date of construction is unknown, but there are clear Byzantine and Frankish architectural elements. Your knowledgeable local guide will bring the castle’s fascinating history to life, including the story of when it was taken by Richard the Lionheart in 1191.

Day 5

Rest and relax at the hotel or join today’s optional excursion to historic Nicosia, island capital for more than 12 centuries and separated into a Turkish north and Greek south since the Green Line was first drawn, in 1963. Enjoy a guided tour of the northern territory, where highlights include the ancient Büyük Han, once the largest caravanserai (roadside inn) on Cyprus, the colourful covered bazaar and the Selimiye Mosque (historically known as the Cathedral of St Sophia). After crossing into the southern territory, you'll have free time to explore the narrow streets that shelter within the Venetian walls of Nicosia's old town. Why not visit tiny St John's Cathedral or one of the various museums of Cypriot history and culture before you return to your hotel?

Day 6

Today’s tour begins with a visit to the mountain-top castle of St Hilarion and beautiful village of Bellapais – home to the preserved ruins of a Gothic abbey. This idyllic spot was home for three years to celebrated writer Lawrence Durrell, who chronicled his stay here in his novel Bitter Lemons. Wander the ruins of the abbey, stepping back in time, before heading to Kyrenia with its horseshoe-shaped harbour and entrance to the imposing medieval castle – a picture-perfect scene enhanced by the festive decorations of the cafés and shops that fringe the harbour at this time of year.

Day 7

Today’s optional excursion gives you the chance to explore the unspoilt Karpas Peninsula, a rugged spit of land fringed by some of the island's bluest waters, dotted with old villages, home to herds of wild donkeys and the remote Apostolos Andreas monastery, famous for its holy well. You’ll also visit an olive oil producer and – weather permitting – Golden Beach.

Day 8

Choose to relax in the comfort of your hotel or explore your surroundings, today. Why not take a leisurely wander along the beach towards Salamis?

Day 9

Spend your day relaxing and enjoying your hotel facilities as you build up to New Year’s Eve celebrations, accompanied by live music.

Day 10

After a relaxing morning, you’ll have another chance to stretch your legs and get some fresh air by visiting historic Kantara Castle on an optional half-day excursion this afternoon.

Day 11

Rest and relax at the hotel today.

Day 12

A second opportunity to visit historic Nicosia on an optional excursion.

Day 13

Rest and relax at the hotel, or visit Kyrenia and Bellapais for a second time on our optional excursion.

Day 14

Your final optional excursion gives you the chance to explore the unspoiled Karpas Peninsula once more.

Day 15

Bid farewell to your Cypriot hosts, and transfer back to the airport for your flight home.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Foreign Office travel advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour and 10 minutes from Larnaca and two hours and 30 minutes from Paphos.

European closing times

Shops in Europe will generally close from early afternoon on Christmas Eve until 27th December. Included tours and excursions have been chosen for their scenic or historic value.

Passport information

European Union citizens travelling across the border from Southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus must have passports valid for at least two months beyond the date of their crossing. Visitors from outside the EU must have passports valid for at least six months beyond the date of their crossing.

Terms and conditions

BONUS50 TERMS: This offer applies to UK and European air-inclusive holidays. The offer is available on new bookings made between 1st and 30th September (inclusive) only. This offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing, Lapland day breaks and Wimbledon packages. Offer excludes Wimbledon packages, Lapland Santa Experience Day Trips and Late Deals. Prices shown when booking do not include the discount. The £50 per person discount will be applied to your booking once the promo code BONUS50 has been entered, and will be confirmed before purchase. The discount applies to your final holiday price (excluding insurance if selected) at the time of booking. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

Holiday provided by

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