25 Days Istanbul Turkey to Athens Greece Combined Tour

25 Days Istanbul Turkey to Athens Greece Combined Tour

Istanbul to Athens Combine Itinerary for 25 Days
Day 1 – Arrival to Istanbul
Upon arrival to Istanbul International Airport. You will be picked up by our travel team at the exit gate of airport arrivals hall & transfer to the hotel. Check into hotel. Today is your first day of your tour package in Istanbul. Rest of the day. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 – Istanbul Historical Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up from the hotel for Istanbul Historical walking tour. Your tour will start with a stroll to the Hippodrome, the former heart of Constantinople’s political & sporting life adorned with ancient monuments. Continue to visit the Blue Mosque with its six minarets, a great cascade of domes & a striking blue Iznik tiled interior. Next with the Hagia Sophia which is considered the Jewel of Byzantine architecture & once the largest church in the world for 1000 years. After lunch in the afternoon we will complete this historical day by visiting Topkapi Palace, the residence of the legendary Ottoman Sultans, now converted into a museum with its jewel encrusted treasury & elegant four courts. Free time at the Grand Bazaar where you can shop or haggle with local merchants over unusual antiques, colorful spices, beautiful jewelry or carpets, richly textured fabrics & more. Return back to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3 – Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Sightseeing (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Pick up from the hotel and a short drive to Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar) heaped with various sweets & spices is one of the world’s largest spice bazaars since 1665. Soon after, we embark on the boat for an unforgettable boat cruise along the Bosphorus until the second bridge, the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia. Return back to the hotel. Rest of the day. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4 – Istanbul (B)
Breakfast. Free day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 5 – Fly to Cappadocia & Cappadocia Tour (B, L)
Early check out & transfer to Istanbul Airport and fly Cappadocia. Arrival to Cappadocia. Met on arrival at the airport and transfer to Cappadocia. Start to the North Cappadocia Tour. We start our day with a gentle hike through orchards, unusual volcanic rock formations, rock-cut houses at Red Valley & Pasabagi where you will find the world known fairy chimneys. Visit the old Christian Village of Cavusin, followed by lunch break & then an excursion to Pigeon Valley. Then continue on to Goreme Open-Air Museum where you will visit the numerous rock carved churches, monasteries decorated with striking frescoes from early Christianity.
Check into the hotel and Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 6 – Cappadocia Tour – Antalya (B, L)
Optional Tour: We highly recommend you to add Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride in this morning for sunrise.
Breakfast & Check out from the hotel. Pick up from the hotel for full day South Cappadocia tour. Visiting Red valley and explore the famous rock- cut churches and hike 3,5 km through the Gulludere valley. Then visit Cavusin village. Old Cavusin was abandoned several decades ago due to avalanches. The current village of Cavusin is located on the road. Old Cavusin, with its rock-cut dwellings and stone houses, had several hermitages. The two most important churches in Cavusin are the Great Basilica dedicated to St. John the Baptist (located on the cliff above the village) and Cavusin church or the “Great Pigeon House” commemorating a visit of the famous Cappadocian Emperor Nicephorus Phocas. After lunch drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon visit Kaymakli Underground City, where early Christians lived in fear and faith. The ancient name was Urgup. The houses in the village are constructed around the nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city, which is one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. The underground city was originally carved out as eight floors, however, four floors are available to visit. In wartime, about 5000 people can be refuged in. The tunnels are still used today as storage areas, stables, and cellars. On the way back visit the natural castles at Ortahisar. Overnight intercity bus to Antalya. Bus duration takes 10 hours.

Day 7 – Antalya
Morning arrival to Antalya. Check into hotel. Free day at leisure. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 8 – Side Aspendos & Perge Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the ancient city of Perge, an important city of ancient Pamphylia, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. St. Paul visited Perge on his first missionary journey. The theater stage has finely carved marble reliefs & other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium. Then proceed to Aspendos, which bears one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Asia Minor. After lunch by the river, we visit Manavgat Waterfalls before continuing to Side. The Side is one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey. It was an ancient harbor, today Side is a pretty resort town with its ancient ruins & two sandy beaches. The magnificent theater of the ancient city, built on colonnaded arches, is the largest in the whole area. Other monuments include the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, which is situated near the sea, a fountain & Necropolis. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 9 – Antalya – Kas (B)
Breakfast and Check out from the hotel. Bus transportation to Kas town. You may choose to spend the balance of your day either in Antalya or Kas as the drive is just 2,5 hours. Overnight in Kas.

Day 10 – Kas (B)
Breakfast. Free day at leisure. Overnight Kas.

Day 11 – Kas to Fethiye (B)
Breakfast & Check out from the hotel. Bus transportation to Fethiye. You may choose to spend the balance of your day either in Kas or Fethiye (Oludeniz) as the drive is just two hour.

Day 12 – Fethiye (B)
Breakfast. Free day at leisure. Overnight in Fethiye.
Optional Tour: Pick up from the hotel & transfer to the boat. A lazy day boat cruise leaving from Oludeniz Beach. Board the boat for a day you won’t forget. Swim in the Blue Cave before stepping ashore at Butterfly Valley. For the energetic, a climb up to the Waterfall where you might see a rare Tiger Butterfly is not to be missed. Lunch is served on the boat before we stop at St Nicholas Island where you can climb amongst ruins to the top of the Island for magnificent views or you may swim at ‘Cold Spring Bay’ where fresh water leaks into the sea & is very refreshing. At the evening sail back to Oludeniz Beach & transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 13 – Fethiye – Dalyan Kaonus & Iztuzu Tour – Kusadasi (B, L)
Breakfast & Check out from the hotel. Pick up from the hotel by our travel team for Dalyan Caunos tour before heading to Kusadasi. Dalyan is an area of outstanding natural beauty & historic interest. Also is the protected breeding ground of the Caretta Caretta, Loggerhead turtle. Here, a covered boat will take us down the meandering Dalyan river delta, twisting & turning through thick vegetation which is overlooked by the 4th century BC Lycian rock cut tombs. We will get off to visit the ancient city of Caunos which stands midway along the channel facing Dalyan. Then the boat will bring us back to a riverside restaurant. After the lunch break, we will visit the mud baths of Dalyan which can only be reached by boat from the harbor.
You continue by bus transportation to Kusadasi. Upon arrival to Kusadasi and check into the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 14 – Ephesus Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Pick you up from the hotel and drive to the Ancient City of Ephesus which is among one of the best preserved Greco-Roman Cities in the world enabling one to genuinely ‘soak in’ the atmosphere of Roman times. Enter through the Magnesia Gate & begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. After lunch, we depart to visit the House of Virgin Mary where she is said to be brought here by St. John & have spent the last of her days. We will see the shrine & small chapel which is a pilgrimage sight just recently visited by Pope Benedict. The tour also includes a visit to the remains of Artemis Temple which was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 15 – Pamukkale Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel.Pick Up from the hotel and continue to drive to Pamukkale. You will see the Cotton Clifts. Pamukkale is an extraordinary natural wonder. The calceus waters rise from the ground at a temperature of 35 C and tumble down the mountain from a height of 100 meters, forming a myriad of pools. Cream-colored stalactites are formed as the water overflows from the pools, creating a breathtaking sight unequaled in the world. Also visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica, theater, Roman Bath, and Necropolis.
** Swimming in the ancient thermal pool of Pamukkale is possible with extra charge. If you are planning to swim please bring your swimming suits with you.
At the end of the tour, return back to the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 16 – Kusadasi – Samos Island in Greece (B)
Breakfast & Check out from the hotel. Free day at leisure. Pick up from hotel lobby & transfer to Kusadasi Port for 16:00 ferry to Samos Island in Greece. Upon arrival to Samos Island. Check into hotel. Overnight in Samos Greece.
*** Please note that your free day may in Samos Island instead of Kusadasi (depending on ferry schedules).

Day 17 – Samos to Mykonos  (B)
Breakfast & Check out from the hotel. Take a ferry from Samos Island to Mykonos Island via Paros. Upon arrival to Mykonos and check into the hotel. Overnight in Mykonos.

Please Note:
This itinerary is subject to change dependent on Greek ferry schedules. Although it is rare, occasionally ferry schedules are changed without notice, and sometimes a scheduled ferry departure may be canceled due to weather conditions. If this occurs the program may need to be adjusted slightly, and at times it may mean you will spend less or more place in one location than originally planned for. This is the nature of Greek Island travel, and we thank you for your understanding in the rare event that something like this occurs.

Day 18 – Mykonos  (B)
Breakfast. Free day today. Spend the day on the beach, stroll around the town or take a trip to one of the small villages. This Mecca of Ancient Greece is today an island-wide, open air museum. Overnight in Mykonos.

Day 19 – Mykonos to Santorini  (B)
Breakfast & Check out from the hotel. Take the ferry from Mykonos Island to Santorini Island. Arrival to Santorini and check into the hotel. Overnight in Santorini.

Day 20 – Santorini  (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Early morning departure today for the breathtaking Island of Santorini, where you can soak up the sun and relax on the beach or perhaps explore the picturesque capital, Fira. Overnight in Santorini.

Day 21 – Santorini to Athens  (B)
Breakfast & Check out from the hotel. Free day at leisure, you may spend the balance of the day either in Santorini or Athens as there are frequent high-speed ferries & flights to Athens. Just use one of them and arrive in Athens. Check into hotel. Overnight in Athens.

Day 22 – Athens  (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Meet with you at the tour departure point in Athens for Hald day Athens tour. Start to the tour with your guide you will criss-cross the center of the city, taking in its modern & ancient history on foot. We will first make a short visit to the archaeological displays at Syntagma Metro Station, & then you will see the impressive House of Parliament, with the Monument to the Unknown Soldier & the Evzones the presidential guards. Then we cross to the National Gardens to the Presidential Residence & the marble Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. The walk continues to the beautiful neoclassical Zappeion Hall. Then we come to the most famous neighborhood of Athens (Plaka), the neighborhood of gods at the foot of the Acropolis & to Lysicrates monument.
Return back to tour departure point. rest of the day. Overnight in Athens.

Day 23 – Delphi Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Meet with your at the tour departure point in the center of Athens and start to the tour. After leaving Athens, we drive through Levadia & Arachova. Arriving in Delphi which is situated at the foot of the Parnos Mountain we visit the Ancient Sanctuary of Apollo. We then visit the Delphi Museum where one can see among other archaeological treasures, the unique bronze charioteer, then proceed through the sacred way to the Athenian treasury & the Temple of Apollo. Delphi is one of the national treasures of Greece. Lunch en-route from there we will guide you along the sacred way to the Athenian treasury followed by a chance to visit the unforgettable Temple of Apollo, where the masses flocked to consult the oracle. Return to Athens for the overnight stay. Overnight in Athens.

Day 24 – Athens  (B)
Breakfast. Free day at leisure. Overnight in Athens.

Day 25 – Departure from Athens & Fly Home  (B)
Breakfast & Check out from the hotel. Free Time. Pick up from the hotel according to your flight departure time and transfer to Athens Airport International. Tour ends.