Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
After arriving in Athens, you'll get a transfer to your hotel and the day is yours to explore at your own pace. This ancient city has plenty to see whether you want to wander around neighborhoods, grab lunch at a local spot, or just get oriented. There's a welcome meeting later tonight where you'll meet the other travelers on the tour.
Optional Activities
- Explore Athens at your own pace
- Day 2
Athens
This morning you've got a half-day guided tour focusing on Athens' main sites. The Acropolis and its museum take up a good chunk of the time, and from there you'll see the Panathenaic Stadium (where the first modern Olympic Games happened), the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Hadrian's Arch. The guide will also point out the Propylaia entrance, Temple of Nike, and the Parthenon during the tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day Acropolis tour including Panathenaic Stadium
- Visit Acropolis Museum
- Visit Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch
- Visit Propylaia entrance, Temple of Nike, and Parthenon
Landmarks Acropolis Parthenon Panathenaic Stadium Temple of Olympian Zeus Hadrian's Arch Acropolis Museum Temple of Athena Nike Propylaia - Day 3
Athens to Santorini
You'll head out early for Santorini by ferry or flight. Once you arrive, the day is pretty open. You can spend time on the beach relaxing and swimming, or if you'd rather stay active, there's the capital town of Fira to check out with its shops and local food spots.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry ticket from Athens to Santorini
Optional Activities
- Relax on Santorini's beaches
- Explore Fira capital
Landmarks Fira - Day 4
Santorini
Today offers an optional boat trip to see the volcanic crater that sits above sea level. If you go, you'll get to visit the active volcano, swim in the naturally heated thermal waters, and try a mud bath which is supposed to be good for your skin. It's a pretty unique experience but completely up to you whether to join.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional boat trip to volcanic crater
- Visit active volcano
- Swim in thermal waters
- Therapeutic mud bath
- Day 5
Santorini to Mykonos
You'll arrive in Mykonos and have some flexibility with your afternoon. The whitewashed town is worth a walk through if you want to see the local architecture and shops, or there's the beach if you're in the mood for swimming. By evening the town picks up with restaurants and bars, so there's plenty of nightlife to explore if that appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry ticket from Santorini to Mykonos
Optional Activities
- Explore white-washed town of Mykonos
- Visit Mykonos beaches
- Experience Mykonian nightlife
- Day 6
Mykonos
This is a free day in Mykonos, so it's really up to you how to spend it. Beach time, wandering around town, or visiting one of the smaller villages are all options. You could also take a ferry to Delos, which is an ancient archaeological site and basically an open-air museum if history interests you. Keep in mind your room stays available until your late transfer to the port, and ferry schedules shift quite a bit in September if you're traveling then.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Beach time in Mykonos
- Stroll around town
- Visit small villages
- Optional day trip to island of Delos (Ancient Greece open-air museum)
Landmarks Delos - Day 7
Mykonos to Kusadasi
After a mid-morning ferry from Mykonos, you'll catch a second ferry heading toward Kusadasi in Turkey. The trip involves a connection at Samos, but from Kusadasi you'll get a transfer to your hotel. Plan on spending a fair amount of time on ferries, so bring something to do or just enjoy the views from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ferry ticket from Mykonos to Samos
- Ferry ticket from Samos to Kusadasi
- Transfer to hotel
- Day 8
Kusadasi
This morning's guided tour focuses on Ephesus, which was once a major trade and religious hub. You'll see where the Temple of Artemis stood, the Library of Celsus which is really impressive to look at, and an ancient amphitheater. After stopping at the Ephesus Archaeology Museum to check out artifacts, you'll head to a carpet village to see how traditional Turkish carpets are made. Later in the afternoon there's a wine tasting in Selcuk to wrap up the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ephesus ancient city
- Visit Temple of Artemis site
- Visit Library of Celsus
- Visit ancient amphitheater
- Visit Ephesus Archaeology Museum
- Carpet village visit and traditional carpet weaving demonstration
- Wine tasting in Selçuk
Landmarks Ephesus Temple of Artemis Library of Celsus Ephesus Archaeology Museum Selçuk - Day 9
Kusadasi to Canakkale
You'll visit Troy, a UNESCO site with significant historical importance, and spend time at the new Troy Museum. From there, continue on to Bergama to see Pergamon's acropolis, which has temples and an ancient library that made it a major center for culture and politics back in the day. It's a lot of ancient history packed into one day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Troy ancient city (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Troy Museum
- Visit Pergamon acropolis
- Explore Pergamon temples and library site
Landmarks Troy Troy Museum Pergamon Acropolis Bergama - Day 10
Canakkale to Istanbul
Start with a relaxed morning in Canakkale to get a feel for the town. In the afternoon, a guided tour takes you through the WW1 battlefields at Gallipoli. You'll stop at places like Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, and Johnston's Jolly, and see original trenches and tunnels. After that, you continue on to Istanbul.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gallipoli WW1 battlefields
- Visit Lone Pine Memorial
- Visit Chunuk Bair Memorial
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Visit The Nek
- Visit Johnston's Jolly
- Explore original trenches and tunnels
Optional Activities
- Explore town of Canakkale
Landmarks Gallipoli ANZAC Cove Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair Memorial - Day 11
Istanbul
Today you'll go through Istanbul, the city that straddles Europe and Asia. A guided tour covers Topkapi Palace (including Hagia Irene and the Harem), the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, and the Hippodrome. In the afternoon, there's a 1-hour public ferry cruise on the Bosphorus where your guide points out historical sites along the waterway.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Topkapi Palace including Hagia Irene and Harem
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit St Sophia Museum
- Visit Hippodrome
- 1-hour Bosphorus cruise by public ferry with guide commentary
Landmarks Topkapi Palace Blue Mosque St Sophia Museum Hippodrome Bosphorus Hagia Irene - Day 12
Istanbul
After breakfast, your tour wraps up. You'll say goodbye to the friends you've made on the trip and get transferred to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
