Greece, Bulgaria, and Istanbul

Welcome to Athens, the cradle of Western civilization. Upon your arrival at the airport, our representative will transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.

Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Athens. Discover the modern city, visit the Panathinaikos Stadium and the Royal Palace. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon before we transfer you to the port of Piraeus to board the overnight ferry. The ferry offers similar facilities to those available on cruise ships. Spend the night in a comfortable double cabin on board.

Arrive in Rhodes in the morning and start with a city tour of this incredible walled city. Explore the old quarter, which bears the imprints of the different cultures that shaped it. In the afternoon, we will take an express ferry to Marmaris, a beautiful coastal touristic enclave with a castle, marina, and fountains. Enjoy your accommodation in the region of Marmaris.

Embark towards Greece in the early morning. Take an express ferry back to Rhodes. Upon arrival, enjoy a city tour of this incredible walled city and the old quarter. Spend your afternoon at leisure exploring the city at your own pace.

Today, we explore the island of Rhodes. Travel to Filerimos, where you can visit its small monastery. Then, we head to Lindos, where you can walk through the white streets of the center, rest on its beaches or climb to the Acropolis. After lunch, we return to Rhodes. In the evening, we transfer you to the airport for your flight to the island of Crete. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Heraklion.

In the morning, we travel along the coast towards the west of the island. Visit Rethymno, a beautiful coastal city of Venetian origin, dominated by its medieval castle. Then, we head to Chania, a captivating city with an impressive fortress and stately mansions. Return to Heraklion at the end of the day.

Today, we visit the Palace of Knossos, where you can learn about the Minoan culture that gave rise to the Greek culture four thousand years ago. After the visit, we cross the high mountains in the center of the island and travel to the southern area. Visit Agia Galini, a picturesque town with labyrinthine streets, a fishing port, and popular taverns. Enjoy some free time to have lunch and, if you'd like to, swim in the sea. Return to Heraklion in the evening.

We leave along the coast towards the east of the island. Visit the small town of Kritsa and Panagia Kera, a 13th-century church with some of the best frescoes in Crete. Then, we head to Agios Nikolaos, a picturesque town with a natural port. After a walk and lunch, we visit Elounda, a beautiful tourist enclave. From here, we include a boat ride and admission to the island-citadel of Spinalonga, an ancient Venetian fortress. Return to Heraklion in the evening.

Early in the morning, we transfer you to the port for a fast ferry to the island of Santorini. Visit Oia, the most spectacular town on the island, and Fira, the capital of the island. Enjoy some free time to explore these towns at your own pace. In the afternoon, we continue to the ferry port to take a fast ferry back to Athens, arriving at midnight.

Depart early in the morning towards the North of Greece. Make a stop in Kamena Vourla, a beautiful touristic hub next to the sea surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Then, proceed to the north and visit the Meteora valley, a breathtaking place which has been declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Enjoy your dinner and accommodation in Kalambaka.

Travel through the North of Greece, amidst pretty mountain scenery to the Aegean Sea. Arrive in Thessaloniki for a stroll and lunch. After this, we continue towards Bulgaria, crossing the border. In Bulgarian Macedonia, make a stop in Melnik, a picturesque museum-town among beautiful landscapes. Arrive in Sandanski, a beautiful small spa town, the birthplace of Spartacus. Enjoy your dinner and accommodation.

Visit the beautiful Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by forests. Continue to Sofia, where we arrive at the end of the morning. After lunch, enjoy a city tour of the capital of Bulgaria, where we will see the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Russian Church, the Mosque, its squares and avenues of Stalinist architecture. Spend your afternoon at leisure exploring the city.

After breakfast, we transfer you to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy some free time. You will receive information on this part of your trip in the afternoon, or it will be placed on the informative panels located at the hotel reception.

Embark on a sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Visit the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, the largest in Istanbul. Admire the exterior of Hagia Sophia and the walls of the city. We offer tickets and a visit to the Top Kapi Palace, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. At the end of the afternoon, we provide a transfer to the Taksim neighborhood, the most commercialized and lively area of the city. Enjoy your evening exploring the area.

Today, we include a boat trip on the Bosphorus that will last about two hours. Enjoy seeing the liveliness of the strait with its multitude of boats. We will pass under the two bridges that unite Europe and Asia and admire the palaces of the sultans, the typical wooden houses, and the Ottoman villas. Return to the center of Istanbul and enjoy some free time.

After breakfast, our memorable 16-day tour comes to an end. We hope you enjoyed your journey through Europe and look forward to welcoming you back on another adventure soon.