Day 1 - Depart for Turkey
Depart for Turkey.
DAY 2 - Arrive in Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
*2 Arrival transfers at Istanbul IST Airport are scheduled for pick-up at 14:00 and 17:00. These times are subject to adjustment based on the actual arrival times of the flights.
DAY 3 – Istanbul
Spend your day delving into Istanbul the only city that straddles two continents, where modern and ancient coexist. Your tour includes a short briefing and the picture stop at the courtyard of the Blue Mosque, a 17th century Ottoman Mosque famous for its six minarets and magnificent interior made of blue tiles. Continue to the Hippodrome, an ancient Grecian stadium for horse racing and chariot racing during the Roman period. Then, gain insights into the Ottoman Empire’s power during your guided tour of the Topkapi Palace and see the 4th century Egyptian obelisk. Today, you may join the Optional Half Day Istanbul with St. Sophia & Underground Cistern (USD$108, Min. 10 Guests). This tour’s highlights include the Underground Cistern - water source of the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Then visit St. Sophia, the great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century, which remained the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years, it was later converted to a mosque. Overnight in Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Istanbul-Safranbolu
After breakfast you may join the half-day day optional tour to Bosphorus cruise; Spiced Bazaar ; Grand Bazaar (USD$60). Visit the Spice Market with its unforgettable aromas. Then take the boat cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding straits separating Europe and Asia. The humble fishing villages and contrasting suspension bridges set against the dramatic outline of the Strait demonstrates the link between the East and West. Then continue to the Grand Bazaar, where you can shop for carpets, jewelry, leather and more. Then transfer to Safranbolu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Safranbolu-Cappadocia
Today explore Safranbolu's UNESCO protected Old Town with its charming cobblestone streets and Ottoman timber framed mansions. Stop for photos at the restored Cinci Hammam and the historic Koprulu Mehmet Pasa Mosque. Take a glimpse of the trade route history at the Cinci Han Caravanserai. Stroll through Safranbolu Bazaars for traditional crafts. Enjoy a Turkish coffee experience at Leyla Hanim Mansion before transferring to Cappadocia. . Alongside your profesional guide, enjoy learning the craft of coffee production at a shop, plus sip delicious coffee at local coffee shop. Then trasnfer to Cappadocia. A region of surreal rock formations and incredible cultural heritage, Overnight in Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning you may join the Hot Air Balloon Ride (USD$380). Then begin the day very early on a visit the Open Air Museum in Goreme. It’s a monastic complex composed of churches, rectories and dwellings, and one of the earliest centres for religious education. There are at least 10 churches and chapels in the museum area, dating between AD900 and 1200. Later, visit the Ozkonak or Kaymakli Underground City. The city has many strata made up of volcanic granite. Its larger areas are connected to each other by tunnels. Underground city had a built-in communication system of pipes on each of its levels, which have no such systems. Each carved out room had ventilation provided by holes when the city was closed against enemies. Lastly, visit the village of Avanos that is famous for its beautiful old houses, pottery and onyx. Today you may join the Optional Jeep Safari Tour (USD$120) and Traditional Turkish Night Dance Show with unlimited drinks (USD$75).
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Cappadocia-Konya
Cappadocia is home to rock-cut temples, ancient underground cities, and unparalleled landscapes. Visit “Fairy Chimney”-its iconic volcanic cones. The thick clusters of rosy rock take on peculiar shapes-look for a dolphin, Napoleon’s hat, or the Virgin Mary as you gaze upon them. Your guide explains how the formations were naturally carved. You may also see the remarkable mushroom-shaped, chimney like rock formations that monks used as shelters. Then depart to Konya. En route, visit the 13th-century Caravanserai of Sultanhan, a large abandoned city and shelter in Cappadocia, built on the Silk Road, whose main portal gate is considered a fine example of Turkish Seljuk art. Continue to Konya, a city renowned for its Selijuk architecture also as the home of the “ Whirling Dervishes” . Overnight in Konya.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Konya-Pamukkale
Today explore the Mausoleum of Mevlana featuring its unique turquoise-tiled fluted dome. Discover the works of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, a prominent 13th-century leader and mystical poet of Islam, whose teachings inspired the founding of the Mevlevi Sufi order. Then transfer to Pamukkale. Then relax and enjoy the blissful thermal pools at your hotel before dinner. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Pamukkale-Kusadasi
After breakfast visit Pamukkale, the Necropolis, and the ancient city of Hierapolis (“Holy City”); a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s hot springs have drawn people since the 2nd century BCE as it is known for its healing and therapeutic properties. Next, you will visit Pamukkale, known as “The Cotton Castle” which is best described as a calcium cascade of snowy white stalactites reminiscent of a frozen waterfall. It is recognized as the 8th Wonder of the World by Turkish people. Then transfer to Kusadasi.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Kusadasi
Today is free time at your leisure. You may join the Optional tour to Ancient Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary & Basilica of St John (USD$108, Min 10 Guests), considered one of the greatest ancient cities of the world. Here, you’ll meander through the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St. John, the library of Celsius, temple of Hadrian, the theater, and the Odeon. overnight in Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Kusadasi-Izmir-Pergamum-Canakkale
This morning take a visit to the Leather factory where you can see the popular leather fashion show. Next, drive to Pergamum, a powerful kingdom during the ancient Hellenistic period. You will discover the Ancient City of Pergamon, an important cultural center and the east capital of the Roman Empire. Then visit Asklepion, the ancient Roman spa center. Overnight in Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Canakkale-Troy-Istanbul
This morning, proceed to the classical city of Troy. Tour this 4000-year-old city and legendary center of the Trojan War, made immortal by Homer’s epic poem The Iliad. See the symbolic replica of the famous Wooden Horse that the Greeks used to break their siege of this ancient city. Transfer to Istanbul “Crossroads of Europe and Asia” and transfer to your hotel.Overnight in Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13: Istanbul - Athens
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Athens. Upon arrival, meet in the arrival hall at Athens airport & transfer to the city hotel. Overnight in Athens.
Meal: 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 theday at own leisure. Overnight in Athens.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 15: Athens
Breakfast in the hotel. Full day free for leisure. Or join an optional saronic cruise tour with lunch(USD$150). Transfer to the port and embark on the full day cruise to the 3 saronic islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra. Lunch is included and served on board. At each island, get off the boat to discover each islands own individual character. Aegina: The largest of the saronic islands, famous for pistachio nuts. Poros: a pretty island with chance for shopping. Hydra – an artist’s delight, again with boutiques, shops and cafes dotted around the harbour. On the return journey back to the port of Athens, enjoy the on board entertainment program. Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight in Athens.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 16: Athens
After Breakfast, Transfer to Airport and depart to Hometown.
Meal: Breakfast
