15 Days Mediterranean Heritage and Adventure Tour

About the destination: Larnaca, one of Cyprus’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, blends laid-back seaside charm with a deep sense of history. The city’s heart is its palm-fringed Finikoudes Promenade, lined with cafés, tavernas and bars that overlook a long sandy beach and calm, shallow waters. Strolling here at sunset offers a relaxed introduction to local life, as families, couples and fishermen all share the same coastal walkway. Just a few streets inland, you’ll find the atmospheric Church of Saint Lazarus, a 9th‑century Byzantine gem that houses the reputed tomb of Lazarus. Its stone façade and ornate iconostasis make it one of the island’s most important religious sites. From here, narrow lanes lead into the old Turkish quarter of Skala, where whitewashed houses, artisan workshops and small galleries reveal a quieter, traditional side of Larnaca. Nature lovers should head to the nearby Larnaca Salt Lake, a vast shimmering expanse that turns pink in winter when flocks of flamingos and other migratory birds arrive. A walking path circles part of the lake, offering peaceful views and a direct route to the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque, an important Muslim shrine set among palm trees and cypress groves. In summer, although the lake dries up, its cracked, white surface creates an otherworldly landscape worth seeing. Beyond the city, Larnaca makes an excellent base for exploring Cyprus’s eastern coast. Golden beaches at Mackenzie, Oroklini or nearby Ayia Napa and Protaras are within easy reach, offering crystal-clear waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Divers are drawn to the famous Zenobia wreck, one of the Mediterranean’s top dive sites, lying just off the Larnaca coast. With its combination of heritage, coastal relaxation and easy day trips, Larnaca is a rewarding destination for both short city breaks and longer island stays.

About the destination: With beautiful villages surrounded by vineyards and cities full of trendy art galleries, spas and restaurants, to shipwreck diving, skiing on snow-covered mountains and strolls around fabulous archaeological sites, colourful Cyprus is every inch a sophisticated Mediterranean destination. The island, which legend has it was where Aphrodite - the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty - was born, lies on the fringes of Europe at a point where Asian, Middle Eastern and European cultures merge. While giving the island a rich mix of traditions, cuisine and music, Cyprus’s strategic position has also made it desirable to countless powers over millennia. All have left their mark. Nicosia is the capital and, famously, the only remaining divided city in the world. The south of the city, known as Lefkosia, is a modern metropolis and the governmental, business and financial hub of the Republic of Cyprus, while the north (Lefkoşa) is considered the capital of the "self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". Since the Turkish invasion of 1974, north Cyprus is internationally considered an occupied territory. South Nicosia is characterised by wide boulevards lined with designer fashion shops, pavements cafés, offices and museums. It is dominated by huge city walls that separate its old town full of Venetian houses and the shiny new city around Eleftherias Square. Nicosia is a popular day excursion from the island’s other cities, Larnaca (Larnaka), Limassol (Lemesos) and Paphos (Pafos).

About the destination: Paphos, located on the sun-drenched southwest coast of Cyprus, blends beach relaxation with layers of myth and history. Known in ancient times as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, it offers a compelling mix of archaeological sites, charming harborside walks, and Mediterranean scenery. The town is divided into two main areas: Kato Paphos by the sea, where most of the hotels and attractions are, and the upper town (Pano Paphos), with its local markets and everyday Cypriot life. History enthusiasts will find plenty to explore. The Paphos Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to famously well-preserved Roman villas, whose intricate floor mosaics depict scenes from Greek mythology. Nearby, the Tombs of the Kings—actually burial sites of high-ranking officials rather than royalty—are carved from solid rock and offer an atmospheric glimpse into the Hellenistic and Roman past. Scattered around the region, ruins of early Christian basilicas and Byzantine churches underline the area’s long religious significance. Beyond its ancient heritage, Paphos is a relaxed seaside resort with a friendly, laid-back character. The palm-lined harbor, dominated by a small medieval fortress, is the focal point of modern life, with seafood restaurants, cafes, and bars overlooking the water. Beaches range from organized sandy stretches ideal for families to more secluded coves perfect for swimming and snorkelling. A short drive away, Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou) is a dramatic coastal landmark and a popular stop for sunset views. Paphos also serves as a convenient gateway to the wild, unspoiled Akamas Peninsula and the Troodos Mountains. Visitors can join boat trips to the Blue Lagoon, hike scenic coastal trails, or explore traditional stone-built villages where time seems to move more slowly. Whether you come for mythology, archaeology, or simple seaside relaxation, Paphos offers a compact yet varied introduction to the best of Cyprus.

About the destination: Athens takes its name after the goddess of wisdom Athena, who is celebrated by the magnificent Acropolis, which overlooks the modern, cosmopolitan city that Athens is today. Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities and it is the birthplace of western philosophy, democracy and theater. Up to this date, the Greek capital remains a major worldwide centre of culture, with its historic centre, iconic classical sites and museums filled with ancient Greece artefacts. The Acropolis, crowned by the emblematic Parthenon, has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cars were banned from the historic centre, which has become the most striking pedestrian promenade in Europe. In this archeological Park, visitors will witness the contrasting nature of this ancient metropolis being able to visit the New Acropolis Museum, a high-tech modern structure with light and airy exhibition spaces as well as the National Archaeological Museum, the largest archeological museum in Greece built in the 19th century and devoted to ancient Greek art. The Acropolis and Mount Lycavittos, the city’s highest points, are used as orientation since they are visible from most places in the Plaka, the old historical neighborhood. The Plaka is under the Acropolis and stretches almost to Syntagma, home of to the Greek Parliament. For a taste of the hedonistic Athenian lifestyle one should visit Monastiraki, where locals go to eat, drink and mingle. The night time belongs to Psirri, a vibrant neighbourhood known for its bars, live music venues and exciting nightclubs. Southeast of the city centre, a glorious stretch of coast affords dreamy views over the glistening blue Aegean Sea. Surely few European capitals can claim sandy beaches and clean water for swimming within such easy access. Athens therefore offers the best of both worlds – a fantastic city break as well as a lazy beach holiday. Athenians are surprisingly friendly and outgoing and their enthusiasm for life’s pleasurable pursuits is so infectious that even the stiffest traveler will take time out for endless coffees and evening strolls, dine out until late and enjoy the city’s nightlife, long after the rest of Europe has gone to bed.

About the destination: Formed by the massive volcanic eruption which gave rise to the Atlantis legend, Santorini is the most striking island in the Aegean. The island is actually the outer rim of a sunken volcano, its entire eastern coast is a succession of small towns perched on high hills. Fira is the island’s dramatically situated capital. Perched on the cliffs, overlooking the sea, the town of Fira shares with the Parthenon the fame of the best known images of Greece. The narrow streets are filled with souvenir shops, lovely boutiques and a lot of jewellery shops. It has two beautiful churches, the Greek Orthodox and the Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist. It also has a small local museum. Nightlife in Fira is also quite lively with good restaurants and bars, plus a few nightclubs. The city is a spectacle in itself, with a climax at sunset. Another great place to enjoy the sunset is the town of Ia, a small village clinging to the rocky point of land at the northern tip of the island, 300m above the sea. The beaches in Santorini are much different than other beaches in Greece due to their special geographical features. Red and black volcanic pebbles lay the shores of Santorini beaches and steep cliffs provide a picturesque ambience. The most famous of Santorini beaches is the Red beach, while particularly popular are Perissa, Kamari and Perivolos. Santorini is a truly wonderful destination. The siting of some of its major towns along the clifftop rim of the caldera is one of the most spectacularly lovely sights in the world. The buildings seem to defy gravity in the way they cling to the cliffs and are stacked one on top of the other like so many sugar cubes. The sandy, multicoloured beaches are simply the icing on the cake.

About the destination: Istanbul owes its historic importance and its amazing cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor. Through most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of more than 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, lured by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, fast-growing city. Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status underlined by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls. But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A fast-growing economy contributed to a flourishing arts and music scene, with a plethora of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.