Turkey Greece Package Tour
Tour Code: CS-TG
Duration: 14 Days/13 Nights
Highlights: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia; Greek Island Cruise (Patmos, Crete and Santorini), Athens, Delphi, Meteora
Departures: Please check departure dates below
Tour Price: From $2560 per person in double occupancy, Seat in Coach Tour
Quick Overview
Multi Country package tour to Turkey and Greece covers the highlights of both countries, this tour will take you to the Evidence of the past can be seen in the temples, theaters and agoras, as well as churches, mosques and palaces. When you join this tour you will have chance to see highlights of Turkey and Greece explore ancient wonders and local culture of Mediterranean. Taste Turkish coffee and shish kebab in Turkey, ouzo in Greece, join Greek island cruise to make your dreams come true. This tour recommended for Groups and individuals.
Itinerary
Day 1 Friday – Departure from USA & CANADA
Depart from USA or Canada.
Day 2 Saturday – Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where you will be greeted with a welcome cocktail; the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 3 Sunday – Byzantine and Ottoman Heritage Tour (2010 European Capital of Culture – UNESCO World Heritage Site)
After breakfast at your hotel, you begin a full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Highlights include a visit to the illustrious Topkapi Palace (harem section is optional), the ancient Roman Hippodrome (site of chariot races) and the Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church that was converted to a mosque in 15th century. You will also visit the famed “Blue Mosque” and the Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest covered bazaar, where you’ll have free time to discover some of the nearly 4,000 tiny shops that line its maze of passageways. (B, L)
PS: Grand Bazaar closed on Sunday if times permit it will be visited on arrival day
Day 4 Monday – Istanbul to Cappadocia Highlights Tour (UNESCO World heritage Site)
You will have an early flight to Cappadocia. You will be met at Kayseri-Nevsehir Airport upon arrival, and begin your journey. An impressive day will start with Dervent valley. Then we keep going on with Pasabag’s “fairy chimneys” where you can feel the mystic of Fairy Chimneys. We will break at Avanos center of terracotta art. Ceramic art dated back to the 3000 BC in the area and survived from to generations. A visit to ceramic & tile center to see how the ceramics made by hand. After lunch we visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Icons in Cappadocia. Soft rocks of Cappadocia from the clefts carved out to form stables, churches, and monasteries. We will enjoy the day by taking a look to the Goreme Valley from next to the Uchisar Rock-Castle. Proceed to Underground city of Ozkonak or Cardak. Stay overnight in Cappadocia Breakfast Lunch Dinner (B, L, D)
Day 5 Tuesday – Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale (Optional Hot Air Balloning Tour)
Early this morning you depart for Konya, where you visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader, who founded the sect of ”Whirling Dervishes”, and the 13th century Seljuk caravanserai, “Sultanhan”. After lunch at a local Turkish restaurant, you depart on the long drive to Pamukkale, with ample stops enroute. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Wednesday – Pamukkale (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Kusadasi
This morning you discover Pamukkale, famed for its healing thermal/mineral baths and amazing, snow-white “petrified waterfalls”. After lunch, you visit Hierapolis, where you’ll see its magnificently preserved Necropolis, main street, and gates. Afterwards, you proceed Seljuk for lunch to enjoy fashion show at one of the leather outlet center later on visit Temple of Artemis to Kusadasi. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Thursday – Kusadasi – Explore Ephesus Tour
We will be starting with a visit to the Isa Bey Mosque from 14th Century, proceed to Ephesus Ancient City, Which dated back to the third millennium B.C the remains of this important city are standing miraculously today, vivid witnesses of a glorious past. Among the well-preserved ruins the theatre, Celsus Library, Agora, Odeon, Domitian’s Temple, Trajan Fountain, and Roman Latrine are the most remarkable. We will have a visit to carpet weaving demonstration to see how the Turkish carpet made by hand. In the afternoon visit House of Mother Mary on top of the mount of the Nightingale. House of mother Mary is spiritual place also believed that she spent recent years of her life. Then visit Temple of Artemis. It was one of the seven ancient Wonders of the World. Watch leather fashion show at one of the outlet center. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Friday- Half Day Sirince Village Tour
This delightful village, 12 km away from Ephesus and 30 km from Kusadasi, was once Cirkince (“ugly”).There is a story that the village was settled by freed Greek slaves who named the village Cirkince (meaning “Ugly” in Turkish) to deter others from following them. Indeed its habitants gave this name on purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners or to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly at all and called it Sirince (“pretty”). As the village is located on the top of a mountain, anyone will enjoy the impressive wine yards’ and peach trees’ views on his way. This lovely village is famous for its own wines and olive oils and garden produce. Sirince especially worth visiting for the magnificent scenery, in particular the breathtaking views of olive groves and lush countryside en-route to the village. (B,D)
Day 9 Saturday- Patmos Crete – Greek Island Cruise
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Kusadasi port to embark on your Greek Island Cruise. The first port of call is Patmos, the tiny, rocky island where the exiled St. John the Divine received the Revelation upon which the last book of the New Testament is based. (An optional tour of the 11th century monastery of St. John is available.) Dinner and overnight onboard, while you sail to Crete. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Sunday – Crete and Santorini (Cruise)
This morning you arrive at Heraklion, the capital of ancient Crete, and you will join the tour to home of the Palace of Knossos, once the center of the Minoan civilization, and one of the world’s most acclaimed archaeological sites. At noon, your cruise continues to the Santorini, the most spectacular of the Greek Islands, whose town of Thira is perched on a cliff created by volcanic eruption. You will visit to the monastery of Prophet Ilias, for a breath-taking view, deep inhalations of clean, pure, Cycladic air and memorial photos, so as to be the envy of all who didn’t come along. The tour continues its passage towards the north. To the east, in the background, you will have settlements like Kamari and Monolithos, while you will pass through Fira, the small traditional villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli with delicate architecture and beauties, to eventually arrive at the settlement of Oia. During the entire route, to the west you will have before your eyes the lace-like caldera, the little islands of Thirasia, Palea and Nea Kameni and an unsurpassable panoramic view. In Oia you will have plenty of time to stroll through the marble-paved alleys, to gaze at the adorably cute shops, to take pictures, to become acquainted with the characteristic buildings, carved into the rocks and the unusual captains’ manors, the settlement Ammoudi at the foot of the caldera… After your curiosity has been sated of the area which is characterized as being of “exceptional natural beauty”, your return begins … (B, L, D)
Day 11 Monday – Piraeus (Disembark)- Delphi- Kalambaka
After breakfast, you disembark your cruise ship at Piraeus port and be met with our represantative. Depart through Thebes, LEVADIA (short stop) and Arachova for DELPHI, you will arrive in Delphi at around noon. Famous for its theater, temple of Apollo and ancient ruins, Delphi was considered the center of the earth and the universe, and played a central role in the classical Greek world. Pass by CASTALIA SPRING, visit at the archaeological site of the TEMPLE of APOLLO famous for its oracle and the MUSEUM of Delphi* (optional), with its spectacular finds, including the ubique bronze charioteer, the Naxian Spinx and the statue of Antinoos. Visit the archeological site of DELPHI, in the afternoon after lunch depart through central Greece and the cities of Lamia (short stop), Trikala crossing the Thessalian plain, to Kalambaka (a small town built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks, and crowed by the METEORA monasteries (short stop for souvenirs). Overnight stay in Kalambaka.
Day 12 Tuesday – Metora- Athens
After breakfast leave in the morning for nearby Meteora for a tour of the cliff-top monasteries to visit two different BYZANTINE MONASTERIES* built on top of rock towers and providing fantastic views over the plain. Meteora is included on the UNESCO world heritage monuments. The monasteries are perched on top of towers of sandstone, which for centuries provided totally inaccessible retreats for the monks. Meteora is considered one of the most beautiful area of mainland Greece and its monasteries are one of the country’s most unique attractions. By your return you may visit optional a factory of Byzantine style icons. Return to Athens passing by the heroic monument of Leonidas king of Sparta in THERMOPYLAE (short stop for photos). The tour returns to Athens in the late afternoon.
NOTE: * Entrance fee of Delphi Museum is not included. To enter the monasteries, appropriate clothing is required. Ladies should not wear short skirts and must have long sleeves. Men are not allowed to wear shorts.
Day 13 Wednesday– Athens City Tour
On your morning city tour you will observe the striking contracts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Highlights include Constitution (Syntagma) Square at the center of the city, House of Parliament, Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus Street on the way to the Acropolis, you will see the Evzones in their colorful uniforms, the Presidential Palace and the Panatheanic Stadium (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896). Enrooted there is also a brief stop at the Temple of the Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. At the Acropolis, you’ll visit its Museum and the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylae, Temple of Athens Nike, Erechteion, and the monument that symbolizes Greece, the Parthenon. The rest of the day is free for Independent activities. Overnight stay in Athens. (B)
Day 14 Thursday– Departure from Athens
Free time until you are transferred to the airport to board your homeward flight, or you can extend your holiday in mainland Greece. (B)
PRICES& DEPARTURE DATES 2019
Hot Air Balloon, Turkish Night, Turkish bath, Whirling Dervish Show package can be purchased at destination (Value of $340)
Dates and prices 2019 in US$ per Person in Twin Share
| MARCH | APRIL | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER |
| Sold out | 5-12 | 3-10-17-24 | 7-21 | 12-26 | 9-23 | 6-13-20-27 | 8-15 |
| $2450 | $2675 | $2675 | $2675 | $2675 | $2675 | $2675 | $2675 |
Pre and post accommodation $50 per person in double occupancy single room $75 (bed and breakfast)
Ps: We can issue your international air ticket upon request
WHAT THE PRICE INCLUDES:
- AIRPORT TRANSFERS UPON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
- ACCOMMODATIONS AT 4-STAR HOTELS*
- DOMESTIC FLIGHT TICKET FROM ISTANBUL TO KAYSERI OR NEVSEHIR
- 3-DAY/2-NIGHT GREEK ISLAND CRUISE IN STANDARD CABIN**
- SHORE EXCURSIONS HERAKLION AND SANTORINI ISLANDS (SEAT İN COACH)
- GREECE MAINLAND DELPHI, METEORA TOUR
- MEALS AS SPECIFIED IN ITINERARY (B=BREAKFAST, L=LUNCH, D= DINNER)
- SERVICES OF A PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH-SPEAKING ESCORT/GUIDE
- TRANSPORTATION BY NON-SMOKING, AIR-CONDITIONED MINI/MIDI BUS
- SIGHTSEEING TOURS (INCLUDING ENTRANCE FEES) PER ITINERARY
- HOTEL TAXES AND SERVICES CHARGES
- CRUISE PORT TAXES (189 $)
**Cabin upgrade available (rates on request)
NOT INCLUDED:
- GRATUITIES TO TOUR AND CRUISE STAFFS AND GUIDES
- ALL ITEMS OF A PERSONAL NATURE (LAUNDRY, TAXIS, TRAVEL INSURANCE, ETC.)
- BEVERAGES (EXCEPT FOR THOSE SERVED WITH BREAKFAST).
- INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TICKET
