Great Turkey, Greek Islands and Northern Greece

Welcome to the vibrant city of Istanbul, a city that straddles two continents. 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 about the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.

Kickstart your day with a panoramic tour of Istanbul. Visit the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, the largest in Istanbul, and admire the exterior of Hagia Sophia. Explore the city walls, the golden horn, and the fishing district. In the afternoon, we'll transfer you to the neighborhood of Taksim, the most commercial and local area of the city. Enjoy dining in one of its many restaurants, take the old tram that crosses the area, or visit the nearby Galata Tower.

Start your day with a visit to the Topkapi Palace, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Next, embark on a two-hour boat trip on the Bosporus, a strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, separating Istanbul into two parts: European and Asian. Disembark on the Asian side and explore the neighborhood of Uskudar. After lunch, we continue our journey to the Anatolian peninsula, arriving in Ankara for dinner.

After breakfast, explore the cosmopolitan capital of Turkey, Ankara. Visit the impressive Mausoleum of Ataturk, the powerful castle of Ankara, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. After lunch, continue to the region of Cappadocia, stopping next to the Salt Lake and visiting Hacibektas. Arrive in Nevsehir for dinner.

Spend a full day in the fantastic region of Cappadocia, known for its lunar landscapes, churches, and troglodyte villages. Discover the Goreme Valley with its open-air museum and churches carved into the rocks. Visit Uchisar, a natural fortress, and Kaimacli, home to an underground city that could house 30,000 people. Stop at Pasabag, the valley of the fairies, and enjoy a walk in this spectacular natural area. Dinner is included.

Visit the Ihlara Valley at the far end of Cappadocia, known for the freshness of its waters, its churches, and villages excavated in the rock. Continue your route, stopping at an old Caravanserai from the 13th Century before arriving in Konya. Visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana (Rumi) and learn about the sect of the Dervishes. Dinner is included. At night, you may choose to attend the dance performance of the whirling dervishes in the cultural centre.

Take a scenic road between the lakes to the beautiful town of Egridir, located next to a large lake. Enjoy some time for lunch before continuing to Pamukkale-Hierapolis, whose calcareous waters have created the Cotton Castle. Dinner is included.

Leave for Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city of Asia Minor. Discover the house of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of Saint John, and the impressive ruins at Ephesus. Continue to Kusadasi, a popular coastal town with a lot of atmosphere, commercial life, and a small castle. Dinner is included.

Leave for one of the natural wonders of Turkey, Lake Bafa. Continue to Bodrum, a beautiful fortified city of Greek origin. After lunch, proceed to Marmaris, another beautiful coastal tourist enclave with its castle, marina, and fountains. Dinner and accommodation are included.

Early in the morning, take a ferry to Greece. Arrive in Rhodes and enjoy some free time to explore the island. Please note that the ferries that connect Marmaris with Rhodes undergo frequent schedule changes and do not operate every day (except summer months). In such a case, the itinerary may be changed.

Explore the island of Rhodes, starting with a visit to Filerimos. Travel to Lindos, where you can walk through the white streets of the center, rest on its beaches, or climb to the Acropolis. After lunch, return to Rhodes and enjoy some free time. In the evening, transfer to the airport for a flight to the island of Crete, arriving in Heraklion.

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

Today, visit the Palace of Knossos and learn about the Minoan culture that gave rise to the Greek culture four thousand years ago. After the visit, 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. Return to the capital of Crete.

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. Continue to Agios Nikolaos, a picturesque town with a natural port. The next stop is Elounda, a beautiful tourist enclave. From here, take a boat ride to the island-citadel of Spinalonga, an ancient Venetian fortress. Return by boat to Heraklion.

Take a fast ferry to the island of Santorini. Visit Oia, the most spectacular town on the island, and Fira, the capital of the island. You can go down by cable car or donkey to the port, where the cruise ships arrive. Later, continue to the ferry port to take a fast ferry to Athens, arriving at midnight.

Depart early in the morning towards the North of Greece. Stop in Kamena Vourla, a beautiful touristic hub next to the sea. Proceed to the north, making a short stop in the gorge where the Battle of Thermopylae took place. Visit Kastraki, a picturesque village with beautiful views of the whole valley. Visit the Meteora valley, a breathtaking place declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Dinner is included in Kalambaka.

Travel south through the Thessaly region, arriving in Delphi after enjoying the view of wonderful landscapes. Visit the beautiful archaeological complex that overlooks the Gulf of Corinth. After lunch, visit the Osios Loukas Monastery, one of the most beautiful Byzantine monasteries in Greece, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue towards Athens, arriving in the evening.

Enjoy a city tour with a local guide which includes the Presidential Palace, the Panathinaikos stadium, the national library, and the bustling squares of the center. The tour will finish at the Acropolis site. In the evening, we include a transfer to the Plaka area, full of small Greek bars where you can enjoy the rich folklore of this country.

After breakfast, the journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful, lasting memories of your multi-day tour across Turkey and Greece.