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Introduction
Best of Turkey
Wonders
of Turkey
Fascinating Turkey
Anatolian Crossroads
Ancient Aegean
The Turquoise Coast
Grand Tour Turkey
Cradle of
Civilizations
Turkish
Delight
Gateway to Mesopotamia
Kusadasi
& Izmir Shore Trips
The Black Sea
The Odyssey
/ Turkey & Greece
Turkey, Jordan & Egypt
Istanbul to Damascus Tailor
Made |
The Odyssey - Turkey & Greece
Day 1 Istanbul Upon arrival to Istanbul Airport & clearing customs, you will be met by one of our staff at the exit gate of arrivals hall & transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. Day 2 Istanbul Breakfast at hotel, then meet your guide at hotel lobby for 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 Bosphorus ferry for an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia. After lunch in the afternoon we will complete this historical day by visiting Topkapi Palace & Museum, the residence of the legendary Ottoman Sultans, now converted into a museum. Free time at the Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi) for shopping before returning to the hotel. Day 3 Istanbul After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel lobby to join a small group to visit the spectacular Blue Mosque decorated with beautiful 17th century Iznik tiles. Then stroll around the historical Hippodrome where chariot races were once held. Continue with the Hagia Sophia museum. After lunch break, we drive you across the Bosphorus Bridge & head for the summit of Camlica Hill, which offers 360° panoramic views of Istanbul overlooking the Sea of Marmara. Driving back to Europe over the Bosphorus Bridge, we visit Dolmabahce Palace, with more than 340 rooms & eight Turkish Baths the Imperial Residence of the last six Sultans. End of the tour you will be transferred back to your hotel with evening at leisure. Day 4 Istanbul - Gallipoli - Canakkale After breakfast, check out & meet for early morning drive to Eceabat (4hrs). On arrival, we have lunch in the village before starting the Gallipoli ANZAC Memorials Tour. We will see the Kabatepe Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston's Jolly (Turkish & Allied trenches & tunnels), The Nek & Chunuk Bair New Zealand memorial. After sightseeing we cross the Dardenelles by car ferry to Canakkale & check-in to hotel. Day 5 Troy & Pergamum - Kusadasi After breakfast at hotel, check-out & drive to Troy. Troy is one of the world's most important archaeological sites because of its place in literature & what it tells us about a critical early period in the development of European civilization. The large replica of the Trojan horse at the front of the ruins, is part of the myth of the Trojan War. After the of Troy we will proceed to Pergamum. The site of ancient Pergamum is set on a steep hilltop, the capital of Pergamum kingdom after the death of Alexander the Great was a cultural center having a large library rivaling that of Alexandria in Egypt. After the tour, we will drive for 1.5 hrs to reach Kusadasi. Day 7 Ephesus - Kusadasi You will be picked up from your hotel lobby to visit the Ancient City of Ephesus which is among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely 'soak in' the atmosphere of Roman times & one of the best preserved Greco-Roman Cities in the world. 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. Day 8 Aphrodisias & Pamukkale We will check out from hotel & drive for 1.5 hours to reach Aphrodisias. The city was built near a marble quarry, which was extensively exploited in the Hellenistic & Roman periods, & sculptors in marble from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world. After lunch we will continue the day with visit to Pamukkale. This natural phenomenon leaves thick white layers of limestone & travertine cascading down the mountain slope, which resemble a frozen waterfall. There will be free time to walk on the terraces (where allowed). After the tour of Pamukkale, you will be transferred to your hotel in Pamukkale village. Day 9 Pamukkale - Marmaris - Ferry to Rhodes Check out & at 09:00 you will transferred to Marmaris with intercity coach (3.5hrs). Transfer to Marmaris Marina upon arrival & storing luggage to walk around Marmaris. Ferry at 16:30 from Marmaris to 17:45 Rhodes. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Day 10 Rhodes Free day at leisure. Day 11 Rhodes - Flight to Santorini Check out from hotel & transfer to the airport for Rhodes Santorini flight. Arrival, transfer to hotel for overnight stay. Day 12 Santorini Free day at leisure. Day 13 Santorini Free day at leisure. Day 14 Santorini Free day at leisure. Day 15 Santorini - Ferry to Athens Free day at leisure. Noon check out & transfer to Santorini port for highspeed ferry 12:00-16:30 to Athens (Piraeus). Transfer to hotel & overnight in Athens. Day 16 Athens Meet in the hotel lobby to depart on the tour of Athens which includes a visit to the Acropolis & the Parthenon. During panoramic section of the tour view House of Parliament, Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, National Library, Evzones in their picturesque uniform, Presidential Palace, the Panatheanic Stadium (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896 - short stop), Temple of the Olympian Zeus & Hadrian's Arch. Overnight Athens. Day 17 Athens - Olympia Drive along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf you pass Daphne & Eleusis & arrive to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea (short stop). Drive on to Epidaurus to visit the Theatre famous for its astonishing acoustics. Continue to Nafplion, the picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress, the first capital of Greece, for a sort stop. Drive through the fertile plain of Argolis & arrive at Mycenae , the legendary Homeric city of the Atreides - the city 'rich in gold' of the ancient poets (visit the Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Royal Tombs) & depart for Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic games. Overnight in Olympia. Day 18 Olympia - Delphi Visit to the archaeological site with the temple of Zeus, the temple of Hera, the altar of the Olympic flame, the Stadium & the museum of Olympia. Overnight in Olympia. Departure from Olympia via Patras to Rion, cross the Corinthian bay by ferry - boat to Antirion. Drive to picturesque Nafpaktos & from there on, via the scenic new road along the coast, to Delphi. In the afternoon you will be visiting the picturesque mountain village of Arachova. Overnight in Delphi. Day 19 Delphi - Kalambaka Breakfast at hotel & then on to visit the Archaeological Site & the Museum. Depart for Kalambaka, a small Town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, gigantic rocks. Overnight Kalambaka. Day 20 Kalambaka - Athens Visit Meteora & enjoy a unique & most impressive scenery with the ageless Monasteries, containing priceless historical & religious treasures, standing between Earth & Sky atop huge rocks. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia & Thermopylae making a stop enroute to visit the Leonida's Monument. Arrival back to hotel in Athens in the evening. Day 21 Athens Free day at leisure. Overnight Athens. Day 22 Athens Departure Check out from hotel & transfer to Athens International Airport for homebound flight. (Meals: Breakfast) |
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