Weekly Programme of Events - Excursions
Suggested programe of activities for the week
With so much to experience and enjoy more than just lying by the pool with a cocktail, we do like to offer a rewarding and active programme of events and sightseeing. Of course, any part of it is optional should you just wish to hit the beach.
On our first evening at the hotel Solitair offers Welcome drinks and a briefing of the week's activities ahead, followed by your first experience of the delicious Cypriot cuisine.
A variety of programes will be on offer but the following will give you a taste of the wonderful experiences in store.
An early event will be Karpaz Peninsular, a truly amazing introduction to the incredible beauty of North Cyprus.
Day: 01
Karpaz - First a visit to the fishing village of Bogaz, and then on to Ayios Trias with its beautiful mosaics. Lunch at a village taverna with traditional Cypriot food. Then on to the village of Dipkarpaz, where Turks and Greeks still live together as neighbours. Admire the beautiful scenery of the golden, sandy turtle beach, so-called because it is where the rare loggerhead and green turtles lay their eggs. Continue to the very tip of the Karpaz peninsula - known as the panhandle - to visit the Monastery of Apostolos Andreas to admire the icons. Don't forget to drink the holy water and make a wish before you leave. There will be an opportunity to swim from one of the wonderful unspoilt beaches during this day full of wonders.
Day 02
Famagusta - Another fascinating full day combining stunning nature with beautiful artifacts of Cypriot history.
Set off from Kyrenia and drive over the Five Finger Mountain and the Messaouria Plain to Famagusta where we visit the St Nicholas Cathedral and Othello's Tower from whence Shakespeare is said to have drawn inspiration for his play. After lunch we will visit the ancient city of Salamis, one of the best preserved in the Mediterranean. Continue to the Monastery of St Barnabas with its famous collection of icons.
Day 03
Nicosia - And now for something different, but nevertheless a fascinating historical half-day out. Visit the divided capital of Cyprus and drive along the famous "Green Line" to the Ledra Palace check-point and Kyrenia Gate. Walk through the Gold and Textile streets to visit the Kervansaray and Gambler's Inn. Continue to the St Sophie cathedral and on to the covered Bazaar to enjoy some free time for shopping. End the trip at the Saray Hotel and visit the roof-top bar for a spectacular view of the divided capital.
Day 04
Scuba Diving - As a special feature of our week, we are offering a day dedicated to Scuba diving. In just one day even beginners can feed fish or stroke an octopus. Kyrenia is the perfect centre we operate with for this sport and the first and only BSAC/PADI recognised diving school. We operate two dives in the day from Deniz Kizi beach and the dive sites are probably the best in the Mediterranean The sea is warm, the water is crystal clear with visibility up to 30 mts.
With an abundance of underwater life, one can easily run into eels, stingrays, octopus, amber jack and Caretta-caretta sea turtles. For experienced divers there are reefs, caves and ancient shipwreck sites, with the oldest commercial shipwreck a few miles from Kyrenia harbour (dated 300 BC). Non-divers are welcome on board, and with full facilities, bar and a delicious lunch, its a day not to be missed.
Day 05
Trekking- After a morning briefing we set off for our walk, initially heading east towards the village of Bellapais made famous by Lawrence Durrell in his book Bitter Lemons. Much of the village still retains the easy charm of those Durrell days, but the main attraction is the Crusader abbey after which the village is named. Originally founded by Augustinian canans fleeing Palestine in 1200, the abbey went into decline after it was plundered by the Genoese in the 14th century. The monks of the abbey earned a reputation for scandal that was certainly not in keeping with their pious vows, keeping concubines on site and refusing to accept any but their own children as novices!
Indeed the village that grew up around the abbey is reputed to be peopled by the descendants of those very monks.After visiting the abbey and the famous "Tree of Idleness" which still stands before it, we continue onto Ozankoy, via the Crusader Way. Prior to the segregation of the island Ozankoy was a village of mixed nationalities, famous for its carob syrup and olive oil. You can still buy the syrup, which is reputed to be a mild aphrodisiac. From here, providing the "Tree of Idleness", or the carob syrup hasn't had any detrimental effects, we head back to Kyrenia.
Day 06 :
At your Leisure
Day 07
Cyprus Night - Towards the end of our stay, not to be missed is a wonderful night in the beautiful setting of the illuminated ruins of Bellapais Abbey, close to the renowned Tree of Idleness. Enjoy traditional live music and dancing whilst you savour the delicious local cuisine.
Please note: this introduction to some of the attractions of this fascinating area is a foretaste of what's on offer in a typical Solitair programme, with full information in-resort. Please note all excursions, actvities and events are optional extras and paid locally at the resort.
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