DATE: 10-15 May 2009

HOSTED BY: The North Cyprus Tourism Centre

In May, nine ITT Members went on a Fam trip to North Cyprus, which had been organised by the North Cyprus Tourism Centre.

The group were booked in for five nights at stayed at the 5 star Jasmine Court Hotel in Kyrenia on the north coast. But they weren’t there to sit by the pool – a full programme of excursions had been arranged to visit the main tourist sites in the area, such as the Venetian castle in Kyrenia, the nearby village of Bellepais and its monastery, and the St Hilarion Castle high up in the Besparmak Mountains.

Other visits were to the unspoilt Karpaz Peninsular in the north east, with its wonderful beaches and views. This included trying out the local restaurants as part of a four hour lunch break – nice work if you can get it!

They also visited the capital Nicosia, the archaeological ruins of Salamis, and the ‘ghost town’ of Famagusta – a tourist resort which has lain untouched since 1974 because it sits in the no-go buffer zone.

During the trip, the group visited several hotels and also did a workshop where they met local hoteliers, travel agents and tour operators.

After an enjoyable and valuable trip, Members were ‘forced’ to stay one for an extra two nights at a 4 star hotel in Kyrenia because of flight changes. This gave them time to enjoy more of the local facilities in their own time which, for two ladies, included a paragliding experience from the peak of the highest mountain of the Besparmak range: “truly an experience of a lifetime”.

ITT would like to thank the North Cyprus Tourism Centre for organising this Fam Trip, and the group would especially like to pass their thanks on to Burçu Okur, the Trade Relations Manager, who accompanied them on the tour.

Please look out for future ITT Fam Trip offers as we would love you to join us!