Full-day guided tour of Fikardou, Machairas and Lefkara

You'll leave no stone unturned as you explore Cyprus's hidden corners. This exclusive excursion takes in remote highland villages, dramatic landscapes and a revered monastery. It also includes a traditional Cypriot lunch. Stavroula, one of our local guides on this tour, says, âFikardou village is an excellent example of rural mountain life, where the 19th-century architecture is in complete harmony with the environment.' A real taste of what's to come.
Heading inland, you'll arrive mid-morning at rustic and laidback Fikardou. All cobblestones and historic houses, time seems to have frozen here. And with free time to explore, you'll find that ancient traditions still hold their way. It's so well-preserved that it's on UNESCO's tentative list of world heritage sites. Next, you'll head to the 12th-century Macharias Monastery, which is located on a remote hillside. Its lavishly decorated interior houses a sacred icon of the Virgin Mary.
Then, it's time for a traditional Cypriot lunch, prepared with locally sourced ingredients and served at a family-run restaurant on the way to Lefkara. The tour ends on a high in charming Lefkara, a village famed for its handmade lace and embroidery. âWomen, young and old, can be seen seated outside their homes and shops making lace,' says Stavroula. âFor hundreds of years, the men from the village have travelled all over Europe to sell it, even Leonardo da Vinci bought some.'
HIGHLIGHTS:Explore the cobbled lanes of the well-preserved highland hamlet of FikardouVisit the historic Machairas Monastery, home to a revered icon of the Virgin MaryEnjoy a traditional village lunch in a family-run restaurant on the way to LefkaraStroll around pretty Lefkara village, famed for its lace-making inhabitantsExpert local guide with an unrivalled knowledge of Cyprus and its people
Explore the cobbled lanes of the well-preserved highland hamlet of Fikardou