Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to wander around at your own pace, whether that's grabbing lunch in a local neighborhood, checking out the streets near your accommodation, or just resting after your journey.
Optional Activities
- Istanbul Classics full day tour (9am-4pm) - St Sophia Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar
- Bosphorus Cruise (afternoon, 1 hour plus 30 mins transport)
- Traditional Turkish Folklore Evening - dinner, unlimited drinks, belly dancers, folk dancers, musicians
- Bosphorus by Night - 8pm departure, dinner included
- Istanbul Two Continents Tour - Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, Rumeli Fortress, Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Camlica Hill
- Topkapi Palace Harem visit
- Bosphorus by public ferry
- Prince's Islands by public ferry
- Day 2
Istanbul
After breakfast, you'll join a guided tour hitting Istanbul's major sites across both continents. You'll see the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace including the Harem, and Hagia Irene, plus the Hippodrome. In the afternoon, there's an option to take a Bosphorus cruise between Europe and Asia if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Fully guided tour of Istanbul
- Blue Mosque visit
- St Sophia Museum visit
- Topkapi Palace visit including Hagia Irene and the Harem
- Hippodrome visit
Optional Activities
- Half day Bosphorus cruise (afternoon)
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque St Sophia Museum Topkapi Palace Hagia Irene Hippodrome - Day 3
Gallipoli
This day takes you to the WW1 Battlefields of Gallipoli, one of Turkey's most moving historical sites. You'll walk through Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, visit ANZAC Cove and Johnston's Jolly, and explore the original trenches and tunnels at the Nek. It's a solemn but significant journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of WW1 Gallipoli Battlefields
- Lone Pine Memorial visit
- Chunuk Bair Memorial visit
- ANZAC Cove visit
- Johnston's Jolly visit
- Original trenches and tunnels exploration
- The Nek visit
Landmarks/POIs Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair Memorial ANZAC Cove Johnston's Jolly The Nek - Day 4
Behramkale - Kuşadası
You'll head to Troy next, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can see the ancient ruins and check out the award-winning Troy Museum. Later, you'll wander through the traditional village of Behramkale with its stone houses and tight alleyways, where you can stop for local Turkish tea or coffee. Then it's a drive south to Kusadasi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of ancient Troy (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Troy Museum visit
- Behramkale village exploration
Optional Activities
- Turkish tea or coffee at local café in Behramkale
Landmarks/POIs Troy Troy Museum Behramkale - Day 5
Kuşadası
A guided tour of Ephesus gives you access to one of the ancient world's most significant cities. You'll see the Temple of Artemis site and walk through the theatre while learning about daily life back then. After that, the Ephesus Archaeology Museum shows off impressive artifacts from the area. There's also a stop at a local carpet village where you'll see traditional weaving techniques.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ephesus
- Temple of Artemis site visit
- Ephesus Theatre visit
- Ephesus Archaeology Museum visit
- Carpet village visit and carpet weaving demonstration
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Temple of Artemis Ephesus Theatre Ephesus Archaeology Museum - Day 6
Kuşadası to Mykonos
You'll leave Turkey behind with a ferry crossing to Samos. Depending on when ferries are running that day, you might go straight to Mykonos or spend some time on Samos first, seeing its green hills and coastal spots before heading to your Greek island destination.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Day exploring Samos (depending on ferry schedules)
Landmarks/POIs Samos - Day 7
Mykonos
Mykonos is yours to explore however you like. You can relax on the beach, walk through the town's white-washed streets and local shops, check out nearby villages, or take an optional day trip to Delos, an ancient Greek archaeological site that functions like an open-air museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional day trip to Delos island - ancient Greek archaeological site and open-air museum
Landmarks/POIs Delos - Day 8
Mykonos to Santorini
Start early with a swim to wake up, then spend time wandering the white-washed narrow streets of Mykonos Town. By afternoon, you'll board a ferry headed to Santorini, giving you time to settle in and see the island's dramatic landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning swim
- Mykonos Town exploration
Landmarks/POIs Mykonos Town - Day 9
Santorini
There's an optional boat trip to see the world's largest volcanic crater still above sea level. You'll visit the active volcano, take a swim in warm thermal waters, and if you're into it, try a therapeutic mud bath while taking in the geothermal activity around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat trip to volcanic crater - visit active volcano, thermal waters swim, therapeutic mud bath
Landmarks/POIs Santorini Volcanic Crater - Day 10
Santorini to Athens
You'll spend the morning on Santorini's black sand beaches soaking up sun and swimming. In the afternoon, there's a ferry departing for the mainland and Athens, so you'll head back to the ferry terminal and make the crossing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Black sand beach time
- Day 11
Athens
A half day guided tour takes you through Athens' major ancient sites. You'll visit the Acropolis with its museum, see the Panathenaic Stadium (where the first modern Olympic Games happened), walk past the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch. At the Acropolis itself, you'll see the Propylaia entrance, Temple of Nike, and the famous Parthenon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half day Acropolis tour
- Panathenaic Stadium visit
- Temple of Olympian Zeus visit
- Hadrian's Arch visit
- Acropolis Museum visit
- Propylaia visit
- Temple of Nike visit
- Parthenon visit
Landmarks/POIs Acropolis Acropolis Museum Panathenaic Stadium Temple of Olympian Zeus Hadrian's Arch Propylaia Temple of Nike Parthenon - Day 12
Athens
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to everyone you've met on the tour before heading to the airport for your departure. It's time to head home with memories from two countries and plenty of ancient history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
