Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
You'll arrive in Athens and head to your hotel to settle in. Take things easy after your journey and check the information boards at reception to get details about what's ahead on the tour.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (Skylark)
- Day 2
Athens - Kalambaka
Head out early driving north through Greece. You'll stop at Kamena Vourla, a small seaside town on the coast, then visit Thermopylae Mountain Pass where important history happened. After that, walk through Kastraki village with views down into the valley and have free time for lunch. Later you'll see the Meteora monastery complex (admission included), and dinner happens in Kalambaka.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Amalia Kalambaca)
Included Activities
- Visit Thermopylae Mountain Pass
- Visit Kastraki village
- Admission to Meteora monastery
Landmarks Thermopylae Mountain Pass Kastraki Meteora 
- Day 3
Kalambaka - Athens
Travel south through Thessaly with nice mountain scenery to get to Delphi. Check out the archaeological site which sits above the Gulf of Corinth, then grab lunch. Afterward, visit the Hosios Loukas Monastery from the 11th century (a World Heritage Site with Byzantine mosaics). Head back to Athens and arrive in the evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (Skylark)
Included Activities
- Explore Delphi archaeological site
- Visit Hosios Loukas Monastery
Landmarks Delphi Archaeological Site Hosios Loukas Monastery 
- Day 4
Athens - Nafplio
After breakfast, go to the Peloponnese Peninsula. There's a quick stop at Corinth Canal, then take a ferry to Poros Island where you'll have free time and eat lunch. Get back to the mainland and see the Theater of Epidaurus (admission included), one of the world's best-preserved theaters from 2,400 years ago. End in Nafplio, a coastal city with a Venetian fortress. Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Amalia)
Included Activities
- Stop at Corinth Canal
- Ferry to Poros island
- Visit Theater of Epidaurus (admission included)
Landmarks Corinth Canal Poros Island Theater of Epidaurus Nafplio 
- Day 5
Nafplio - Patras
Drive across the Peloponnese mountains to Tripoli with free time at Areos Square. Continue to Olympia and tour the Archaeological Site where the first Olympic Games started in 776 BC (admission and guide included). You'll see the Temple of Zeus, Stadium, Gymnasium, and Arena. Later reach Patras, Greece's third-largest port city. Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Moxy Patras Marina)
Included Activities
- Visit Olympia Archaeological Site with guided tour
Landmarks Tripoli Olympia Archaeological Site Patras 
- Day 6
Patras - Nafpaktos - Mycenae - Acrocorinth - Athens
After breakfast, you'll cross the Rio-Antirrio bridge to reach Nafpaktos on the Gulf of Corinth. There you can walk through the Venetian fortress and check out the harbor area. From there, head to Mycenae to see the ancient citadel where you'll have time to wander around the archaeological site. Later, make your way to Acrocorinth fortress to see what's left of the temple of Aphrodite at the top. Before wrapping up, you'll pass by the Corinth Canal, and then continue on to Athens for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (Skylark)
Included Activities
- Cross Rio-Antirrio bridge
- Visit Nafpaktos with free time to explore picturesque harbor and old town
- Visit Mycenae archaeological site with admission included
- Visit Fortress of Acrocorinth with admission included
- Brief stop at Corinth Canal
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Nafpaktos or Mycenae (free time available)
Landmarks Rio-Antirrio Bridge Nafpaktos Venetian Fortress of Nafpaktos Mycenae Acrocorinth Fortress Temple of Aphrodite at Acrocorinth Corinth Canal 
- Day 7
Athens
Today's free. You can explore Athens on your own and see what interests you most. Wander through different neighborhoods, check out local spots, and find your own favorite things about the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (Skylark)
- Day 8
Athens - Ferry Port
Take a panoramic tour of Athens including the Presidential Mansion, Panathenaic Stadium (from the first modern Olympic Games), National Library, downtown areas, and 2004 Olympic sites. The tour ends near the Acropolis (admission not included). Then transfer to Piraeus Port for an overnight ferry to Rhodes with cabin accommodations.
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Athens
Optional Activities
- Acropolis admission
Landmarks Presidential Mansion Panathenaic Stadium National Library Acropolis 
- Day 9
Rhodes - Marmaris
Arrive in Rhodes early morning. Take a city tour of the walled Old Town with Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Knights of St. John, Ottoman, and Italian influences. Around 4:00 p.m., take an express ferry to Marmaris, Turkey (about one hour). Get settled in this coastal tourist destination known for its castle, marina, and fountains. Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tuna), Hotel (Pasabey)
Included Activities
- Rhodes city tour including walled citadel and Old Town
Landmarks Rhodes Old Town Marmaris 
- Day 10
Marmaris - Antalya
Travel to Dalyan, a spot along a navigable river. Take a one-hour boat ride (included) to see the Lycian Rock Tombs, then continue by boat to a large lake where you can optionally swim in warm hot springs or try a mud bath. Stop for a meal at a riverside restaurant. Head to Antalya, a big coastal city. Check out Hadrian's Gate, the Ottoman district, and a waterfall that drops into the sea. Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ring Downtown)
Included Activities
- One-hour boat ride to Lycian Rock Tombs
- Boat ride to hot springs lake
Optional Activities
- Swim in hot springs
- Mud bath at hot springs
Landmarks Dalyan Lycian Rock Tombs Hadrian's Gate Antalya 
- Day 11
Antalya - Nigde
Leave Antalya and visit Aspendos to see its Roman theater, considered the best-preserved in the world. Continue to Side to see the Temple of Apollo by the sea and explore the port. Travel through landscapes crossing the snow-capped Taurus Mountains with peaks over 3,500 meters. Stop at Karaman to see its fortress, then continue to Cappadocia. Dinner's included in Nigde.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Hotel Nigde)
Included Activities
- Visit Aspendos Roman theater
- Visit Temple of Apollo in Side
Landmarks Aspendos Side Temple of Apollo Taurus Mountains Karaman 
- Day 12
Cappadocia
Spend the day exploring Cappadocia's landscapes and ancient sites. Visit Gumusler, a 7th-century underground monastery with Byzantine frescoes. Check out the underground city of Kaymacli, which once held up to 30,000 people. See Uchisar natural fortress with great views. After lunch, explore Goreme Valley's open-air museum with rock-cut churches (tickets included). Stay in Avanos. Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Cappadocia)
Included Activities
- Visit Gumusler underground monastery
- Explore Kaymacli underground city
- Visit Uchisar natural fortress
- Visit Göreme Valley open-air museum with rock-cut churches
Landmarks Gumusler Monastery Kaymacli Underground City Uchisar Göreme Valley 
- Day 13
Cappadocia - Konya
Visit Ihlara Valley at Cappadocia's edge, known for cool waters, rock-cut churches, and old villages. Tour a 13th-century caravanserai and see the Mevlana Mausoleum (Rumi) in Konya to learn about the Dervish order. Dinner's included. In the evening, there's an optional dervish dance performance at a cultural center if you're interested.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Konya)
Included Activities
- Visit Ihlara Valley with rock-cut churches
- Visit 13th-century caravanserai
- Visit Mevlana Mausoleum (Rumi)
Optional Activities
- Dervish dance performance at cultural center
Landmarks Ihlara Valley Mevlana Mausoleum Konya 
- Day 14
Konya - Pamukkale
Travel along a scenic route between lakes to Egridir, a charming town on a large lake with historic walls and mosques. Have time for lunch here. Continue to Hierapolis-Pamukkale where mineral-rich waters formed the Cotton Palace terraces (tickets included). Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal)
Included Activities
- Visit Egridir town
- Visit Pamukkale - Hierapolis Cotton Palace
Landmarks Egridir Pamukkale Hierapolis 
- Day 15
Pamukkale - Kusadasi
Head to Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in Asia Minor that housed a quarter million people two thousand years ago. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St. John, and the ruins of Ephesus (tickets included). Continue to Kusadasi, a popular coastal city. Dinner's included. Note: May-October may have you staying in Izmir instead with a panoramic tour and lunch stop in Balikesir the next day.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Bleu)
Included Activities
- Visit House of the Virgin Mary
- Visit Basilica of St. John
- Visit ruins of Ephesus
Landmarks House of the Virgin Mary Basilica of St. John Ephesus Kusadasi 
- Day 16
Kusadasi - Istanbul
Head to Izmir, Turkey's third most populous city and most western-style metropolis, for a brief tour. Travel inland with a lunch stop, then continue to Bursa, Turkey's fourth-largest city with a UNESCO World Heritage Site center. Walk through traditional commercial districts, mosques, religious schools, and public baths. See the famous Green Mosque. Reach Istanbul by evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Movenpick Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Izmir
- Visit Bursa UNESCO Heritage Site
Landmarks Izmir Bursa Green Mosque 
- Day 17
Istanbul
Take a sightseeing tour entering the Suleymaniye Mosque (Istanbul's largest), exploring ancient walls and the Golden Horn area. Check out fishing districts and see Hagia Sophia from outside. You'll have tickets to Topkapi Palace, the former Ottoman administrative center with courtyards and pavilions. Free time to explore the city. In the afternoon, head to Taksim, the main commercial district, for dining and to ride the charming old tram. Or visit nearby Galata Tower.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Movenpick Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Visit Süleymaniye Mosque
- Explore ancient walls
- View Golden Horn
- Explore fishing district
- Admire Hagia Sophia exterior
- Visit Topkapi Palace
Optional Activities
- Visit Galata Tower
Landmarks Süleymaniye Mosque Golden Horn Hagia Sophia Topkapi Palace Galata Tower 
- Day 18
Istanbul
Take a two-hour private boat trip on the Bosphorus (tickets included). Journey through the strait connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, dividing Istanbul between Europe and Asia. Pass under two bridges linking the continents and see Sultan's palaces, traditional wooden houses, and Ottoman architecture. Return to central Istanbul with free time.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Movenpick Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Bosphorus boat trip (2 hours, private boat)
Landmarks Bosphorus 
- Day 19
Istanbul
After breakfast, your tour ends. You'll leave with great memories from everything you've experienced over the past days.
- Meals
- Breakfast
