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.
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 with Lunch (USD$79). 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 professional guide, enjoy learning the craft of coffee production at a shop, plus sip delicious coffee at local coffee shop. Then transfer to Cappadocia. A region of surreal rock formations and incredible cultural heritage.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6 Cappadocia
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
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 with Lunch (USD$89), 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-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.
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
DAY 14 Athens
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 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. Enjoy your free day.
Meal: Breakfast
DAY 16 Athens Embarkation - Mykonos
After Breakfast. Transfer to Port and board the Agean Sea Cruise MV Gemini and set sail to Mykonos at noon. Tonight, the cruise will dock a Mykonos, you may join the shore excursions onboard or self-explore the nightlife scene on the island. Town Chora is the epicenter of the island's nightlife, with numerous bars and pubs that stay open late into the night. You can explore the narrow streets of the town and discover cozy cocktail bars, wine bars, and traditional Greek tavernas that turn into lively spots after dark. Dinner and Overnight onboard.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 17 Santorini
Breakfast onboard. This morning, the cruise arrive Santorini. This is the supermodel of the Greek islands, a head-turner whose face is instantly recognizable around the world: multi-colored cliffs soar out of a sea-drowned caldera, topped by drifts of whitewashed buildings. With its reputation for dazzling panoramas, romantic sunsets and volcanic-sand beaches, it’s hardly surprising the island features on so many travelers’ bucket lists. At leisure on this amazing island of Santorini (formed by the eruption of the volcano 1600 BC). The sight is the most breathtaking of all Greek islands and perhaps of the world. Explore and enjoy all that the island has to offer. History and nature combine to make Santorini unforgettable. Set sail at 17:00 for Kisadasi. Overnight onboard.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 18 Kusadasi - Patmos
Today, the cruise docks at Kusadasi, you may enjoy your free time in the morning. At noon, set sail to Patmos, a small, picturesque island on Aegean Sea, it has religious significance sities to see, such as Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse. The monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers stunning views of the island.
Overnight onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 19 Athens Disembarkation - North America
After breakfast, disembark at Athens and transfer to the airport to board your flight back home.
Meal: Breakfast
