TURKEY-GREECE HIGHLIGHTS (Tailor Made)

Today we will visit the capital of three empires, the only city spread over two continents, bridge between East and West... a metropolis full of surprises ! The highlights of this city, the must do’s are the Ayasofya Museum, the Topkapi Palace, the Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque, the Hippodrome… !

To better feel, live Istanbul, we propose a walking tour (max. 2km – 1,5Mi) : Our visits will start at the Saint Sophia, a basilica built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century. Once the symbol of the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul and reconverted to a mosque, the Saint Sophia is today a museum and one of the architectural marvels of all times.

Just opposite the Saint Sophia, the Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque : this building of the 16th century is also known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.

The Hippodrome was the scene of chariot races in the Byzantine times. The three monuments in the middle, the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine column and the Column of Constantine, are relics of these glorious times.

After lunch, we continue with the visit of the Topkapi Palace, the palace of the Ottoman sultans for about 5 centuries which today houses a marvelous collection of crystal, silver and Chinaware, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the imperial jewels, miniatures.

Except from these you will also enjoy wandering in the gardens entering imperial rooms and salons.

The Saint Sophia museum is closed on Mondays, official and religious holidays.

This tour does not include the visit of the Harem. The Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, official and religious holidays.

The Bazaars and the Bosphorus : For those who want to enjoy there time in Istanbul other than by visiting, we propose a tour of the famous Istanbul covered and Egyptian bazaars.

The Covered bazaar is a labyrinth of streets and passages counting more than 4000 shops whe-re each trade has its own area : goldsmiths, carpet sellers, arts and crafts such as ceramic plates, copperware, brassware, onyx ware and meerschaum pipes. While wandering in this historical shopping mall, enjoy also shopping.

The covered bazaar is closed on Sundays, official and religious holidays.

At the end of the Covered Bazaar, you will enter the Egyptian Bazaar also known as the Spice Bazaar.

After lunch, we will head for the Eminönü pier whe-re we will embark a 2 hours cruise on the Bosphorus sailing up along the European shore and back along the Asian shore. The unique view of the Yalis (wooden mansions along the water), the Rumeli Fortress are among the attractions of this cruise.

Overnight in Istanbulfly to Kayseri, transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia for overnight

the group tour “Goreme” :

Program of the day : Goreme Open Air Museum : Goreme was known, in the ancient times as Korama. The first references to it are in the early 7th Acts of St.Hieron, a 3rd C. saint, a native of Matianoi,the modern Maccan. Goreme is an amphitheatre surrounded by steep cliffs leading to a pleasant, verdant valley, which puzzles every single visitor, by the interesting access to the many caves. The place we refer as the Goreme Open Air Museum is located in a small part of the whole valley and right next door to the modern village of Goreme. It is famous for its monastic complex of rock churches and chapel covered with frescoes. 

Zelve Valley: Fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps are the attraction of this area. A chapel dedicated to St. Simeon and a hermit’s shelter built into a fairy chimney with three heads is one of the highlights of the valley.

Devrent Valley: Devrent is one km. from Zelve Valley. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems. 

Cavusin Village: One of the oldest settlements in the area, Cavusin is 2 km. from Goreme, on the Goreme-Avanos road. The Church of St.John the Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintings date back to the 5th century, making it the oldest church in the region.  

Avanos: A center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. You will be invited to visit a traditional pottery workshop, which is possibly set deep into the hillsides. The clay, which comes from the Red River (Kizilirmak, the longest stream of Turkey) passing through the town gives life both to the land and to the local economy.

Ortahisar Village: Ortahisar is dominated by a fortress-li-kerock rising above winding roads. The present-day town is located at the foot of the “fortress” and a complicated network of paths leads to abandoned rock dwellings. In addition to cultivating the land, the inhabitants of Ortahisar earn their living by storing fruits yearlong in the caves cut from the volcanic rock. From the summit of the fortress which is accessible by stairs, one can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the surrounding area.

In the village directly below the fortress are dozens of tuff cones hollowed out as rooms. Many of these are still in use.

At the end of the tour, transfer to your hotel and overnight.

Early birds may want to enjoy a warm air balloon ride before continuing with the program :

Enjoy a unique Sunrise balloon ride and view the lunar landscape of Cappadocia. Balloon, though agreed for up to 20 passengers, are rarely taking off with more than 12 persons.

Return to your hotel for breakfast before ing a group tour. A choice :

Kaymakli :Kaymakli Underground City: Kaymakli is one of the largest underground cities in Cappadocia with eight stories. It covers an area of approximately 4 km2 /1.5SM. Visitors can see only about 10% of the city by going down a maximum of five floors. The population of Kaymakli is thought to have been about 3000.

Pigeon Valley: Here you will see whe-re the Pigeons and learn how they were used to help the people : sending messages, fertilizing the grapes... Also you will enjoy a wonderful panoramic view.

Uchisar Rock cas-tle: Uchisar is the name of the fortress and the town whe-re it is located (“Uc” is tip, “hisar” is fortress in Turkish). This 60 mt. high (200ft) fortress was not built but carved out of a natural hill dominating the area with a breathtaking view of all the surrounding Cappadocia formations.

Esentepe Panorama: This is the best panoramic viewpoint from which to contemplate the view of Goreme Village; fairy chimneys, rock formations and cave houses.

Rose Valley: This isolated valley behind Urgup has beautiful rock formations with some great hidden rock-carved churches. The most interesting part of this area are the countless tracks connecting the small villages and towns through vineyards and gardens li-kea spider web. It is always possible to see villagers working in the area and offering grapes, applesapricots to you.  

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Ihlara :Ihlara Canyon: Near Mount Hasan (one of the three volcanoes of Cappadocia) is a canyon with a depth of approximately 100 m carved by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. It begins at Ihlara Village and ends at the village Selime after making 26 bends along 14 kilometers. It is believed that the valley housed more than four thousand dwellings and a hundred churches. It is estimated that arround eighty thousand people once lived here.

It is very pleasant to walk through the Ihlara Valley by the vineyards, poplars and pistachio trees to the shooting sound of the rushing water and sorrounded by a rich wildlife of lizards, frogs, butterflies, birds and sometimes eagles and some mammals li-kelambs and sheep. 

The churches in the Valley can be divided into two groups; The Ihlara group including the Agacalti, Purenli Seki, Kokar, Egritas and Yilanli churches that reflect Oriental influences, and the Belisirma group, comprising the Sumbullu church and others with Byzantine characteristics.

The churches of the Ihlara group display scenes dissimilar to the scenes depicted in other Cappadocian churches. In fact, they are reminiscent of the early churches of Syria and the Coptic churches of Egypt. The texts in Ihlara group churches are unusually long. In this group special emphasis was laid upon Satan and women as the source of evil.

Selime Monastery: ancient monastic site and several rock hewn churches.

Belisirma Village: We enjoy a 4 km. hike through the Ihlara Valley to arrive in the Belisirma Village.

Derinkuyu Underground City: : Derinkuyu is one of the largest underground cities in Cappadocia with eight stories.

Overnight in Cappadociafly to Izmir, transfer to Kusadasi for overnight

In the morning, we depart for Selcuk and will visit the archaeological site of Ephesus and its area :

a morning (only Ephesus archaeological site)full day tour to Ephesus (also includes the Shrine of Virgin Mary and the Archaeology Museumthe Isabey Mosque)

You also have the option to have a private tour to Ephesus :

Ephesus, famous in antiquity for its Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - and later the home of St. John. As you arrive at Ephesus, enter the ancient site through the Magnesian Gate, follow your guide as you discover the monuments such as the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the Thermal Baths of Scholastica and the Great Theatre, built in the Greek era and reconstructed in the Roman period, which is still remarkable for its acoustics. Observe the symbols and ancient Greek inscriptions all around which can still be read. As your guided tour comes to an end, leave Ephesus along the Arcadian Way, whe-re once Mark Anthony and Cleopatra rode in procession. Driving back to Kusadasi, just outside Ephesus , you will notice the Basilica of St. John, erected over the grave of St John in the 6th Century AD by the Emperor Justinian. Just downhill, lays the site of the famous Temple of Artemis, today in ruins.

Meet at your hotel with your tour guide and driver and depart for the Shrine of Virgin Mary.

After a short visit of this site, we will proceed to the upper gate of Ephesus. The visit of this site is expected to take between 1,5 and 2 hours.

If you wish, you may consider visiting the Terraces Houses (instead of the Shrine of Virgin Mary), an exhibit of several antique mansions representing lifestyle and decoration of the Antique period.

In the afternoon, we propose two natives : 

1. You proceed with visit of archaeological sites such as the Basilica of Saint John, the Mosque of Isabey and the Archaeology Museum of Selcuk.

2. Take a lighter program and enjoy a tour to the old Greek village of Sirince whe-re - while strolling the streets - you will enjoy fruit wine tasting and /admire handmade household linen.

Overnight in Kusadasi

Full day excursion to Pamukkale (with group) :

After a trip of about 2,5 hours through the wild landscapes and cotton fields, we will reach Pamukkale, meaning cotton cas-tle in Turkish. This natural site and attraction in south-western Turkey enjoys a temperate climate over the greater part of the year.

The ancient city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white cas-tle which is in total about 2700 meters long and 160m high. After a tour on the travertines and a swim in one of the numerous thermal pools, we will continue our tour with the visit of Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the hot springs of Pamukkale were used as a spa since the 2nd century B.C. great baths were constructed with huge stone blocks without the use of cement, and consisted of various closedopen sections linked together. There are deep niches in the inner section of the bath, library, gymnasium and other closedopen locations. The complex, constructed in the 2nd century, was visited by people who came to soothe their ailings here. Many of them retired and died here which explains the origin of the large necropolis filled with sarcophagi.

If you prefer to enjoy a private excursion, you will have the possibility to also visit :

Aphrodisias : the ancient city dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of Beauty, Love and Fertility. Aphrodisias, a small city in Caria, Asia Minor, was built near a marble quarry which was extensively exploited in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and sculptors in marble from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world. Many examples of statuary have been unearthed in Aphrodisias, and some representations of the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias also survive from other parts of the Roman world, as far afield as Portugal.

We will visit the stadium, which is the best preserved in Anatolia, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, the Theatre and finish our tour with a visit of the museum, an exhibition of the most beautiful artifacts of ancient times.

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Laodikea : One of the seven churches of the Revelation, Laodicea is situated on the long spur of a hill between the narrow valleys of the small rivers Asopus and Caprus, which discharge their waters into the Lycus. It was approximately 10 km south of Hierapolis and, according to Strabo, it was on a major road.

The existing remains attest its former greatness. The ruins near Denizli are well preserved and are being substantially renovated (2012). Its many buildings include stadium, baths, temples, gymnasium, theatres, bouleuterion, etc… On the east the line of the ancient wall may be distinctly traced, with the remains of the Ephesus gate; there are streets traversing the town, flanked by colonnades and numerous pedestals. North of the town, towards the Lycus, are many sarcophagi, with their covers lying near them, partly imbedded in the ground, and all having been long since rifled.

Return to Kusadasi for overnight.

Transfer to Kusadasi PortIzmir Airport for your ferry/flight to Mykonos.

By Ferry from Kusadasi to Mykonos via Samos

*Kusadasi – Samos ferries run every morning from 1st April till end of October.
**Samos – Mykonos ferries are running 2 to 5 days in a week from early May to late September   

By Flight from Izmir to Mykonos via Athens
*Izmir – Mykonos Flights (via Athens) are running all year round.  

Upon your arrival in Mykonos Pier/Airport transfer to your hotel for overnight.  

Mykonos: This island, part of the Cyclades, lies between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island spans an area of 85.5 km2 (33sm) and counts 9,500 inhabitants most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, which lies on the west coast. The town is also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, following the common practice in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town). Tourism is a major industry.

Day at leisure and overnight in Mykonos

Explore Mykonos…

Organized Island Tour :Explore Mykonos, the most known of the Greek islands and one of the world's most popular holiday resorts, with the blue sky, the beautiful whitewashed organic cube-li-kehouses. Start with a walking tour in the morning and walk around the narrow white-washed streets of Mykonos Town. You will have many chances to take photographs, as in the morning the town is very quiet. You will see the lovely churches, the charming shops, Little Venice, the Windmills and Petros the Pelican, the mascot of Mykonos.

After this we are exploring the island with a bus, visiting some of the most famous beaches and the inner island's landscape. We see fishermen and their wooden boats (kaikis), small private chapels and houses built in typical Cycladic style. In the second main village of Mykonos, Ano Mera, an idyllic place 6 km from town, whe-re the guests have enough free time to stroll around the traditional square and visit the monk monastery Panagia Tourliani built in the 16th century. Next stop is Kalafatis beach were there is time to relax a little and have a coffeea refreshment (not included in the price), before going back to town and to reach a place with a fantastic view all over the town and neighboring islands.

Guided Tours to Delos Island: 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 is 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 and amphitheatre and then, 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.

Delian Sunset Cruise :Enjoy the beautiful sunset and the magic of the Aegean Sea.

The tour starts around 18.00 with the traditional Greek Kaiki.

The route takes us to Delos with a view to the ancient harbor and the ruins, then between Delos and the coast of Rhenia past the little islands Ano and Kato Rematiaris towards the South to the uninhabited islands Prassonissia whe-re we can enjoy the magic light of the sun setting over Delos.

On board there is a choice of drinks between sparkling wine, white wine, Gin-tonic, Ouzo, beer and soft drinks (max. 2 drinks per person) which is offered with small snacks.

Return to Ornos Bus station at 20.40 after experiencing a beautiful sunset.

Transfer to the Mykonos Pier whe-re will take the ferry to Santorini.

Santorini: Also classically known as “Thera” and officially as Thira, the island of Santorini is located in the southern Aegean Sea about 200km (120Mi) southeast from Greece’s mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. It is the most southern island of the Cyclades group of islands with a population of around 14.000.

Upon arrival in Santorini, transfer to your hotel. Free time and overnight in Santorini

Day at leisure and overnight in Santorini

The Must Do’s in Santorini:

Go up the Caldera on a mule ride: One of the most authentic experiences is going up from the Old Harbor (or Ammoudi) on a mule. These friendly animals carry you through the 587-step winding path on the steep slope that designates the shortcut to Thira. The itinerary begins in a relaxing way with the orders given in the mule drivers’ language but soon enough, when the distance from the sea level becomes higher and higher and, the donkey gets closer and closer to the edge of the cliff, the adventure is on !

Dive into the sunset: The Caldera, generously embracing the Aegean, is the spot whe-re the silence of the East meets the serenity of the West and creat-es a divine melody of colors nating so harmoniously as if overflown from the palette of the volcano. You don’t need to go till Oia : whe-rever you are in the Caldera, the sunset is magical !

Visit a winery : There is no doubt that the uniqueness of Santorini has to do with the volcano and the Caldera. The volcanic land gives special features to the wines. A visit to a winery, so as to get acquainted with the traditional vine-cultivation and wine-making, and trying some of the wines of the island is a unique experience you should not miss!

Go to Ammoudi for swimming and eating: Among the best moments on the island : walking along the dust road to reach the small beach with the cliffs, diving into the deep waters and swimming below the Caldera - above the sea bottom chaos (no organized beaches). Then going to the taverna with the yellowish colors on the walls for fish and sea dishes and waiting for the sunset. The sun vanishes behind Thirasia and from this spot you have the sunset with the longest duration!

Transfer to the Santorini Pier and ferry to Athens.

Upon your arrival transfer to hotel.

Athens alone is worth a trip to Greece.

The Acropolis, the Parthenon, the National Museum, the Plaka area, the Syndagma (Constitution) Square alone are worth to go to Athens.

Athens, capital of modern Greece, at its foundation in 3000 B.C. was a small fortified village at the foot of the Acropolis. It owes its name to the Goddess Athena who won a fight against Poseidon. Athens, today, counts about 4 million inhabitants.

To discover the city, wandering in through the tiny streets and the popular areas are incomparable: bazaars, gardens, Byzantine churches and magnificent ruins remind the turbulent past and dynamical present of Athens.

Athens Sightseeing with Acropolis Museum :

From Tuesday to Sunday, all year round - Dep: 08:30 - Ret: 13:30

From the Acropolis to Omonia Square, with the half-day sightseeing and Acropolis museum tour you'll see all the famous sites of ancient and modern Athens on this comprehensive morning tour. Offering a perfect overview of the modern city, this guided halfday tour will help you get your bearings if this is your first visit to Athens.

The Athens half-day tour depart for a photo stop at Panathinaiko Stadium whe-re the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. It is the only stadium built out of white marble. Proceed, passing by Zappeion and Temple of Olympian Zeus. You will then pass the Athens Trilogy which includes the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens, and the National Library. Continue passing by National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown soldier, Schliemann’s House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Old Parliament, Constitution Square ,Russian Orthodox Church, and finally ACROPOLIS (visit Propylae, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, Erechtheion with its Porch of Maidens).

Continue the expert guided Athens sightseeing and museum tour with a pleasant short walk passing by Herodion and Dionysos Theater, in order to visit the ACROPOLIS museum. Avoid and skip the lines of the new museum. Main attractions such as votives, artifacts of every day life, statues from archaic period, Caryatids, and of course the Parthenon hall with the metopes, the pediments and the frieze will impress you.

Free afternoon to stroll the “Plaka” (old town) area.

Day at leisure in Athenspossibility to a one day excursion :

Delphi : Daily service from 01 April to 31 October (except Mondays) - Dep: 08:45 - Ret: 18:45

Depart from our terminal for one day trip from Athens to Delphi to expore one of the most famous archaelogical sites of Greece. Along the way, you will see the plain of Beotia, an agricultural center and you will also pass by the city of Theva, the birthplace of King Oedipus.

You will continue your Delphi day tour towards Mt. Parnassos, making a short rest stop outside the town of Levadia.You will drive then to DELPHI, known in ancient times as the navel of the world. Pass by cas-talia Spring, visit at the archaeological site and view the monument of the Argive Kings, the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle and Delphi museum, with it's spectacular exhibits include the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos the metopes of the Athenian treasury, the famous bronze Charioteer, originally creat-ed to commemorate a victory during the 476 B.C. Pythian Games, and many other artifacts. After lunch return to Athens via the picturesque mountain village of Arachova, built on the south slopes of Parnassus, well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs and quilts, as well as for its wine and cheese (short stop).

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Argolis : From 01 April to 31 October : Monday to Thursday and Saturday - Dep: 08:45 - Ret: 18:45

Explore with this guided one full day trip from Athens the remains of the ancient city of Mycenae a major centre of Greek civilization from 1600BC to 1100BC and a world heritage monument.

Depart from our terminal for one day tour via the coastal National highway for the Corinth canal (short stop). After the Corinth Canal, you enter the region of Argolis, land of Homer’s Golden Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dating back to the second century B.C., Mycenae was one of the major centers of Greek civilization and a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece . Visit the archaeological site, home to the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon. You will see the Cyclopean Walls, the Lion’s Gate, the Royal Tombs, including Agamemnon Clytemnestra's, and the Treasury of Atreus, a magnificent 14th-century B.C. structure. Time will then be taken for a traditional Greek optional lunch at a nearby restaurant. Before lunch an optional stop in a pottery factory. After lunch through ARGOS proceed to Nauplia the first capital of modern Greece with its Venetian fortress of PALAMIDI and the fortified islet of BOURTZI (short stop).

Continue on to Epidaurus and visit the ancient theatre. The UNESCO’S world heritage listed monument is reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo's son Asklepios, the healer and was the most celebrated healing center of the classical world. Epidaurus is probably most famous for its theatre, one of the best preserved classical Greek buildings and still used today due to its amazing acoustics. The Mycenae - Epidaurus day tour returns to Athens in the late afternoon.

Time at leisure till transfer to the Athens airport for your home flight.

If you still have a morning free, you may consider to a morning tour to the canal of Corinth.

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Possibility to a 23 days cultural tour to the Meteora.