Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and get transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is open, so you can walk around the streets, hit some shops, or sit at a traditional Turkish café and just take things in at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul at leisure
- Shopping
- Visit traditional Turkish café
- Day 2
Istanbul
After breakfast, head to the Spice Market for some shopping. You'll have free time to explore on your own before boarding a 1.5-hour Bosphorus cruise taking in views of forests, palaces, and old wooden houses across Asia and Europe. Lunch happens at a local restaurant after that, then you'll visit the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Hagia Sophia. More free time at the Grand Bazaar follows before heading back to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Spice Market
- 1.5-hour Bosphorus Cruise
- Visit Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
- Visit Hippodrome
- Visit Hagia Sophia
Optional Activities
- Free time exploration at own pace
- Free time at Grand Bazaar
Landmarks Spice Market Bosphorus Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) Hippodrome Hagia Sophia Grand Bazaar - Day 3
Istanbul to Ankara
After breakfast, you'll see Topkapi Palace, where Ottoman sultans lived for nearly 400 years, with imperial collections, courtyards, and historic chambers throughout. Then it's a drive to Ankara, Turkey's modern capital, where you'll arrive in the early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Topkapi Palace
Optional Activities
- Visit harem section of Topkapi Palace (entrance fee not included)
Landmarks Topkapi Palace Atatürk's Mausoleum - Day 4
Ankara to Cappadocia
Start by checking out the Anatolian Civilizations Museum with Neolithic and Paleolithic artifacts from ancient civilizations. Next is the Mausoleum of Atatürk, a monumental complex that includes a museum and ceremonial plaza. In the afternoon, you'll travel to Cappadocia with a stop to explore one of the region's largest underground cities built by early Christians.
Included Activities
- Visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum
- Visit Mausoleum of Atatürk
- Explore underground city
Landmarks Anatolian Civilizations Museum Mausoleum of Atatürk - Day 5
Cappadocia
After breakfast, you'll spend the full day exploring Cappadocia's landscapes, starting with Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO site known for its cave churches. From there, you'll go to Uchisar Village and the fairy chimneys, then through Derbent Valley to see unique rock formations and workshops where local artisans craft traditional carpets and onyx stones.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Göreme Open Air Museum
- Visit Uchisar Village
- Explore fairy chimneys
- Explore Derbent Valley
- Visit carpet and onyx workshops
Optional Activities
- Hot air balloon tour departing early morning
Landmarks Göreme Open Air Museum Uchisar Village Derbent Valley - Day 6
Cappadocia to Pamukkale
After breakfast, drive to Pamukkale with a stop at the Sultanhan Caravanserai, a Seljuk-era structure that once hosted travelers and merchants. Then you'll walk through the Cotton Steps, a UNESCO World Heritage site with its famous healing thermal waters, and tour the ancient city of Hierapolis.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanhan Caravanserai
- Visit Cotton Steps (Pamukkale)
- Visit Hierapolis
Landmarks Sultanhan Caravanserai Pamukkale (Cotton Steps) Hierapolis 
- Day 7
Pamukkale to Ephesus to Izmir
Drive to Selçuk to see Ephesus's remarkably preserved ancient ruins, including the Odeon theatre, Temple of Hadrian, House of Love, Library of Celsus, and the Agora commercial center. You'll also visit the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be the final resting place of Jesus's mother. After leather shopping, you'll head to Izmir for check-in and a group dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Group dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Ephesus ruins
- Visit Odeon at Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Hadrian
- Visit House of Love at Ephesus
- Visit Library of Celsus
- Visit Agora at Ephesus
- Visit House of the Virgin Mary
- Leather shopping
Landmarks Ephesus Library of Celsus Temple of Hadrian House of the Virgin Mary - Day 8
Izmir to Istanbul to Athens
Transfer to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for your included flight to Athens via Istanbul. When you arrive in Athens, you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the city center. The rest of the day is free to explore Athens, enjoy its nightlife, or just relax.
Optional Activities
- Explore Athens at leisure
- Enjoy Athens nightlife
- Relax in Athens
- Day 9
Athens
After breakfast, join a half-day Athens sightseeing tour that leaves around 08:45 and returns by 13:30. Your guide will take you through Athens's contrasts, from the Panathenaic Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games) to the Prime Minister's residence with its ceremonial Evzones guards, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, and Parliament. You'll explore the Acropolis monuments including the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, and the Parthenon, ending at the modern Acropolis Museum with nearly 4,000 exhibits of Hellenic art and history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half Day Athens Sightseeing Tour
- Visit Panathenaic Stadium
- View Prime Minister's residence
- View Temple of Olympian Zeus
- View Hadrian's Arch
- View Parliament and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Visit Academy
- View University
- View National Library
- Visit Syntagma Square
- Explore Acropolis
- Visit Propylaea
- Visit Temple of Athena Nike
- Visit Erechtheion
- Visit Parthenon
- Visit Acropolis Museum
Landmarks Panathenaic Stadium Temple of Olympian Zeus Hadrian's Arch Parliament of Greece Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Academy of Athens National Library of Greece Syntagma Square Acropolis Propylaea Temple of Athena Nike Erechtheion Parthenon Acropolis Museum - Day 10
Athens to Hydra to Poros to Aegina to Athens
Depart at 07:30 from Athens city center by coach to Piraeus Port, boarding a cruise ship at 08:00 for a full-day trip through the Saronic Gulf. You'll stop at Hydra with its jet-set charm and car-free streets, then Poros with serene views and a lagoon-like coastline, and Aegina rich in ancient heritage. Optional activities include visiting the Temple of Aphaia and Church of Saint Nektarios, exploring Moni Island beach, or driving through pistachio groves to Paleohora and a local taverna. A Greek folk show happens on the return cruise, docking at Marina Flisvos at 19:15 before transfer back to the hotel.
Included Activities
- Cruise to Saronic Gulf islands
- Visit Hydra
- Visit Poros
- Visit Aegina
- Greek folk show aboard cruise
Optional Activities
- Visit Temple of Aphaia at Aegina
- Visit Church of Saint Nektarios at Aegina
- Beach escape on Moni Island
- Scenic drive through pistachio groves and Paleohora with local taverna
Landmarks Hydra Poros Aegina Temple of Aphaia Church of Saint Nektarios Moni Island Paleohora - Day 11
Athens
After your final breakfast, depending on your flight time, you might have some time for last-minute shopping, exploring, or relaxing before your transfer to the airport. Have a safe trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping
- Last-minute exploring
- Relax before departure
