Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
You'll get transferred to your hotel in Athens and have the afternoon to settle in. Check the information boards at reception for details about the rest of your tour.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (Skylark)
- Day 2
Athens - Rhodes Ferry
Start with a panoramic tour covering the Presidential Mansion, Panathenaic Stadium (where the first modern Olympics happened), National Library, and downtown squares. The tour wraps up near the Acropolis. Later in the afternoon, head to the Port of Piraeus and board an overnight ferry to Rhodes with cruise ship-like amenities and a double cabin.
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Athens including Presidential Mansion, Panathenaic Stadium, National Library, downtown squares, and 2004 Olympics developments
Optional Activities
- Acropolis visit (admission not included)
Landmarks Presidential Mansion Panathenaic Stadium National Library Acropolis 
- Day 3
Rhodes - Marmaris
You'll arrive in Rhodes early morning and take a city tour through the walled citadel and Old Town, which shows influences from Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Knights of St. John, Ottoman, and Italian periods. Around 4:00 p.m., board an express ferry to Marmaris, Turkey (about one hour crossing). Get settled in your accommodation in this coastal town known for its castle, marina, and fountains. Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tuna)
Included Activities
- City tour of Rhodes including walled citadel and Old Town
Landmarks Rhodes Old Town Rhodes Citadel 
- Day 4
Marmaris - Rhodes
Take an express ferry back to Greece early in the morning, crossing takes roughly one hour. After border procedures, you'll arrive in Rhodes with free time to walk around and explore the town.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Semiramis City)
- Day 5
Rhodes - Heraklion
Head out early for an included island excursion. Visit Filerimos monastery on a hilltop with great views, then go to Lindos to see the fortress and Acropolis. Walk through whitewashed streets, spend time on beaches, or take an optional traditional donkey ride if you'd like. After lunch, you'll head back to Rhodes city with free time in the afternoon. By evening, transfer to the airport for a flight to Crete and then to your hotel in Heraklion.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Excursion to explore Rhodes island including Filerimos monastery and Lindos fortress and Acropolis
Optional Activities
- Traditional donkey ride to Lindos Acropolis
- Beach time in Lindos
Landmarks Filerimos Monastery Lindos Acropolis Lindos Fortress 
- Day 6
Heraklion - Rethymno - Chania
Travel along Crete's western coast starting in Rethymno, a coastal city with Venetian origins and a medieval castle. Continue to Chania, a city with an impressive fortress and nice mansions, with a complex history involving Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Genoese, Turks, Egyptians, and Greeks. You'll return to Heraklion by the end of the day.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Visit to Rethymno with its medieval castle
- Visit to Chania with its fortress and historic mansions
Landmarks Rethymno Medieval Castle Chania Fortress 
- Day 7
Heraklion - Palace of Knossos - Agia Galini
Take an excursion to the Palace of Knossos with admission and a guided tour included, where you'll see Minoan culture that formed the foundation for Greek civilization thousands of years ago. Travel through the island's mountains heading south to Agia Galini on the Libyan Sea, a town with winding streets, a fishing port, and taverns. You'll have time for lunch and swimming before returning to Heraklion.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Palace of Knossos excursion with admission and guided tour
Optional Activities
- Swimming in the sea at Agia Galini
Landmarks Palace of Knossos Agia Galini - Day 8
Heraklion - Kritsa - Agios Nikolaos - Spinalonga Island
Travel along Crete's eastern coast starting in the small town of Kritsa to see Panagia Kera, a 13th-century church with beautiful frescoes (admission included). Then arrive at Agios Nikolaos, a town with a natural port where you'll have time to walk around and have lunch. Continue to Elounda and board a boat ride to Spinalonga Island to visit the Fortress of Spinalonga, an old Venetian fortress that was later used as a leper colony. Return by boat and head back to Heraklion.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Visit to Panagia Kera church with admission
- Boat ride from Elounda to Spinalonga Island
- Visit to Fortress of Spinalonga
Landmarks Panagia Kera Church Agios Nikolaos Elounda Fortress of Spinalonga - Day 9
Heraklion - Santorini - Athens
Early morning transfer to the port and board a high-speed ferry to Santorini, arriving between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Travel by bus through nice landscapes to Oia, the most striking town on the island with white streets, cliff views, castle remnants, and windmills. You'll have time for lunch and to walk around. Visit Fira, the island's capital, where you can descend to the port by cable car or donkey if interested. Board a high-speed ferry around 3:15 p.m., arriving back in Athens around midnight.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (Skylark)
Included Activities
- Visit to Oia
- Visit to Fira
Optional Activities
- Cable car or donkey descent to port in Fira to view cruise ships
Landmarks Oia Fira 
- Day 10
Athens - Thermopylae - Meteora - Kalambaka
Leave early heading north to Kamena Vourla, a seaside tourist hub surrounded by nice landscapes. Stop at Thermopylae Mountain Pass, the historic site of a famous battle. Visit Kastraki, a village with valley views, and you'll have free time for lunch. Explore the Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with admission to one of its monasteries included. Dinner's provided in Kalambaka.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Amalia Kalambaca), Hotel (Divani Meteora)
Included Activities
- Visit to Thermopylae Mountain Pass
- Visit to Kastraki
- Admission to one monastery at Meteora UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks Kamena Vourla Thermopylae Kastraki Meteora 
- Day 11
Kalambaka - Thessaloniki - Melnik - Sandanski
Head through northern Greece with beautiful mountain scenery as you go towards the Aegean Sea. Stop in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, where you'll explore and have lunch. Continue into Bulgaria, crossing the border into Bulgarian Macedonia. Visit Melnik, a museum town among nice landscapes known for wine production. End your day in Sandanski, a spa town known as the birthplace of Spartacus. Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Pirin Park Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Thessaloniki
- Visit to Melnik
Landmarks Thessaloniki Melnik 
- Day 12
Sandanski - Rila Monastery - Sofia
Visit the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its fortress-like appearance and beautiful forest surroundings. Continue to Sofia, arriving by late morning. After lunch, take a guided tour of Bulgaria's capital seeing the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Russian Church, Mosque, and the city's squares and avenues with Stalinist architecture. You'll have free time afterward to explore the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Sofia), Hotel (Novotel Sofia)
Included Activities
- Visit to Rila Monastery UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Guided tour of Sofia including St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Russian Church, Mosque, squares, and avenues with Stalinist architecture
Landmarks Rila Monastery St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Russian Church Sofia Mosque 
- Day 13
Sofia - Istanbul
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for an included regular flight to Turkey (departure times may vary). Upon arrival in Istanbul, you'll get a transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore. Detailed information will be provided in the afternoon, either from the tour team or on information boards at the hotel reception.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Movenpick Golden Horn)
- Day 14
Istanbul
You'll have a sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Enter the Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul's largest, check out the ancient walls, the Golden Horn, and the bustling fishing district. The tour includes tickets to Topkapi Palace, once the Ottoman Empire's administrative center, with its nice courtyards and pavilions. In the afternoon, you'll have free time to explore. As evening approaches, transfer to Taksim, the city's most active commercial district, for dinner at one of its restaurants or visit the nearby Galata Tower.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Movenpick Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Visit to Süleymaniye Mosque
- Visit to ancient walls
- Visit to Golden Horn
- Visit to fishing district
- Visit to exterior of Hagia Sophia
- Admission to Topkapi Palace with visit including courtyards and pavilions
- Evening transfer to Taksim Square
Optional Activities
- Visit to Galata Tower
Landmarks Süleymaniye Mosque Golden Horn Hagia Sophia Topkapi Palace Taksim Square Galata Tower 
- Day 15
Istanbul - Bosphorus
Take a boat trip on the Bosphorus lasting about two hours on a private boat for Europamundo travelers. This journey takes you through the strait connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, dividing Istanbul between its European and Asian sides. You'll see lots of boat activity, pass under the two bridges linking Europe and Asia, and see the Sultan's palaces, traditional wooden houses, and Ottoman architecture. Return to central Istanbul with some free time.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Movenpick Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Boat trip on the Bosphorus on private Europamundo boat (approximately 2 hours)
Landmarks Bosphorus Strait - Day 16
Istanbul
After breakfast, your tour comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.
- Meals
- Breakfast
