Highlight Photos
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Beaumaris Castle -
Old Kakopetria -
Edro III Shipwreck -
Church of Saint Lazarus in Larnaca -
Chester downtown -
Kourion Bath Ruins -
Castell Coch -
Kamares Aqueduct in Larnaca -
Büyük Han in Turkish Nicosia -
Amiantos Abandoned Hospital -
Paphos Archaeological Area Columns -
Conwy Castle -
Castle Combe -
Big Ben
Highlights Map
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This trip is split into two distinct parts, a slightly longer than a week part in Cyprus and a slightly less than a week part in Wales. This is done so we can visit with both our families and to match with their desired destinations. The transcontinental part of the flight has to be to London as we are planning to use our points to buy tickets, we are able to do it even though we are going to return right after the coronation of king Charles III.
The trip is quite hectic being split across two separate countries that we need to fly to and from. We are lucky that the weather holds with us, it is not too hot in Cyprus and not too cold in Wales and it doesn’t rain that much in either. Cyprus is the island of Aphrodite and we visit quite a few sites related to her, a few major cities and also a few Byzantine churches. In Wales we focus on the Unesco World Heritage Sites, especially castles and then spend a day in London at the end which is in the heat of the coronation. Overall it is a great trip and we really enjoy connecting again with our families and exploring with them.
Click on the Links below or Markers on the map above to go directly to a specific part of our trip and follow our visit to Cyprus and Wales. Enjoy!
- Arriving in London
We start our trip with a long flight to London sleeping at a hotel connected to Heathrow Terminal 5 with a good restaurant - Killing time before the flight to Cyprus
We spend half of the day in London waiting for the plane first in the hotel and then in the lounge which unexpectedly is easy to access - First hours in Cyprus
Arriving in Cyprus the first order of business is to find our AirBnB and buy some groceries to prepare for the next couple days - Waking up in Cyprus ready for adventure
In the morning we enjoy the neighborhood from our balconies as we eat our breakfast inside to avoid the cats and then it is off to explore - Lempa Prehistoric Village and around it
Lempa Prehistoric Village is one of the oldest villages on the island and a top destination for us especially as it has partially restored - Edro III Shipwreck
Edro III Shipwreck is an involuntary manmade attraction of the coast of Cyprus created when a ship crashed into the shore - Agios Georgios and Cape Drepanum
Agios Georgios is an important religious location with three church ruins in the archaeological park and a still standing medieval church being a point of attraction for pilgrims - Baths of Aphrodite
The last point today is the mythical Baths of Aphrodite, where Aphrodite supposedly was first seen by Adonis, an area now part of a national park - Geroskipou short downtown visit
We start our relocation eastwards with a stop in the Paphos suburbs in Geroskipou to visit the old historical church - Onwards to Mandria Beach to look for larks
Mandria Beach is recommended for birds so we decide to stop for a short-ish visit on the way - Aphrodite’s Rock
One short stop on our way is at Aphrodite’s Rock, the birthplace of Aphrodite according to the tourist brochures - Kourion Museum
Kourion Museum is a small museum but it was worth a visit especially combined with the archaeological site nearby - Old Kourion City
Kyrion is one of the old city states on the island and the ruins are a must see when in the area as they are spread out over a large area with lots to see - Impressive castle of Kolossi
Kolossi Castle is one of the many impressive coastal fortifications from the medieval times to protect against Arab and Turkish raids and enforce rule over the local population - Choirokoitia Neolithic Village
Last stop of the day is Chorokoitia Neolithic Village an Unesco World Heritage site with a mix of reconstructed buildings and extensive excavations - Exploring Larnaca for a day
Today with our relatives arriving in the morning we explore downtown Larnaca on a short walk in the afternoon - Larnaca Salt Lake Attractions
The day starts with a roundtrip around the Larnaca Salt Lake with longer stops at the aqueduct and Hala Sultan Tekke mosque on the shore - Archaeological Museum of Larnaca
In the afternoon we visit the quite interesting Archaeological Museum before eating traditional Romanian food made in the AirBnB kitchen - Starting at the Larnaca Castle
Today we have a more relaxing day planned starting with a walk to the downtown area to see the Larnaca Castle - Finally visiting the Church of Saint Lazarus
We end the day exploring the area around the Church of Saint Lazarus and then returning to the AirBnB - Kition Ruins
Today we visit the Archaeological Site of Kition the ancient city state that predated Larnaca - On the way to the Turkish side of Nicosia
After saying goodbye to our relatives it is time to visit the divided capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, and we plan to start with the Turkish side a short walk away from parking - Getting hailed on in Turkish Nicosia
The Turkish area is quite interesting to visit until the storm and hail start, after that the only thing we want is a warm restaurant to hide from the rain - Cypriot side of Nicosia and the Cyprus Museum
On the Cypriot side we explore the downtown area while making our way to the Cyprus Museum where we spend a few hours before leaving Larnaca - Into the mountains stopping at a Unesco protected church
Up into the mountains stopping at a Unesco inscribed church - Unexpected but worthwhile visit to Kakopetria
Following an adventure lab we discover unexpectedly beautiful Kakopetria - Church of St. Nicholas of the Roof
Short visit to the Church of St. Nicholas of the Roof an Unesco World Heritage Site near Kakopetria - Panagia tou Moutoulla, a quick but interesting stop
Continuing our exploration of Byzantine Unesco WHS churches we stopped at Panagia tou Moutoulla - Short stop at the Church of the Archangel Michael
Last Unesco WHS church for the day is the Church of the Archangel Michael in Pedoulas - A short jaunt on the Artemis Trail
Short hike on the Artemic Trail around Mount Olympus looking for birds and caches - Starting the day at the Moufflon Sanctuary
We start the day with an exploration of the Moufflon Sanctuary we noticed the day before - Exciting visit at the Amiantos abandoned hospital
Amiantos abandoned hospital is well worth a visit if you can find the parking spot - Troodos Botanical Garden
Troodos Botanical Gardens were too popular for our liking with lots of screaming children disturbing the peace and scaring the birds away - Omodos – first physical cache in Cyprus
On a search for the first physical cache in Cyprus we also explore Omodos an unexpectedly touristy town on the slopes of Mt Olympus - Archaeological Site of Palaipaphos
The first Cypriot site to be included the Unesco WHS list Palaipaphos was one of the most important city kingdoms in Cyprus - Arriving in Paphos and exploring the promenade
We arrive early evening at our hotel and spend the rest of the evening exploring the grounds as well as the nearby waterfront promenade - Archaeological Site of Kato Paphos
Last stop in Cyprus for us is the archaological site of Kato Paphos one of the most impressive and expansive on the island - Spending the night at Manchester Airport
Late afternoon we board our plane to Manchester where we are meeting relatives for a trip through Wales - Chester, the gateway to Wales
After almost visiting it a few years ago this time we are able to make time to visit the magical city of Chester - Getting scared at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
One of the Unesco sites in Wales Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is worth a visit if passing nearby - Trefriw – our base in Northern Wales
Trefriw is our base in Northern Wales to reach all the castles and mines that we intend to visit - Crossing through Snowdonia NP and the “Ugly House”
The day starts with a drive through the heart of Snowdonia NP with some breathtaking views and small traditional villages - National Slate Museum, another World Heritage site
The National Slate Museum is a testament to the history of slate mining in Wales and worth visiting if passing by - First of the fabled castles, Caernarfon Castle
One of the famous castles of King Edward Caernarfon Castle is recognized as one of the greatest buildings in Britain and is an Unesco WHS - Beaumaris Castle, the water castle
The only unfinished castle of the major ones built by Edward I in Wales Beaumaris Castle is scenically surrounded by an active moat - Scenic Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber
With all the medieval castles we also wanted to see something more ancient and Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber was a great and scenic choice - Conwy Castle – the most famous of them all
Probably the most famous of Edward I Welsh castles Conwy Castle is a wonder to behold and well worth a visit - Plas Mawr Mansion and the Smallest House
The other major attraction that we can visit using our CADW Pass in Conwy is Plas Mawr the finest surviving Elizabethan town house in Britain - Harlech Castle, last but not least of the Unesco castles
Harlech Castle, sitting impressively on a rocky crag, is the only one from the Edward I castles which was deserted by the sea - Dyffyn Ardudwy Burial Chamber
Last stop of the day is at Dyffyn Ardudwy Burial Chamber a scenic prehistoric pair of tombs - Caerphilly Castle, the biggest of them all
Caerphilly Castle is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest in UK, a huge imposing building protected by moats, high walls and dragons - Castell Coch, the whimsiest of them all
The prettiest of the castles in Wales is actually quite a new one built in the 19th century based on the whimsies of the 3rd Marquess of Bute - Cardiff, the capital of Wales
Cardiff is the capital of Wales and worth a stop for a few hours if staying in the area - Castle Combe, a brush with the Cotswolds
One more stop was requested when we planned the trip, in Cotswolds, and we do it in Castle Combe an enchanting small village on our way - Lunch in Southwark, London
We start the day with an early lunch/late breakfast on the Thames River shore in Southwark - Afternoon in Greenwich
The afternoon of the last day is spent in Greenwich where we also say goodbye to our relatives - Evening in Westminster and downtown
For our last stop of the day and the trip we disembark at Big Ben and walk up to Buckingham Palace to get a feeling of the coronation vibe on the streets