Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
Your transfer takes you to your Athens hotel, then you have the rest of the day free to wander around this ancient city at your own pace. Later tonight there's a welcome meeting so you'll meet the other travelers on your trip.
Optional Activities
- Explore Athens at your own pace
- Day 2
Athens
This morning you'll do a half-day guided tour through Athens hitting the major sites. You'll see the Acropolis with its monuments, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympics happened, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, and the Parthenon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day Acropolis guided tour
- Visit Panathenaic Stadium
- Visit Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Visit Hadrian's Arch
- Visit Acropolis Museum
- Visit Propylaea
- Visit Temple of Athena Nike
- Visit Parthenon
Landmarks Acropolis Panathenaic Stadium Temple of Olympian Zeus Hadrian's Arch Parthenon Acropolis Museum - Day 3
Athens to Santorini
Early departure gets you to Santorini, and from there you have options for the day. Spend time on the beach soaking up sun or check out Fira, the capital with its white buildings and views out over the island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax on the beach
- Explore Fira
Landmarks Fira - Day 4
Santorini
Today you can take an optional boat trip out to see the volcanic crater. During the trip you'll visit the active volcano, swim in warm thermal waters, and try a mud bath if you're interested in that kind of thing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat trip to active volcano
- Swim in warm thermal waters
- Therapeutic mud bath
Landmarks Santorini Volcano - Day 5
Santorini to Mykonos
You'll arrive in Mykonos and can explore the white-washed town however you'd like or head straight to the beach. When evening comes around, the island's famous nightlife gets going if you want to check that out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore white-washed town of Mykonos
- Visit the beach
- Experience Mykonos nightlife
- Day 6
Mykonos
The whole day is yours in Mykonos. Spend time at the beach, wander through town, or take a trip out to one of the smaller villages around the island to see what they have to offer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Beach day
- Explore the town
- Visit small villages
- Day 7
Mykonos to Kusadasi
Mid-day ferry takes you from Mykonos heading toward Samos, then you catch another ferry to Kusadasi in Turkey where you'll arrive by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 8
Kusadasi
A guided tour walks you through Ephesus and its history as a major trade and religious center. You'll see the Temple of Artemis site, the Library of Celsus, a large amphitheater, and the archaeology museum. After that you visit a carpet village to watch hand-weaving, then head to Sirince for wine tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Artemis site
- Visit Library of Celsus
- Visit Ephesus amphitheater
- Visit Ephesus Archaeology Museum
- Carpet village visit and demonstration
- Wine tasting in Sirince
Landmarks Ephesus Temple of Artemis Library of Celsus Ephesus Archaeology Museum - Day 9
Kusadasi to Pamukkale
Starting with a leather shop visit, then you head to Aphrodisias, an ancient city built for the goddess Aphrodite. You'll walk through the sculpture school, see the well-preserved stadium (one of the best in Anatolia), Temple of Aphrodite, Tetrapylon, theatre, and the museum before continuing to Pamukkale.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Leather shop visit
- Guided tour of Aphrodisias
- Visit Aphrodisias stadium
- Visit Temple of Aphrodite
- Visit Tetrapylon
- Visit Aphrodisias theatre
- Visit Aphrodisias Museum
Landmarks Aphrodisias - Day 10
Pamukkale to Fethiye
You'll get to see Pamukkale's white calcium terraces and tour the ancient city of Hierapolis. Then take a dip in hot springs that people have used for their therapeutic benefits since Roman times. Later you visit Salda Lake, often called Turkish Maldives, before heading south to Fethiye.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Pamukkale Travertines
- Tour Hierapolis
- Swim in Hierapolis hot springs
Optional Activities
- Visit Salda Lake
Landmarks Pamukkale Travertines Hierapolis Salda Lake - Day 11
Fethiye
Fethiye is yours to explore however you want today. There are optional tours and activities available if you'd like to get out and see more of the surrounding region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- 12 Islands Boat Trip
- Saklikent Gorge tour
- Day 12
Fethiye to Antalya
This morning you head to Kayakoy, a deserted Greek village where the light in the morning is really good for photographs. After that you drive to Antalya and visit the museum there to check out artifacts from ancient cities throughout the province.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kayakoy
- Visit Antalya Museum
Landmarks Kayakoy - Day 13
Antalya
Early morning takes you to Perge, a well-known ancient site. From there you drive to Aspendos to see the best-preserved 2nd-century amphitheater in Turkey. By afternoon you're back in Antalya with the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Perge
- Visit Aspendos amphitheater
Landmarks Perge Aspendos - Day 14
Antalya to Konya
You'll visit the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet. Inside you can see the ornately decorated tomb, old manuscripts, and exhibits about the Whirling Dervishes. Then you travel along the Silk Road to the Çatalhöyük Museum, one of the oldest Neolithic settlements.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mevlana Mausoleum
- Visit Mevlana Museum
- Visit Çatalhöyük Museum
Landmarks Mevlana Mausoleum - Day 15
Konya to Cappadocia
Heading to Cappadocia, you'll stop at Sultanhani Caravansary, an ancient Silk Road rest stop for merchants. Later you explore an underground city with multiple levels. After checking in, you go to a traditional Turkish home for dinner and can join a cooking class to help prepare the meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Turkish dinner at a local home with optional cooking course)
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanhani Caravansary
- Explore underground city
- Traditional Turkish home dinner with cooking course
Landmarks Sultanhani Caravansary - Day 16
Cappadocia
The lunar landscape of Cappadocia really shows when you visit Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and see the fairy chimneys. Then you move through Pigeon Valley and Red Valley before stopping in Cavusin village. The day ends in Avanos town where you learn about hand-made pottery traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Goreme Valley Open Air Museum
- Explore fairy chimneys
- Visit Pigeon Valley
- Visit Red Valley
- Visit Cavusin village
- Learn about hand-made pottery in Avanos
Landmarks Goreme Valley Open Air Museum Fairy Chimneys - Day 17
Cappadocia to Ankara to Istanbul
Early departure takes you to Ankara, Turkey's capital. You visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, then head back to Istanbul.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Anitkabir (Ataturk Mausoleum)
Landmarks Anitkabir - Day 18
Istanbul
Your tour covers Istanbul, the city that spans both Europe and Asia. You'll see the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace with its Hagia Irene and Harem sections, and the Hippodrome. In the afternoon, a 1-hour ferry ride lets you cruise between the two continents while your guide points out historical sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Istanbul
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit St Sophia Museum
- Visit Topkapi Palace
- Visit Hagia Irene
- Visit Topkapi Palace Harem
- Visit Hippodrome
- Bosphorus cruise by public ferry
Landmarks Blue Mosque Hagia Sophia Topkapi Palace Hippodrome Bosphorus - Day 19
Istanbul
After breakfast your tour wraps up. You'll say goodbye to the friends you've made and then transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
