Greece &Turkey Land and  Cruise Itinerary!

Day 1Depart USA
An overnight flight will bring you to the bridge between Asia and Europe!


Day 2Istanbul
Daily breakfasts in each of your hotels.  Waste no time as you set out for Istanbul’s celebrated sights like the Topkapi Palace, Santa Sophia and the Blue Mosque, plus the exceptional medieval mosaics at Santa Chora!  Dinnertime will offer a chance to sample Turkey’s unique blend of Eastern and Western cuisine!  Why not a Kabab (literal translation “meat down with charcoal or wood fire”)??
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Favorite Itineraries

Greece & Turkey
Get ready!  Greece and Turkey are destinations that do not disappoint!  Both countries offer the perfect convergence of natural beauty, sophisticated, interesting cities and overwhelming history and culture!  Plus the food is great too!  In our opinion there are two ways to approach Greece and Turkey, with the cruise and without, so here follow two sample itineraries:
Day 3Istanbul
Morning at your leisure to enjoy a cup of unique Turkish coffee before hitting the streets with your guide!  Today’s agenda will take in the remarkable cistern, plus the grand bazaar, and the ornate Suleymanie mosque.  The tour will end at the pier for boarding our favorite, the 7-night WINDSTAR cruise from Istanbul to Athens!

{note please that if the WINDSTAR cruise doesn’t fit your dates or your budget, it’s just a short flight to Athens, where weekly 3-, 4–, and 7-night cruises operate year-round to the Greek islands and Turkish coast!


Days 4-9CRUISING!
Cruise the Bosphorus and Greek isles with stops at impressive Kusadasi (Ephessos), Bodrum, Rhodes, Santorini, Mikonos en route to Athens!


Day 10Athens
Disembark ship today and you will be met by a private guide and driver for a complete exploration of the host city of two Olympiads!  Overnight in Athens (Hotel TBA)


Day 11Athens - Delphi - Athens
Today’s excursion will take you to Delphi to explore the home of the famed oracle!

Day 12Athens - USA
transfer to the airport now for your return flight to the USA (same-day arrival at your hometown)


{If you have the time, what could be better than a tour to include the Peloponnesius and fabulous places such as Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae and so much more??  We’ll be so happy to share our advice and best of all, we’re just a quick phone call or email away!}

Greece & Turkey – Athens, Peloponnesius, the Islands and Istanbul!

Day 1Depart USA
An overnight flight will bring you to Europe!


Day 2Athens
On arrival in Athens you will be met for the transfer to your Hotel TBA.  Free time to relax this afternoon!  Taverna dinner at the Plaka tonite??


Day 3Athens
Daily breakfasts in each of your hotels.  Today with your private guide and driver, have a detailed look around Athens to include the new exhibit at the Acropolis, the Royal Palace and Benaki Museum, which is filled with art treasures from the eastern Mediterranean, and so well worth a visit!

Day 4Athens - Santorini
Enjoy a morning & a relaxing lunch in Athens before transferring to the airport for your quick flight to Santorini.  Transfer on arrival to Oia and your Hotel TBA.  Here, as elsewhere, we will consult with you in depth to determine the best hotel selection for your personal preferences, considering your energy level, budget and more!

Days 5-7Santorini
Relax & enjoy this spectacular isalnd with beaches, charming villages, ruins and so much more!


Day 8Santorini - Athens - Navplion
A chance to sleep in one more day before your transfer to the airport for a noonish flight back to Athens, reuniting with your driver for the scenic ride to the Peloponessius and Navplion!  Overnight

Day 9Navplion - Olympia
Rise & shine for an AM tour around Navplion and Mycenae en route to Olympia for a visit to the highlights, including the excavations of the stadium that dates back to the 10th or 11th century B.C., the Temples of Hera and Zeus (the infamous Greek goddess and god), and as you’ve probably noted in your history books, the Greek baths.  Kinda makes you appreciate the modern baths!


Day 10Olympia - Delphi
Crossing to Patras today, continue on to Delphi, considered in ancient times to be the capital of the world (the place where heaven and hell met).  With your guide, embrace the history behind this “magical” town and discover why after several thousand years it is still to this day considered a place of “magic”.


Day 11Delphi - Ossios Loucas - Athens - Istanbul
A guided look at Delphi (home of the Oracle of Apollo) with a stop at the Archaeological Museum.  See the mountain Sanctuary of Apollo (the center of Delphi), where you can observe the ancient walls of the temple and actually see inscriptions citing “words of wisdom” which still hold true today!  On to Ossios Loukas to see the monastery dedicated to Luke and the  Greek/Byzantine-style mosaics before reaching Athens this evening in time for your late flight to Istanbul.  Transfer on arrival to your hotel TBA


Day 12Istanbul
Waste no time as you set out for Istanbul’s celebrated sights like the Topkapi Palace, Santa Sophia and the Blue Mosque, plus the exceptional medieval mosaics at Santa Chora!  Dinnertime will offer a chance to sample Turkey’s unique blend of Eastern and Western cuisine!  Why not a Kabab (literal translation “meat down with charcoal or wood fire”)??


Day 13Istanbul - Izmir - Ephesson - Istanbul
Up early now for the flight to Izmir with transfer to Ephesus (quite a spot!) to see the library and excavations of this ancient town (once 3rd city of the Roman world!)  Back to Izmir for a quick visit before flying back to Istanbul for the overnight!

Day 14Istanbul
Morning at your leisure to enjoy a cup of unique Turkish coffee before hitting the streets with your guide!  Today’s agenda will take in the remarkable cistern, plus the grand bazaar, and the ornate Suleymanie mosque.


Day 15Istanbul
Transfer to the airport for your home-bound flight (same day arrival)