Istanbul - Kusadasi - Pamukkale - Cappadocia - Athens - Santorini - Mykonos - Athens
Greece is ancient sun-bleached ruins piercing blue skies, the balmy Aegean lapping an endless coastline, and a culture alive with passionate music, wonderful cuisine, and thrill-seeking activities. Climb steps were hewn out of stone to Meteora’s monasteries, perched atop towering rocks. Contemplate the oracle’s insights from the grandeur of Delphi, take in a starlit drama at an ancient outdoor theatre, and be stunned by massive marble sculptures dredged up from the Aegean. Encounter bold modern art, the melancholic throb of rembetika (blues songs), and artisans creating new work from traditional techniques. Greece has endless cultural pursuits and a calendar bursting with festivals, holidays, and exhibits.
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Meet our local Tour Representative at Istanbul Airport and get assisted transfer to your hotel. Check in to the hotel and the rest of the day is leisure to explore Istanbul on your own. Overnight in Istanbul.
Post breakfast, visit ST. SOPHIA This ancient basilica, one of the architectural marvels of all time. TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine.
In the afternoon, the guide will take you to the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR, the goldsmiths street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as hand-painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brass-ware and trays, water ewers, onyx - ware and meerschaum pipes. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel followed by an overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast depart for the Bosphorus Cruise tour. Enjoy a magical Istanbul Bosphorus Boat Cruise and Spice Market Tour. Enjoy the array of sites you can see from the boat including SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar). BOSPHORUS BY BOAT a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. Leave for Istanbul Ataturk airport for domestic flight to Izmir. Transfer from the airport and check in to your hotel in Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Go on a fully guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient sites in the world en-route, visiting the Temple of Artemis, Curetes street, famous Roman center. Proceed for Turkish Village Tour. The houses of Sirince Village on the slope are all Original with their white paints. Sirince Village also has a fantastic reputation for making some of the best wines in Turkey - especially fruit wines. You will visit the vineyards and it is time to learn how to make fruit wine with Turkish winemakers.
In the evening you may try your hands on making fruit wine. On the way, you will visit one of the famous leather production centers of the region, where you will have the opportunity to get a good factory rate Overnight stay in Kusadasi.
Today, after breakfast depart for Pamukkale. Check-in at the hotel and relax for some time. Afterward, visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and have the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs. Overnight in Pamukkale.
After breakfast leave for Denizli airport for our domestic flight to Cappadocia. Transfer from Kayseri airport to your Cave hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Cappadocia. Overnight in Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.
Today after breakfast at the hotel, commence the tour with Uchisar Castle, the highest point of Cappadocia. After Uchisar, you visit Goreme Open Air Museum, the Heart of Cappadocia. Goreme Open Air Museum is famous for frescoes dating to the 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and monks.
The next stop is Cavusin, which is an abandoned village with old cave Greek houses. After Cavusin you go to the restaurant in Avanos to have lunch. After lunch, you visit a pottery workshop, to see how to make potteries. Then you go to Pasabagi where you can see three-headed fairy chimneys. After Pasabagi you visit another workshop to see Cappadocian handwoven carpets and kilims. The next stop is Devrent Valley, which is also called Imagination Valley, where you can see natural rock formations looking like animals. Then you head to a wine shop in Urgup for wine tasting. Lastly Three Beauties, three beautiful fairy chimneys with their hats, which is the symbol of Cappadocia. Returned back to your hotel for an overnight in Cappadocia.
After breakfast, you will have free time shopping in Cappadocia. Today you will depart for Kayseri airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul and then Fly to Greece Athens. Arrive at Athens Airport and meet with our English-speaking representative who will transfer you to your Hotel. Check in to your room. Free time to walk to the Athens City center and Plaka area, the old district of Athens famous for its souvenir shops and traditional tavernas with local food. Overnight in Athens.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Our expert guides will help you to explore the treasures of Athens during your morning sightseeing tour. Beginning from the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896. Continue with a pass by the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian´s Arch, the Parliament, and the memorial of the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University the National Library, and the Constitution Square (Syntagma) you will be amazed by the rich heritage.
Your tour will be followed by a visit to Acropolis, the ancient fortified town of Athens, dating back to the Late Bronze Age. You will also be impressed by the Parthenon one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments dedicated to the goddess Athena, the Erectheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike.
Lastly visit the impressive Acropolis Museum, one of the most important contemporary works of architecture in Athens that houses 4,000 priceless finds from the Acropolis monuments that represent its history. The afternoon will be free at leisure. Overnight in Athens.
Morning transfer to the port to embark the ferry to Santorini. Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel and then you will have the rest of the time to enjoy the stunningly gorgeous Greek isle that it’s rumored in the legend to be the lost city of Atlantis. Walk in the paths of Fira, the picturesque capital of Santorini; perched high up on the edge of the Caldera and enjoy the views of the volcano, ocean, white-washed buildings, and blue-domed churches. Explore Oia, Firostefani, and Imerovigli and relax while seeing the most beautiful sunset in the world. Stay overnight in Santorini.
Day at leisure to enjoy the unique view of the island, the most romantic sunset of the world, and the beautiful white-washed houses. Overnight in Santorini.
Morning is at leisure. At indicated time transfer to the airport for your flight to Mykonos. Arrival in Mykonos transfer to hotel. Mykonos is the most famous island in Greece and, with no doubt the most cosmopolitan in Cyclades islands. It has unique beauties with archaeological, natural, recreational, and traditional facets. Overnight stay in Mykonos.
Today is a free day in Mykonos. You may take the chance to explore every path of the island with the all-white-washed cubic houses with blue windows, charming narrow streets with pebble-stoned pavements, and little white chapels with sky-blue cupolas and the famous Windmills. A walk through Chora, the old port, Little Venice, and the Castle would be an amazing first meeting with the island. Overnight in Mykonos.
The morning is at leisure. You can visit the Paraportiani Church which is one of the most interesting architectural structures in Greece. An exemplary monument of Mykonos, the Paraportiani church is responsible for some of the most idyllic pictures ever taken on the island. Arrival and transfer to your Athens hotel followed by an overnight stay.
Breakfast at the Hotel. After breakfast, check out the Hotel and transfer to Athens Airport for a flight back to home.