DELIGHTS OF TURKEY AND GREECE TOUR DAY TO DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1 – Arrive Istanbul Airport
You will be met at Istanbul airport and transferred to our hotel. Optional half day sightseeing tour in the afternoon.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Vicenza Hotel or similar – Standard 4 star
Holiday Inn Istanbul – 5 star or similar
Meals: Full Board
Day 2 – Istanbul / Izmir / Kusadasi / Patmos (Cruise) – EMBARK – AT SEA (B,L,D)
After breakfast transfer to the Airport for your flight to Izmir. Transfer to Kusadasi to embark on a 3 nights Greece Island cruise. Kusadasi is a resort town on Turkey’s Aegean coast and the center of the seaside district.
Visit Patmos – a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea.
Dinner and overnight on board.
Meals: Full Board
Day 3 – AT SEA – Crete-Heraklion/Santorini (Cruise) (B,L,D)
This morning we arrive at Heraklion, three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. The next island will be Santorini perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands, with its white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques.
Dinner and overnight on board.
Meals: Full Board
Day 4 – AT SEA – Santorini/Athens/Mykonos (Cruise) (B,L,D)
We arrive at Piraeus,the port city of Athens, cradle of democracy and birthplace of Western Civilization. Athens is a vibrant city where old and new co-exist. The majestic Parthenon rises above the city, its ancient glory still visible in the time-worn Stone. The last island of the cruise will be Mykonos, hundreds of tiny chapels dot this blue and white-washed island with its beautiful windmills. Find a table on the waterfront and bask in the serenity of the sunset over its picturesque harbour.
Dinner and overnight on board.
Meals: Full Board
Day 5 – AT SEA and DISEMBARK -Mykonos/Kusadasi/Pamukkale (B,L,D)
Arrive Kusadasi at 07:00. We will proceed to the vast ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. Once in the ancient city itself we will explore this ancient Roman city and visit the Library of Celcius, Temple of Hadrian, the Theatre and Odeon. After lunch continue to Pamukkale “the Cotton Castle” with its snow-white terraces formed by thermal waters cascading down the hillside. Visit the ruins of Hierapolis with its famous Necropolis, the Basilica, Theatre and Plutonium.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Pamukkale.
Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal -5 Star
or Lycus River – 5 Star or similar
Meals: Full Board
Day 6 – Pamukkale/Konya/Cappadocia (B,L,D)
After an early breakfast we set off for Cappadocia, with a visit to the Sultanhan Caravansarai on the way. Following Lunch in Konya we will visit the Mausoleum, Museum and Monastery Complex dedicated to Mevlana Celalettin Rumi, the founder of the mystical order often referred to as the “Whirling Dervishes”. Setting out once again we will enjoy our panoramic view of Cappadocia as we reach that strange and mystifying landscape. We will check into our hotel in Cappadocia where we will dine and spend the night.
Lykia Lodge or similar -Standard 4 star
Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel or similar – 5 star
Meals: Full Board
Day 7 – Cappadocia – Istanbul (B,L,D)
After breakfast we set off on a full day excursion that includes lunch. We begin our explorations of the famous and intriguing valley of Cappadocia, a unique region in which Nature has created an incredibly strange and colorful world of cones, columns and needles that were shaped by the wind and water erosion of the area’s volcanic tuff. Among the places we will visit are Goreme Open Air Museum and Underground City of Kaymakli .
Early evening transfer for your flight to Istanbul. We will have dinner and overnight at our hotel in Istanbul.
Vicenza Hotel or similar – Standard 4 star
Holiday Inn Istanbul – 5 star or similar
Meals: Full Board
Day 8 – Depart from Istanbul
Morning city tour including visit to the Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market.
You will then be transferred to Ataturk Airport to connect with you onwards flight back home.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
