Pafos - Archaeology & Beauty tour from Limassol
Description
Welcome to Cyprus! We’re Ascot Travel & Tours, a family-run company established in 1990. Discover Paphos — a UNESCO World Heritage city where ancient history meets stunning coastal scenery. Our journey begins at Kolossi Castle, a medieval fortress from the Crusader era, followed by the ancient city of Kourion and its impressive Greco-Roman theatre with sea views. We’ll also visit the Sanctuary of Apollon Hylates, beautifully set on a hilltop. Next, enjoy a coffee break at Aphrodite’s Birthplace, the legendary spot where the Goddess of Love was born. In Paphos, explore the Mosaics of the House of Dionysos, then relax with free time at the harbour. On our way back to Limassol, we stop at Geroskipou Village to taste the traditional Cyprus delights – Loukoumia.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our first stop will be at Kolossi Castle, it is steeped in history and associated with the Knights Templar and the Knights of the Order of St John. It is fascinating to explore this 3-story castle and get a feel of medieval history.
Next, we will visit the ancient city – kingdom of Kourion - Archaeological Site with its famous, magnificent Greko-Roman Theatre built 2nd Century BC; as well as the remains of an original private villa the ‘House of Eustolios’.
At a stunning location overlooking the sea, we will visit the Sanctuary and Temple of Apollon Hylates - God of the Woodland and he was the protector of Kourion. His sanctuary was an important religious center and it is believed that he was worshipped at the site from the 8th century BC. The temple of Apollo makes for excellent photo shots.
Our next stop will be at Aphrodite’s Birthplace where you will be able to enjoy a coffee break and see the beautiful coastline were the Goddess of Love & Beauty was born from the foam of the sea.
Arriving at the ancient capital of Cyprus – Pafos, we will visit the famous Pafos Mosaics which are part of the Archaeological Park of Kato Pafos, (included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List since 1980). They were discovered in 1962, after a farmer ploughing his field accidently unearthed one of them. We will see the House of Dionysos, a villa of a Roman nobleman, with amazing floor mosaic scenes from Greek Mythology.
At the Pafos Harbour and Port area, you will have free time. Enjoy a stroll along the vibrant promenade with beautiful views; visit the local souvenir shops and have lunch at one of the many attractive cafes or restaurants.
On our return to Limassol we will visit Geroskipou Village to taste the famous Cyprus delights - Loukoumia.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Minibus will start picking up by 7:45 AM. Here is the pick up time for each location: 7:45 AM (Be ready at exactly 7:45) - Elias Beach Hotel - Parklane - St Raphael Resort - The Grand Resort 7:50 to 8:00 AM (Be ready at exactly 7:50) - Four Seasons Hotel - Mediterranean Beach Hotel - Amathus Beach Hotel - Atlantica Bay Hotel - Amara 8:00 to 8:15 AM (Be ready at exactly 8:00) - Park Beach Hotel - Atlantica Miramare Beach - Atlantica Oasis - Harmony Bay Hotel - Royal Apollonia - Pigeon Beach Hotel Apartments - Poseidonia Beach Hotel - Navarria Blue Hotel 8:15 to 8:30 AM (Be ready at exactly 8:15) - NYX Hotel (Pickup is from the bus stop. You cross the road and walk approximately 30 meters to your left) - Kapetanios Limassol Hotel - Pefkos Hotel - Odysseia Hotel Kapetanios (pickup is at the bus stop opposite Olympic residence on the sea road) - Crowne Plaza Limassol - Ajax Hotel
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The remaining time is designated for transportation purposes.
- Pickup and drop-off of all travelers takes approximately 40 minutes from first to last location (depending on traffic)
- This is a group Tour not private Tour
Reviews(23)
This was the first tour my father & I completed with Ascot travel. The guide was extremely knowledgeable but a bit full-on. We would've preferred a more relaxed guide with free time to explore instead of walking as a group being talked at. It meant we didn't get as much time to immerse ourselves. However, the places were beautiful, the architecture and history was breathtaking. It's a full on day & is definitely worth the money - we saw so much of the beautiful areas. Mythology & archaeology are something I truly love, so it was worth its weight in gold. We stopped in Pafos for lunch & had 1hr 45 free time, where we visited King's Resturant (highly recommended). Overall, a great day & did travel again with Ascot. Chris was our driver and was absolutely fantastic! Couldn't fault him for keeping us safe.
vrey good guidnec and very intresting
Breathtaking landscapes and beautiful photo spots
This is an ideal tour because we got to see so many interesting and important places in one day! The castle, the temple, the mosaics and the amphitheater, Aphrodite’s Rock, and the amazing ruins at Paphos, all entrance fees covered and quick entry into all the sites. A knowledgeable and friendly tour guide, time for lunch on our own, and then a visit to a delicious candy maker. Jam packed, beautiful and interesting! Thank you, Lenia, for making it so very special!
One positive aspect worth highlighting is the clear description of the tour, which truly lives up to its promises when compared to the actual experience. Led by an experienced tour guide and a safe driver, you’ll visit fantastic highlights west of Limassol that are truly worth seeing. I also found the balance between the guide’s commentary and free time for exploring on your own or enjoying a meal to be particularly well-done. You can rely on the schedule—no attraction is skipped, yet you still have time to see everything at a leisurely pace. Highly recommended overall!
Dear Reviewer, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback! We’re pleased to hear that the tour met your expectations and that you enjoyed the balance between guided insights and free time. It’s wonderful to know you felt well taken care of by our team. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!
We used Ascot Travel & Tours during our stay in Limassol and we were extremely happy with their service. From the very first email, the communication was excellent – fast, clear and genuinely friendly. Maria was incredibly helpful and attentive, always providing detailed answers and making sure every part of our trip was perfectly organized. We joined three excursions – Troodos, Nicosia & Larnaca, and Paphos Archaeology – and all of them were very well planned, relaxed and full of interesting information. Our driver for the tours, Chris, was fantastic: punctual, professional, friendly and always in a great mood. He made every trip enjoyable and comfortable. Both airport transfers were also perfectly arranged – on time, smooth and without any issues. Overall, Ascot delivered outstanding service from start to finish. Professional, reliable and truly customer‑oriented. We highly recommend them and want to thank Maria, Chris and the whole team for making our Cyprus holiday even more memorable.
Dear Alex, Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review! We’re happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Maria and Chris are especially happy to know they helped make your trip enjoyable and seamless. It was truly a pleasure assisting you, and we’re so glad your time in Cyprus was memorable. We hope to welcome you again in the future!
We booked a private tour with Ascot and we were guided by Socrates. We did a bit of planning and we covered all the attractions we wanted. We appreciate the flexibility in accommodation of our needs and pace. Socrates was great in telling us the historical facts and stories as well as commenting on modern times and today life in Cyprus. We appreciated his personal culture, sensitivity and fluent English skills.
Dear Krzysztof, Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed your private tour and that Socrates’s knowledge, flexibility, and insights into both Cyprus’s history and modern life made it so special. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again soon.
Absolutely amazing. The Guide + Driver a fabulous team making every moment enjoyable & memorable. Highly recommend it.
Dear Cornelia, Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! We’re very pleased you enjoyed the Paphos Tour, your kind words have been passed on to the guide and driver. Hope to see you again soon!
Second round the day after the 1st in Nicosia and Larnaca. Excellent tour perfectly orchestrated and well led. The main archaeological sites, the Rock of Aphrodite and the city of Phapos in one day. We have been conquered. On the way back, we had forgotten our phone on the bus that was brought back to us very quickly. Thanks for everything.
Very nice experience and full of things to see. The pick up was on time at the start and the tour operator informed me in real time of the imminent arrival at the meeting point I had selected. The guide was very good and prepared and nice. It would be nice to also include a short visit to the lighthouse of Paphos.
