turkey travel
Best of Greece and Turkey -

We can always customize this program and add more sights in both Turkey and Greece, or provide extra nights in place on the route. ( According to time of the year, some changes may occur in this program, to get the definite itinerary, please check with us by letting us your arrival dates)

We can always customize this program and add more sights in both Turkey and Greece, or provide extra nights in place on the route.

Program

- Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
As we say in Turkey, 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.

- Day 2 - Istanbul - (B/L)
This will be a full day of exploring the historical sites of Istanbul.

Sites you’ll see today
* Blue Mosque--World renown for it’s architecture and focal point for worshipping Muslims.
* Hagia Sophia--1,400 year old supreme church from Byzantium times which houses famous Byzantine Mosaics.
* Byzantine Hippodrome-The focal point of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Constantine. Within it’s center you will see the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column.
* Topkapi Palace--the residence and leadership center of the Sultans during the Ottoman Empire. It was built in 1459-1465 shortly after the conquest of Constantinople. You will see the Treasury that includes the Topkapi Dagger, the 86 carat Spoon Maker’s Diamond, and the jewel encased bones of St. John the Baptist’s skull and arm bone.
*KucukAyasofya and the Grand Bazaar will also be visited during the tour.
>Breakfast/Lunch/ provided<overnight in ISTANBUL.

- Day 3 - Istanbul - (B)
This will be a half day of exploring the historical sites of Istanbul.
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), Mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish etc.
Bosporus Cruise, thorough the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residential of luxurious apartments.
After the tour we will leave you at the grand Bazaar and give you free time to explore and some souvenir shopping. Overnight stay in Istanbul

- Day 4 - Istanbul to Cappadocia - (B/L)
Early in the morning we will pick you from your hotel and transfer you to the domestic airport and put you on a 1 hour flight to Kayseri, after arrival we will transfer you to Cappadocia and continue on the program.

Sites you’ll see today

*The World Heritage Site of Goreme Open-Air Museum--This is a cluster of rock cut Byzantine churches, chapels and monasteries which include some wonderful 11th and 12th century frescoes on the cave walls. This place was used by the Christians as a place of refuge from those opposed to Christianity and also was a major monastery. Rooms, churches, houses, and gathering halls have all been cut into the rock or formed from natural caves. Within the caves you can explore and see the preserved mosaics and frescoes.
*Fairy Chimneys--These geological phenomenon have been shaped over millions of years. They were formed during volcanic eruptions in the region. Reaching at times 40 meters in height, they are conical in shape and have a "hat" top to them.
*Devrent Valley--This valley is know as "the pink valley" because of the color of it’s soil. This is a lovely place to wander around and look at the magical rock formations indicative to Cappadocia, including the Fairy Chimneys.
*Uchisar Castle--Also called a fortress, this is actually a formation of two gigantic rocks surrounded by smaller rocks that together form a natural fortress with towers. These formations were inhabited during both the Byzantine and Ottoman times. You can climb and explore the different caves and rooms throughout the fortress, experiencing first-hand what it must have been like to hide in these fortified rocks, waiting for the ancient enemy to pass by or give up.
*We will also get the chance to visit local crafts people and learn how they make dolls and create traditional pottery. End of the tour we will return to our hotel & Overnight stay in Cappadocia -

- Day 5 - Cappadocia to Istanbul then to Athens - (B/L)
Today will be spent walking through an underground city where ancient people once fled for their lives escaping the Arab invaders, wandering through Ihlara Gorge and spending time in an Anatolian village. As we will need to drive for awhile in order to reach our first destination, we will be starting out quite early this morning.
Sites you’ll see today
*Underground City of Derinkuyu--You will gradually stroll your way down into the depths of the earth in this ancient underground city that has 18-20 floors as deep as 40 meters below the ground. Don’t worry, you will only go down to the 8th floor. Cappadocia has around 36 underground cities. Archeologists date these back to the time of the Hittites which lived 4000 years ago. Others believe they were inhabited around the 7th century BC .....Regardless of how old or young they are, undoubtedly they will leave you with a sense of awe of how the dwellers of these cities lived. As you wind down you will begin to feel as if you are in a huge block of Swiss cheese. Everywhere you look there will be nooks and crannies carved into the rocks: holes, windows , paths, alleys, little rooms.
*Ihlara Gorge will seem like an oasis in the middle of the Anatolian plain. Delve into the gorge and see the beautiful greenery as you follow the river. Around you will see ancient monasteries complete with pigeon holes cut into the cliffs by the monks. They used these pigeons as messengers to communicate with their monk friends!
*Traditional Anatolian villages--The head-scarved women out at work in the fields from sun up until sun-down, and the mustached, vest-wearing men hard at work playing cards in the coffee shops. You will get time to stroll in such a village and see the average Turkish villager at work...or play.
After the tour we will transfer you to the Kayseri airport and will put you on a 1 hour flight back to Istanbul, after your arrival you will walk to the international departures and board your flight from Istanbul to Athens.
Arrival in Athens, meet the transfermen in the airport transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Athens.

- Day 6 - Athens to Santorini - (B)
After breakfast around 08:30 am we will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and take you on a guided tour of Athens. You will explore Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathinaiko Stadium ( where the first Olympic Games took in 1896, After that will drive by the Prime's Ministers residence, Ex 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 (Nomismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Academy, University, National Library, Old Parliament, Constitution Square ,Russian Orthodox Church, ACROPOLIS, (the you will visit Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, Erechtheion and Museum of the Acropolis).
Early afternoon we will provide a transfer to domestic airport an put you on the 50 minute flight to Santorini, upon arrival you will be transfered to your hotel, Overnight stay in Santorini.

- Day 7 - Santorini - (B/L)
After breakfast we will take you on a full day tour of Santorini. You will visit Acrotiri, goon a boat trip to the remaining volcano out in the center of the area, visit hot springs, view the ruins of Thirrassia, and wrap up the day watching the romantic sunset from Oia. After sunset, you will be taken back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Santorini.
_________________________________
Santorini is one of those places in the world that will be permanently etched in your mind. Everywhere you turn you will find another photo opportunity. Essentially, the land is the remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, which destroyed the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island. The aftermath of the explosion created what you see today, a caldera. All of the whitewashed, charming houses cling to the high cliffs of the rim, while the deep blue Aegean Sea wraps around the geological masterpiece, hundreds of feet below. Its spectacular physical beauty, along with a dynamic nightlife, have made the island one of the tourist hotspots for Europe.
____________________________________

- Day 8 - Santorini to Athens then to your next destination - (B)
After breakfast we will provide a transfer to Santorini Airport and put you on a 50 minute flight to Athens. Upon arrival in Athens, you will walk the international departures and board your outbound flight to your next destination.

Total cost: ________ per person in a double room & ________ pp in a single room.

Ask for early booking discounts

Price includes

* All of the hotels ( Each of them individually chosen )
* All of the land transfers with comfortable vehicles
* All of the meal mentioned in the itinerary ( B-breakfast, L-lunch & D-dinner )
* Professional English speaking tour guides
* Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Cappadocia
* Domestic flight to From Cappadocia to Istanbul
* International flight tickets from Istanbul to Athens
* Domestic flight tickets from Athens to Santorini
* Domestic flight tickets from Santorini to Athens
* All of the admissions to the ancient sites with the tours
* All of the TAX and service charges

Excludes
* International flight tickets to Istanbul
* Drinks with meals.

We can add more nights on the islands, and customize the tour for your time, interest and budget. Let us know your preferences, and we will work with you to organize your dream vacation.

 

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