Turkey and Greece

Turkey and Greece

Day 1: ISTANBUL (No Meal)

Arrival to Istanbul in the morning. You will be met upon your arrival by our driver and transfer to hotel. At noon time pick up from hotel and you will be starting your touring with half day afternoon tour. You will have a short introduction tour to Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Market) built in 1664 and filled with the fragrance of the exotic East such as spices, dried fruits, Turkish delights. The highlight of the day is the Bosporus cruise by a public boat taking about 1.5 hour and you will see the most impressive sights along the shores of the Bosporus including Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Maiden´s Tower, Bosporus bridges, Rumeli and Anadolu fortresses and Ottoman Residences. Return to the hotel about 17:30. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 2: ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA; (Breakfast & Lunch)

Take the early morning flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevsehir airport). Meet with your driver and start the tour. Today, you will visit Devrent Imagination Valley and walk through this lunar landscape. Next, visit Pasabaglari (the world-famous Fairy Chimneys), the village of Avanos, where you will witness a Pottery-making demonstration using ancient Hittite techniques, lunch at a local cave restaurant, Uchisar Rock-Castle, (the highest point in the region, Esentepe (a panoramic view of Goreme valley) and Goreme Open Air Museum (Rock-cut churches, frescoes, monastery.)Transfer to hotel after tour and check in. Evening at leisure and overnight stay at Cappadocia.

Day 3: CAPPADOCIA (Breakfast and lunch)

Optional Hot air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys at sunrise.

Today, you will visit Kaymakli Underground City (See how the people lived in this multi-level city complete with stables, kitchens, storage chambers and wine making rooms), Soganli Valley (Relaxing 3km walk through the valley with Byzantine period rock tombs),Sobesos (A Roman Bath from the 5th century and mosaics and graves from Byzantine Empire Period), Taskinpasa Medresesi (an Ottoman theological school) and Mustafapasa (Experience the Ottoman and Greek architecture of this old Greek Village once called Sinasos).After tour return to hotel and overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 4: CAPPADOCIA - IZMIR (Breakfast)

Take the flight from Cappadocia to Izmir. Your driver will pick you up from airport and drive you to your hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 5: EPHESUS (Breakfast and Lunch)

Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive to Ephesus Ancient City. Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeon, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan. Next we will visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the World). Lunch at a nice local restaurant and then we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary's - The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. A small shrine dedicated to St. Mary was found when the ruins of the house were first discovered. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 6: PAMUKKALE (Breakfast and Lunch)

Pick up from hotel at around 8:00am. Drive to Pamukkale for nearly 3 hours. Upon arrival we will start discovering Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side. Walk along the Hierapolis ancient city ruins, see the huge Necropolis, and feel the warmth of the natural spring as you go barefoot on the Travertens. Then If you like to swim in the Ancient Pool which is also called Cleopatras Pool they charge extra entrance fee. The Cleopatra Pool is warmed by hot springs and littered with underwater fragments of ancient marble columns. Possibly associated with the Temple of Apollo, the pool provides today's visitors a rare opportunity to swim with antiquities!After the tour, transfer to airport and fly to Istanbul. Transfer to hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 7: ISTANBUL (Breakfast and Lunch)

After breakfast at hotel, start the tour in Istanbul around 08:15. This tour would include with visits to Hippodrome & Obelisk the former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople, Blue Mosque for famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique six minarets. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will see St. Sophia Museum the magnificent Byzantine Church of all times visit Topkapi Palace the former imperial residence from where the Ottoman Sultans ruled their grand empire for over 400 years.Finish the day with incredible Grand Bazaar which is; In addition to its historical importance, it’s a bazaar that will tempt even the non-shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather and souvenirs.After tour return to hotel as well and overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 8: ISTANBUL - ATHENS (Breakfast)

Transfer to airport and fly to Athens. Meet at Athens airport and transfer to the hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Athens is an amazing city to discover on your own with its numerous museums, parks, and the shopping areas of Kolonaki, Hermou, Voukourestiou Street, Monastiraki and Plaka. Overnight in Athens Hotel.

Day 9: HALF  DAY ATHENS SIGHTSEEING: (Breakfast) Breakfast in the hotel. Pickup from the hotel for your half day morning tour. See Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Athens Academy, the University, the National Library and the Hadrian’s Arch. Pass by the Temple of Olympian Zeus and visit the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. 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 Parthenon. Continue and visit the place where at last the statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era, the museum of Acropolis. At the end of the tour, drop off at the hotel or at the city centre. Remainder of the day at own leisure. Overnight in Athens Hotel.

Day 10: ATHENS – MYKONOS: (Breakfast) Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the Athens port of Piraeus and take the boat (tickets not included) to the island of Mykonos. Meet at Mykonos port and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Mykonos Hotel.

Day 11: MYKONOS: (Breakfast) Breakfast in the hotel. At leisure on this Jet Set Cycladic island renowned for its striking windmills. Wander the maze of narrow alleys and an array of shops for bargains. You may visit Paraportiani one of the 365 churches of the island and in the evening enjoy the famous night life of the island. Overnight in Mykonos Hotel.

Day12: MYKONOS – SANTORINI: (Breakfast) Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Mykonos port and take the speed boat (tickets not included) to the island of Santorini. Meet at Santorini port and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Santorini Hotel.

Day 13: SANTORINI: (Breakfast) Breakfast in the hotel. At leisure on this amazing island of Santorini (formed by the eruption of the volcano 1600 BC). The sight is the most breathtaking of all Greek islands and perhaps of the world. Explore and enjoy all that the island has to offer. History and nature combine to make Santorini unforgettable. Overnight in Santorini Hotel.

Day 14: SANTORINI – ATHENS: (Breakfast) Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Santorini port and take the boat (tickets not included) to Athens. Meet at the Athens port of Piraeus and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Athens hotel.

Day 15: ATHENS DEPARTURE: (Breakfast) Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the airport.