Wonders of Greece and Turkey Tour - 16 days
Group Tour / Guaranteed departures
Accommodation in Superior Hotels and Louis Cruise
Istanbul (2) • Ankara (1) • Cappadocia (2) • Pamukkale (1) • Kusadasi (2) • Greek Islands Cruise (2) • Athens (1)
• Olympia (1) • Delphi (1) • Athens (2)
Category:
Cultural group tour, Comprehensive, Scenic Land / Sea
Journey
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Istanbul (Friday)
Arrive at Ataturk airport in
Istanbul
and transfer to our hotel. Overnight:
Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul City Tour (B)
Breakfast at hotel and
begin full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul. We’ll visit
Topkapi
Palace (harem
section is optional), ancient Roman Hippodrome (center
of the chariot races). We will continue our Sultanahmet
tour with the Blue Mosque and finally we will stop at
Grand Covered Bazaar.
Day 3: Istanbul - Ankara
(B, D)
Today you can join the optional
Hagia Sophia and Bosphorus cruise Tour. Departure for
Ankara
around 15.00 hrs and late arrival at
Ankara. Overnight:
Ankara
Day 4:
Ankara - Cappadocia (B, D)
After breakfast
we will visit the Ataturk Mausoleum and Anatolian
Civilizations
Museum.
(selected
Best
European
Museum
of the Year in 1997) Then we depart to
Cappadocia. We will visit 13th century
caravanserai; caravanserais are inns built by Seljuk
Turks to ensure travel and trade safety of the merchant
caravans traveling on the Silk Road.
Before arriving Cappadocia visit Sarhatli underground city. Overnight: Cappadocia
Day 5: Cappadocia (B, D)
Today we will begin our tour on
this magical land; the unique landscape of cone-shaped
volcanic formations called fairy chimneys. After
breakfast, visit Goreme, Avanos, Pasabagi,
Red
Valley,
and have a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave.
Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 6: Cappadocia – Pamukkale (B, D)
After breakfast we will drive to
Pamukkale, ancient spa center and the unique natural
site of white limestone terraces cascading down the
mountain slope. En-route we will pay a visit to
Konya, city where Mevlana Rumi is
buried, founder of the most well-known Sufi order,
Mevleviye. They are also known as the “Whirling
Dervishes” due to their famous practice of whirling
ceremony called Sema which represents a spiritual
journey through mind and love to "Perfect”. In
Konya, we will visit the
Mevlana
Museum
and then continue to Pamukkale for overnight. Overnight:
Pamukkale
Day 7: Pamukkale – Kusadasi (B, D)
Today early morning we’ll visit
Hierapolis, the ‘Sacred
City’,
it is a World Heritage Site, and a "must-see" location
with the largest Necropolis. Then departure to Kusadasi
for dinner and overnight. Overnight: Kusadasi
Day 8: Ephesus & St. Mary tour (B,
D)
After breakfast we’ll begin tour of
glorious Greco-Roman ruins of
Ephesus, one of the best preserved classical
city of the Eastern Mediterranean
dated back to 2000 years. Later we will drive to the
hilltop where we visit the miraculously discovered
Virgin Mary’s House. Return hotel for dinner and
overnight.
Day 9: Louis Cruise - Patmos
(B, D)
You will be transferred to the pier to embark on a
2-night Greek
Island
cruise. First stop is Patmos.
This island is known as the site of the apocalyptic
revelations of St. John
the Divine, written here during his exile from the Roman Empire. Overnight cruise to Santorini
Day 10: Santorini
(B, L, D)
Arrive in Santorini. Here you can explore the land
of the fabled Atlantis on your own or join a guided tour
to the volcano. Overnight cruise to Piraeus.
Day 11: Piraeus – Athens (B)
Early morning (at 7:00 am) arrive in Piraeus and disembark the ship. You will be
transferred to your
Athens
hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 12: Athens - Olympia (B, D)
After breakfast transfer to
terminal to join your group.
We’ll drive to
Corinth
Canal
(short stop). Then drive to
Epidaurus
and visit the Ancient theatre, world famous for its
outstanding acoustics. Proceed to Nayplia (short stop)
and through the plain of Argos arrive to Mycenae. Visit the
archaeological site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. In the
afternoon (optional stop for souvenirs) depart for
Olympia, the birth place of the
Olympic Games, through the cites of Tripolis and
Megalopolis (short stop).
Overnight stay in
Olympia.
Day 13: Olympia - Delphi (B, D)
In the morning
visit the Archaeological Site with the Sanctuary of
Olympian Zeus, the Ancient
Stadium and the Archaeological Museum. Then drive on through the plains
of Eliad and Achaia until the
magnificent bridge which is crossing the
Corinthian
Bay
from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque
towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea, arrive in
Delphi. Overnight:
Delphi
Day 14: Delphi - Athens (B)
In the morning visit the
Archaeological Site and the Museum. A couple of hours
free time in Delphi
before departing and drive through the
village of Arachova,
renowned for its colorful rugs and carpets.
Return to Athens via
Levadia and Thebes. Arrive in Athens early in the
evening.
Day 15: Half Day
Athens
City Tour with new Acropolis museum (B)
After breakfast transfer to
terminal to join your group. This tour gives you an
opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert
guides will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium
where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held
in 1896 (short stop). Continue and pass by the Prime
Minister's residence (ex Royal Palace) guarded by the
Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of
Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian's Arch, the Parliament and
the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the
University, the National Library, the Constitution
Square (Syntagma). On the Acropolis visit the
Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens:
The Propylaea, the
Temple
of Athena Nike,
the Erechtheion and finally "the harmony between
material and spirit", the monument that "puts order in
the mind", the Parthenon. Continue and visit the place
where at last the statues found their home and admire
the wonders of the classical era: The new Acropolis
museum. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Athens
Day 16: Athens
Departure (B)
Morning transfer to Athens
Hellinikon International airport for departure. Thank
you for visiting Turkey
& Greece.
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