HOS GELDINIZ! Welcome to Turkey! We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a short briefing about your tour,
you will have the afternoon free to rest and explore Istanbul on your own.
Overnight in Istanbul.

In the morning , we will meet you at your hotel and take you on this enlightening walking tour of the old part to the Grand Bazaar area then we will make our way down to the water front near Eminonu.
You’ll see hundreds of interesting shops lined up cozily side-by-side. Of course, there will be time for for a break at a typical Turkish cafe before indulging our taste buds in the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, tasting lokum (Turkish Delight) and other sweets.
* The Spice Bazaar/Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) transports you back to the Silk Road days with its mystical aromas of various spices. Here, you’ll also find other shops selling fruits, vegetables, teas, flowers, fish, and Turkish Delight (lokum).
* Bosphorus Cruise takes you though the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia; along its shores, you can take photographs of marble palaces and antique wooden Ottoman-era villas that sit beside luxurious modern residences.
You will also see Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Ortakoy Mosque from the Sea which will give you great advantage of taking wonderful photos.
Enjoy rest of the afternoon at leisure.
( You might take an optional afternoon tour to Topkapi Palace or another walking tour to the new part of the city. )
Overnight in Istanbul.

In the morning we will meet you at your hotel and take you on a guided tour of the old part of the city.
Sites you’ll see today:
* Blue Mosque/Sultanahmet Mosque (Camii) built during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I during 1609-1616. It is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. Due to its magnificent hand-dyed blue, green and white Iznik tiles it has been named the “Blue Mosque” by Europeans. The central dome is 43 m in height and is 33.4 m in diameter; it also boasts 260 windows.
* Hagia Sophia/Aya Sofya is a truly awe-inspiring, 1,400-year-old Byzantine cathedral which houses mosaics, relics and iron work. Hagia Sophia was, for nearly a thousand years, the largest enclosed space in the world, and still seen as one of the world’s most important architectural monuments.
* Hippodrome: the backdrop of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life. Of the ornaments which once decorated it, only three remain: The Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine.
The Obelisk is in the Egyptian style and was erected in 1547 BC and stood 60m tall.
* Grand Bazaar: this is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 streets and over 4,000 shops attracting between 250,000 and half-a-million visitors every day!
The Bazaar’s construction began in 1455 and opened in 1461, and is still renowned today for its jewelry, ceramics, spices, textiles, and of course, carpet shops. Many of these shops are grouped together according to the wares being sold.
Enjoy rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Istanbul.

Early in the morning we will drive west, skirting the northern shore of the beautiful Sea of Marmara, heading towards the Aegean Sea.
Sites you’ll see today:
*Gallipoli and the Dardanelles –After our lunch, we willl devote our afternoon to visiting Gallipoli, where fierce World War I fighting took place between Allied forces and the Turkish Army. At ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Armed Corps) Cove, thousands lost their lives on one fateful dawn morning. We’ll also visit other famous WWI battlesites and cemetaries in this area, including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. From here, we’ll board a ferry and cross the Dardanelles Strait. World War I history buffs will know that the Dardanelles Strait was a strategic crossing point for the Allied armies to cross from Europe into Asia Minor.
*Canakkale will be our final destination for today and where we will spend our evening. After dinner, you might want to stroll the harbor and enjoy watching sunset.
Overnight in Canakkale

In the morning we will take you on a half day tour of the Ancient City of Troy.
*Troy (Truva) is the ancient site written about by Homer in the classic Iliad. It dates back to approximately 3,000 BC and has been the site of nine different cities through the thousands of years it has been in existence. Upon entering Troy, a large wooden Trojan horse full-scale reproduction will dominate your view. You’ll definitely want to climb up and get your picture taken! There is also a small museum on-site to help you get oriented. After lunch, you will depart from Canakkale,
driving along the Aegean Sea south to the seaside city of Kusadasi. Upon arriving, you will check into your hotel.
Overnight in Kusadasi.

In the morning we will met you at your hotel and take you on a guided tour of Ephesus, Temple of Artemis and the House of Virgin Mary.
About the sites you will visit ;
*Ephesus is the best-preserved classical cities from ancient times, and was inhabited by Greeks, Macedonians, Romans and Turks. St. Paul lived here circa 60 AD, when it was at its most populated at 250,000.  During your visit, you’ll walk its stony boulevards, stand in the grand theatre, marvel at the beauty of the Celsus Library, the agora, as well as the baths, giving you the unique chance to get up-close-and-personal with history by literally being able to walk into it.
*The Temple of Artemis is situated in serene countryside celebrates the Greek goddess Artemis, the virginal huntress and twin of Apollo, who supplanted the Titan Selene as goddess of the Moon.  This temple, known as Artemision in Greek times, was the largest of its kind at the world
*The House of The Virgin Mary, (Turkish: Meryemana Evi), high on a hill overlooking the town of Selcuk, is where it is believed that St. Mary came to live with St. John the Baptist in the later years of her life.
Overnight in Kusadasi.

After breakfast, we will depart from Kusadasi to Pamukkale; upon arrival we will continue on the guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Our drive will take us through a rich agricultural area, teeming with cotton fields and fruit orchards.
* Pamukkale (“cotton castle” in Turkish) is the result of limestone formations created over thousands of years. Warm, calcium-rich mineral water from nearby thermal hot springs flowed over these cliffs and, as these waters cooled, they deposited the calcium that we see today.
* Hierapolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded as an ancient healing care center in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral waters. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centers of the Roman Empire.
Overnight in Pamukkale.

After breakfast, we will depart from Kusadasi to Pamukkale; upon arrival we will continue on the guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Our drive will take us through a rich agricultural area, teeming with cotton fields and fruit orchards.
* Pamukkale (“cotton castle” in Turkish) is the result of limestone formations created over thousands of years. Warm, calcium-rich mineral water from nearby thermal hot springs flowed over these cliffs and, as these waters cooled, they deposited the calcium that we see today.
* Hierapolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded as an ancient healing care center in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral waters. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centers of the Roman Empire.
Overnight in Pamukkale.

In the morning, we’ll depart Pamukkale and drive to Cappadocia; en route, we’ll stop in Konya and have lunch near the Mevlana Museum.
* The Mevlana Museum is a holy site for Muslims because of its historical significance as a lodge of the whirling dervishes; in addition, the architecture and famous Iznik turquoise tiles make for a stunning backdrop.

Today will be devoted to exploring more of Cappadocia’s unforgettable sites.
(If you have purchased the optional hot-air ballooning tour, please note that you’ll need to rise very early in the morning to go to the balloon-launch site. After the trip has concluded, we’ll come back to the hotel for breakfast and have a rest before setting out in later in the morning to see the rest of the sites listed below.)
Sites you’ll see today:
* Goreme Open-Air Museum – A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Goreme is an ancient town carved right out of the rock (tufa); you’ll explore Byzantine-era churches, chapels and monasteries which house wonderfully-preserved 11th- and 12th-century cave frescoes.
* Fairy Chimneys–This strange geological phenomenon was created over millions of years, and were formed during regional volcanic eruptions. Reaching at times 40 meters in height, they are conical in shape and have a whimsical “hat” top to them.
* Devrent Valley--This valley is known as “the pink valley” because of the color of its soil. This is a lovely place to wander about and really take in the magical rock formations indicative to Cappadocia, including the Fairy Chimneys.
* Uchisar Castle, also known as Uchisar Fortress, is actually a formation of two gigantic rocks surrounded by smaller ones that together, form a natural fortress with towers. These formations were inhabited during both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.
We’ll also visit local crafts people and learn the special art of making dolls and traditional pottery.
Overnight in Cappadocia.

As we have a lengthy drive to our first destination, we’ll be starting out quite early this morning. Today, we’ll stroll through an amazing subterranean city where ancient Christians once hid from Arab invaders; we’ll then wander through the Ihlara Gorge and spend time in a classic Anatolian village.
* Underground City of Derinkuyu–You’ll gradually make your way down into the depths of the earth of this ancient settlement that has 18-20 floors which boast depths as long as 40 meters. (Don’t worry, we’ll only go down to the 8th floor!) You’ll marvel at the fact that Derinkuyu is just one of 36 Cappadocian underground cities, which archaeologists date back to the time of the Hittites around 4,000 years ago.
* Ihlara Gorge is an oasis in the middle of the Anatolian plain. We’ll explore the canyon and take in the beautiful green scenery as we stroll casually alongside the river. Here, you’ll see ancient monasteries complete with pigeon holes carved into the cliffs by the monks; the pigeons acted as messengers to communicate with neighboring monks!
* Traditional Anatolian village — You’ll see head-scarved women in the fields (where they work from sun up until sundown) and the moustached, vest-wearing men hard-at-work playing cards or tavla (backgammon) in the kahvehane (coffee shop). You’ll get time to stroll in a village such as this and see the average Turkish villager at work…or play.
Overnight in Cappadocia.

In the morning we will provide a transfer to Cappadocia Airport and put you on flight to Athens.

Arrival in Athens KALOS ORISATE! Welcome to Greece! We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a short briefing about your tour, you will have the afternoon free to rest and explore Athens on your own. Overnight in Athens.

After breakfast around 8:30 AM, we will meet you at your hotel for your guided tour of Athens. You will explore Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathinaiko Stadium (where the first Olympic Games took place in 1896). After that, we will drive by the Prime’s Minister’s residence, the Royal Palace, (guarded by colorful Evzones), Zappion (Conference and Exhibition Hall), National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Schlieman’s House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Academy, University, National Library, Old Parliament, Constitution Square, and the impressive Russian Orthodox Church. At the ACROPOLIS, you will visit Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, Erechtheion and the Museum of the Acropolis. In the early afternoon, we will provide a transfer to your hotel, or we can also drop you off at the Plaka so you can wander and explore. Overnight in Athens.

Very early in the morning, you will be transferred to Athens Airport, and put you on a flight to Chania.
08:55 – Athens — El. Venizelos 09:45 Chania I. Daskalogiannis
Meet our representative at the airport and transfer to your hotel, after check in you will have rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Chania –

Breakfast at the hotel & Day at leisure – Assistance with optional tours to Imbros or to Samaria Gorge will be available. Overnight in Chania.

In the morning we will depart from Chania and drive to Heraklion, upon arrival we will take you on a guided tour of Knossos.
Knossos (also known as the Knossos Palace) is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and was likely the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization. The city remained important throughout the Classical and Roman periods, but its population shifted to the new town of Handaq (modern Heraklion) during the 9th century AD. By the 13th C, it was known as Makryteikhos (“long wall”); however, the bishops of Gortyn continued to call themselves the Bishops of Knossos until the 19th C. Today, the name is used only for the archaeological site itself.
After the tour you will check in to your hotel, overnight in Heraklion.

In the morning transfer to Heraklion Harbor, get on the morning ferry to Santorini.
Departure at 08:45 —– Arrival at 10:20
Transfer to your hotel, enjoy rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Santorini. www.villailias.gr/

After breakfast we will take you on a full-day tour of Santorini. You will visit Acrotiri, hop on a boat to explore the caldera, take in the hot springs, view the ruins of Thirrassia, and finish off this very memorable day by watching the famous sunset from Oia. Afterwards you will be taken back to your hotel. Overnight in Santorini. www.villailias.gr/

Breakfast at the hotel –transfer to Santorini Harbor and depart from Santorini to Mykonos.
Departure at 11:50 and arrival at 14:20 pm
Arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Mykonos.

10:00 am Meet up with your guide and go on a half day tour to Mykonos.
A half-day trip, including the services of a professional guide, to the sacred island of Apollo and Artemis, a famous political and religious center of ancient world. The whole territory of deserted Delos in one of the most important archeological sites of the eastern Mediterranean. You may visit, amongst others, the remains of the Temples of Apollo, the sanctuary of Artemis, the old city & amphitheater and than, walk down the celebrated Lion Street.
Also, in the museum of Delos, you can admire Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman Sculptures, a collection of vessels from all periods as well as small items used in every day life.
Overnight in Mykonos.

In the morning depart from Mykonos on the fast to Athens, upon arrival transfer to your hotel, after check in, enjoy rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Athens.

Andio sas! Good bye! It is time to go home. We will transfer you to the airport and wish you well; we hope our paths cross again soon.

Program ends.