Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and head to your hotel to settle in. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you like, whether that means wandering through the city's neighborhoods or taking it easy at your accommodation.
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul's neighborhoods and attractions at your own pace
- Day 2
Istanbul
Start your morning at Topkapi Palace and walk through its gardens, then move on to Hagia Sophia. After grabbing lunch, you'll see the Blue Mosque and the Roman Hippodrome before heading into the Grand Bazaar. Your evening is free to do as you wish.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Topkapi Palace visit with gardens, kitchens, treasury, and terraces
- Hagia Sophia visit
- Blue Mosque visit
- Roman Hippodrome visit
- Grand Bazaar visit
- Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III photo stop
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul at your own pace in the evening
- Relax at hotel in the evening
Landmarks Topkapi Palace Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque Roman Hippodrome Grand Bazaar Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III - Day 3
Istanbul to Ankara
You'll walk along the Golden Horn and check out the Egyptian Bazaar with its vibrant spices. Then take a boat tour on the Bosphorus to see palaces and fortresses along both European and Asian shores. In the afternoon, head to Ankara for dinner and overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk along the Golden Horn
- Egyptian Bazaar visit
- Bosphorus Strait Boat Tour
Landmarks Golden Horn Egyptian Bazaar 
- Day 4
Ankara to Cappadocia
After breakfast, visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Atatürk Mausoleum. You'll stop at Salt Lake to see the largest lake in central Anatolia. Later, travel to Cappadocia and explore an underground city before settling in for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations visit
- Atatürk Mausoleum visit
- Salt Lake stop
- Ancient underground city exploration
Landmarks Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Atatürk Mausoleum Salt Lake 
- Day 5
Cappadocia
Start with an optional hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia's fairy chimneys if that interests you. Walk through Göreme Valley and visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum, then head to Uchisar. You'll tour the Pasabag and Avcilar Valleys and check out local craft and carpet shops before dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Göreme Valley exploration
- Göreme Open-Air Museum visit
- Pasabag Valley visit
- Avcilar Valley visit
- Local craft and carpet shops visit
Optional Activities
- Hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia (booked and paid locally)
- Uchisar exploration
Landmarks Göreme Valley Göreme Open-Air Museum Uchisar Pasabag Valley Avcilar Valley - Day 6
Cappadocia to Pamukkale
Travel westward along the ancient Silk Road with a stop to see a Seljuk caravanserai, a historic resting place for traders and pilgrims. Arrive in Pamukkale in the afternoon, have dinner, and spend the night there.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Seljuk caravanserai visit
- Day 7
Pamukkale to Kusadasi
You'll explore Pamukkale's petrified waterfalls and tour Hierapolis. After that, visit the House of the Virgin Mary in Selcuk, then head to Ephesus to see the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, and the ancient theater. Head to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Pamukkale exploration
- Hierapolis tour
- House of the Virgin Mary visit
- Ephesus visit including Library of Celsus, Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, Temple of Domitian, and ancient theater
Landmarks Pamukkale Hierapolis House of the Virgin Mary Library of Celsus Temple of Hadrian Temple of Domitian Odeon of Ephesus 
- Day 8
Kusadasi to Patmos
Transfer to Kusadasi port and board the Celestyal Cruises ship for a three-night Aegean cruise. You'll sail to Patmos and dock for the night. There's an optional excursion available to the Monastery of St. John and the Grotto of the Apocalypse.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Onboard), Dinner (Onboard)
Optional Activities
- Monastery of St. John visit (optional excursion)
- Grotto of the Apocalypse visit (optional excursion)
Landmarks Monastery of St. John Grotto of the Apocalypse 
- Day 9
Patmos to Rhodes
You'll arrive early in Rhodes where the ship stays docked for the full day. Explore the old town at your own pace, and there's an optional excursion to Lindos and the Citadel of the Knights available. Return to the ship for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Onboard), Lunch (Onboard), Dinner (Onboard)
Optional Activities
- Explore Rhodes old town independently
- Lindos and Citadel of the Knights visit (optional excursion)
Landmarks Rhodes Old Town Lindos Citadel of the Knights 
- Day 10
Rhodes to Heraklion to Santorini
Arrive early in Heraklion with the option to explore independently or join an optional excursion to the Minoan Palace of Knossos. In the afternoon, the cruise heads to Santorini where you can take the cable car to Fira town or join an optional excursion to Oia village on the caldera rim.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Onboard), Lunch (Onboard), Dinner (Onboard)
Optional Activities
- Explore Heraklion independently
- Minoan Palace of Knossos visit (optional excursion)
- Cable car to Fira town
- Oia village visit (optional excursion)
Landmarks Minoan Palace of Knossos Fira Oia 
- Day 11
Santorini to Athens
The cruise arrives at Lavrion port early in the morning. You'll have breakfast onboard before disembarking and transferring to your hotel in Athens. The rest of your day is free to relax and explore the historical center.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Onboard)
Optional Activities
- Explore Athens historical center at your own pace
- Relax at hotel
- Day 12
Athens to Mycenae to Nafplio to Athens
Head out on a full-day tour of the Peloponnese. You'll see the Corinth Canal, then visit Mycenae to explore the Cyclopean walls and the Tomb of Agamemnon with the Lion's Gate. Continue to Nafplio for a walking tour through narrow streets with neo-classical buildings and sea-front views. Return to Athens afterward.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Corinth Canal visit
- Mycenae visit including Cyclopean walls and Tomb of Agamemnon
- Lion's Gate visit
- Nafplio walking tour
- Bourtzi islet viewing
Landmarks Corinth Canal Mycenae Tomb of Agamemnon Lion's Gate Nafplio Bourtzi 
- Day 13
Athens
Take a coach tour of Athens, a city over 3000 years old named after the goddess Athena. You'll visit the Panathenaic Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Acropolis with the Parthenon. There's a guided tour of the Acropolis Museum, then the afternoon is yours in Plaka with its cobbled streets, tavernas, and shops on Ermou Street.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Panathenaic Stadium visit
- Temple of Olympian Zeus visit
- Acropolis visit including Parthenon
- Acropolis Museum guided tour
- Plaka exploration (afternoon at leisure)
Optional Activities
- Shopping on Ermou Street
- Dining at tavernas in Plaka
Landmarks Panathenaic Stadium Temple of Olympian Zeus Acropolis Parthenon Acropolis Museum Plaka Ermou Street - Day 14
Athens to Delphi to Kalambaka
Journey to Delphi on Mount Parnassos with views over olive groves and the Corinthian Gulf. Explore the Sanctuary of Apollo and walk the Sacred Way to see the Temple of Apollo. Continue driving to Kalambaka later in the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sanctuary of Apollo visit
- Sacred Way walk
- Temple of Apollo visit
Landmarks Delphi Sanctuary of Apollo Temple of Apollo 
- Day 15
Kalambaka to Athens
You'll visit Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage site with towering rock formations sheltering Eastern Orthodox monasteries. There's a brief stop at Thermopylae where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans made their stand against the Persians in 480 BC. Return to Athens for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Meteora visit including Eastern Orthodox monasteries
Optional Activities
- Thermopylae brief stop
Landmarks Meteora Thermopylae 
- Day 16
Athens
Your tour concludes after breakfast. You'll have a transfer to the airport included for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
