4VIP Tour

Day 1

Arrival to Cyprus and accommodation in the Hotel

Day 2

Trip to Wine Festival.

The Wine Festival of Cyprus is an annual festival in Limassol, Cyprus that celebrates wine and winemaking. The festival was first organized in 1961 and since then it has become an established annual event of merrymaking and fun, in which the citizens of Limassol are not the only participants; visitors come also from every part of Cyprus. Its reputation is spread beyond the geographic boundaries of the island. In September of each year, Limassol becomes the attraction of thousands of locals and tourists who visit the Municipal Garden to enjoy the Wine Festival with the motto 'Drink wine, it gives you life!' (Πίνε κρασί, νάσιεις ζωή). They become the protagonists of the Festival banishing from their minds all concerns and worries, free from social conventions or protocols, in an atmosphere of unconditional fraternization, generated by the effects of free wine provided by local wineries ETKO, KEO, SODAP and LOEL. The Wine Festival can be regarded as a variant and a revival of ancient festive manifestations of worship in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine, and Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. During these feasts people worshiped their gods, but primarily enjoyed themselves.

Day 3

Free day to explore the city

Day 4

Full day trip to Birth Place of Aphrodite (Paphos).

According to one legend, Aphrodite was born from the waves on the site off the coast of Cyprus. Hesiod, in his Theogony (circa 8th century BC), provides a dramatic account of the event. Cronus, son of Gaia, castrated his father Uranus on his mother’s orders because of Uranus’ infidelity, and his testicles fell into the sea. A cascade of effervescent white foam appeared from which a damsel of extraordinary beauty arose. This maiden was named Aphrodite who was then escorted ashore on a shell by the soft breezes of the Zephyrs to the rocks known as Petra tou Romiou (Rock of the Greek) and also Aphrodite’s Rock.

According to another, this place is indeed the birthplace of Aphrodite. It is believed that she emerged from the sea at this bay. Aphrodite herself chose the famous rock to begin her life as a human. It is said that Aphrodite first traveled to the island of Cythera, but she found it too small and therefore reached Paphos and settled here. Whichever the legend, this is a popular site for an excursion in Cyprus.

After the lunch we will continue our journey to the Bath of Aphrodite.

The ‘Baths of Aphrodite’ is an area on the way to Akamas National Park just after pictures village of Latchi which attracts many visitors. This beauty spot is situated close to the tip of the Akamas peninsula. A natural pool grotto surrounded in greenery, the site lies at the end of a small nature trail. As its name suggests, the grotto is said to be where the Goddess of Love used to bath in a pond just before her marriage to Hephaestus, the maker of the weapons for the gods. Another version says she was married to Ares, the God of War. Whichever the version, the Baths of Aphrodite provide a magnificent view of the Bay of Polis. You can enjoy the most beautiful sunset during the dinner from the restaurant on the cliff.

Day 5

Free day to explore the city

Day 6

Full day trip to Omodos to visit World famous Timios Stavros Monastery or the Monastery of the Holy Cross at Omodos which holds relics taken directly from Golgotha, the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The most important is the Great Cross with the Holy Rope. The piece of rope was given by St. Helena on her visit in 327-328 AD. A wooden Cross with a gold and silver-plated cover is placed in a special canopy at the iconostasis, bearing various depictions from the life of Christ. At the centre of the Cross, sheltered by a golden wicket that opens, lies the ‘AGIOS CANNAVOS’ (Holy Hemp-made Rope), also called the ‘AGIO SCHINIO’ (Holy Rope), a piece of the rope that the Romans used to fasten Christ upon the Cross and is stained red with His blood. It is the sole existing piece in the world. This church is a wonder of the World where visitors come to pray, asking for miracles related to family issues, health and happiness.

After the Visit to Monastery, we will walk around the beautiful pebble stone street village to take the pictures and buy some souvenirs.

Surprise experience will wait for you in the afternoon when you will be invited to join Plates smashing Traditional Cyprus dinner. Every tourist is curious about is the tradition of smashing plates or glasses during celebratory occasions. The origin of this strange custom is not known in much detail. What is certain is that it originated in Greece and soon filtered down to Cyprus. Tour will arrange this experience in a trip to one of the many different Cyprus village style taverns that still conduct the ritual. One of better village taverns is in Omodos, near Troodos, with old style musicians, singers and traditional dancers included. Visitors will be offered local drink –Zivania together with full Cypriot meat meze and allowed to smash plates. After the meal, guests are entertained with Greek and Cypriot music and dancing, including the famous Sirtaki, which is an entrancing and enticing dance which will tempt you to join in.

Day 7

Free day to explore the city

Day 8

Full day trip to Troodos for wine tasting experience.

Cyprus is renowned for the various wines it produces. Vintners have vineyards ranging from just one acre to tens of hectares. Wine is not a new story for Cyprus. Recent archaeological excavations which have been undertaken on the island have confirmed the thinking that this small island has been producing wine for almost 5,000 years. The discoveries testify that Cyprus may well be the cradle of wine development in the entire Mediterranean basin, from Greece, to Italy and France.

This historic panorama of continuous wine history that the island possesses is just one of the reasons that make a trip to the wine villages such a fascinating prospect. A second important reason is the wines of today -finding and getting to know our regional wineries, which are mostly small and enchanting. All visitors will be invited to sample as many different sort of wine as you wish during your journeys along the ‘Wine Routes’ of Cyprus.

We will stop for dinner in some of the pictures villages with waterfalls along the route.

Day 9

We continue our journey with visit to one of the famous Archeological site mount of Kourion, on which the ancient city-kingdom developed, occupies a dominant position on the coast 4 km southwest of the village of Episkopi in Limassol district. The earliest evidence of settlement in the broader area of Kourion dates to the Neolithic period (4500-3900 B.C.), whilst the most ancient remains in the area of the ancient city itself are connected with settlements and tombs of the Middle and Late Bronze Age. According to tradition Kourion was founded by Argives in the 13th century BC, during the first wave of the Mycenaean expansion and others followed the Argives in the 12th century as a result of the Dorian invasion of Greece.

Systematic excavations were undertaken in 1933-54 by the Pennsylvania University Museum with a break during the war years. During the excavations, the building of the Achilles Mosaic, the Theatre, the Baths and the Complex of Eustolios, the Stadium and the Sanctuary of Apollon Hylates came to light. In 1974-1979 the American Mission of the Dumbarton Oaks Centre for Byzantine Studies carried out excavations in the Early Christian Basilica of Kourion. At the same time (from 1964 until today) the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus excavated the Agora, the House of Gladiators, the Small Basilica next to the Stadium and the newly discovered Coastal Basilica. The Department is also responsible for the creation of the archaeological park of Kourion.

The city has a very large market place and you can find an early Christian Basilica as well within the city walls. Furthermore, large public baths which were equipped with cold, warm and hot spas were built. The large amphitheater sits 2000 spectators and held mostly gladiator games in the city; there is also a Palestra or a training place for gladiators. It’s one of the best sightseeing tours in Cyprus and must be on your Cyprus Holiday agenda.

We will stop for early dinner at one of the traditional Fish tavern on the beach at the bottom of Kourion.

Day 10

After breakfast, free time to explore the city. Transfer from the hotel to the airport and return to Warsaw.