DAY 1: Sat - Departure from USA
- Depart the USA for Athens in Greece. Your international flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment.
|
DAY 2: Sun - Arrive Athens
- Arrive in Athens, the classical capital of Greece, transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to discover the ancient wonders of this city known as the cradle of Western Civilization and the birthplace of democracy.
- Overnight: Athens
|
DAY 3: Mon - Athens Private City Tour
- Wander the landmarks of Historic Athens including the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum focused on the findings from the Acropolis.
- Ancient yet modern, classic yet creative, traditional yet constantly changing Athens is a city of memorable contrasts. The past and the present of Athens unfolds before your eyes while we drive around the citys highlight spots and monuments like the Temple of Zeus, the Old Stadium, Syntagma square, the Parliament and the Tomb to the Unknown soldier, the Academy, the Library, and the National Gardens. On the natural fortress of the Acropolis, reinforced by the hand of man, stand the Propylaea, the temple of the Winged Victory, Erechtheion with the Porch of the Caryatids and, towering overall, and the majestic Parthenon. A winding path leads to the treasure of antiquity. Visible are the relics of the civilization of which we are the proud inheritors. A few meters away from the Acropolis entrance and the Ancient Theatre of Dionysos, the New Acropolis Museum, built on pedestrian walkway of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, looks like hanging between the past and the present of Athens. Designed by Bernard Tschumi and Mihalis Fotiades, the new Acropolis Museum has a total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters. Made of stainless steel, glass, marble and concrete, materials typical of the Athenian environment, the new museum has a direct view of the Acropolis. With bioclimatic planning, which gives ideal lighting and heating conditions, the New Museum offers all the amenities expected in an international museum of the 21st century.
- Overnight: Athens
- Meal: Breakfast
|
DAY 4: Tue - Sightseeing en route to Olympia
- Depart Athens via the scenic coastal road to the mighty Corinth Canal, dividing the Peloponnese from mainland Greece. Continue via Nauplion to Mycenae, the heartland of Greek mythology. Visit the Acropolis of Mycenae and the Tomb of Atreus, built around 1250 B.C. From here, drive through the Central Peloponnese Peninsula, whose major cities in classical times were Corinth and Sparta. Continue to Olympia, birthplace of the first Olympic Games
- Overnight: Olympia
- Dinner at the hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
|
DAY 5: Wed - Tour the Olympia Archaeological Site
- Morning visit to the archaeological site of Olympia, including the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, and the ancient stadium where the Olympic Games were first held in 776 B.C. Visit a local store, where you will have a chance to taste local olive oil and spices. Continue to Olympias Archaeological Museum containing significant exhibitions of the ancient world and artwork dating back thousands of years. Then, drive north through the plains of Eliad and Achaia, crossing the Corinth Strait via a cabled bridge from Rion to Antirion. Pass the town of Nafpaktos en route to Delphi, home of the ruins of the Tholos Temple
- Overnight: Delphi
- Dinner at the hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
|
DAY 6: Thu - Archaeological Tour of Delphi, Travel to Kalambaka
- Tour the excavated site of Delphi and the archaeological Museum, perched on the slopes of Mount Parnassos, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Considered one of the most significant places in Greek history, its stunning setting and ancient ruins are truly inspirational. Walk the Sacred Way to the imposing 4th century B.C. Temple of Apollo, site of the most important oracle in the classical world. Then travel over the Pourmaraki Pass towards the small town of Kalambaka, situated amidst smooth sandstone cliffs in the foothills of Meteora
- Overnight: Kalambaka
- Dinner at the hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
|
DAY 7: Fri - Meteora Sightseeing, Return to Athens
- Visit Meteora, meaning "suspended in the air", with its mystical Eastern Orthodox monasteries incredibly nestled perilously close to the edge of bizarre rock formations. Admire the exquisite specimens of Byzantine art and the panoramic vistas over the Peneios Valley. Stop at a workshop of Byzantine icons and souvenirs. Browse the stores vast collection of icons, created using old traditional methods. Afterward, a scenic drive takes you along the coast, past Thermopylae. Arrive in Athens in the early evening
- Overnight: Athens
- Meal: Breakfast
|
DAY 8: Sat - Depart Greece – Arrive Istanbul
- After breakfast, transfer to Athens Airport according to your flight to Istanbul.
- Your personal Agent will meet you at the A/P and you will get the tour documents and briefing about your tour.
- Overnight:Istanbul
- Meal: Breakfast
|
DAY 9: Sun - Full Day Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Tour
- After having breakfast at hotel, you will have a full day city tour.
- Hippodrome: The former center of sprotive and political activities of Constantinople. You will be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Willhelm II.
- Blue Mosque: One of the biggest mosques of Istanbul from 17th century architecture is one of the principal adornments on the skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarest.
- Topkapi Palace: The former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the very famous treasury of the Royal Family.
- Lunch: Full Course Deluxe Menu at a charming restaurant.
- St.Sophia: The magnificent Byzantine Church of all times one of the finest and largest architectural works of art in the world.
- Grand Bazaar: In addition to its historical importance, its a bazaar that will tempt even the nonshoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewellery, leather and souvenirs. After the tour you will be transferred to your Hotel.
- Overnight in Istanbul.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
|
DAY 10: Mon - Full Day Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour
- After having breakfast at hotel, you will have a full day city tour.
- Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish etc.
- Bosphorus Cruise, through the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials and luxurious apartments.
- Lunch: Full Course Deluxe Menu at a charming restaurant.
- Dolmabahce Palace: The last residence for Ottoman Sultans with 365 rooms and 22 saloons. Famous with the great collection of European antiquity, furniture and 4.5 tons chandelier.
- Bosphorus Bridge, unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asia) in 2 minutes.
- Camlica Hill, exposing a panoramic view of Istanbul and Bosphorus from the best point of view. After the tour you will be transferred to your Hotel.
- Overnight in Istanbul.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
|
DAY 11: Teu - Turkish Bath (Hamam)
- After having breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to a historical Turkish Bath.
- Hamam: Its the Middle Eastern variant of a steam bath, which can be categorized as a wet relative of the sauna. A person taking a Turkish bath first relaxes in a room (known as the warm room) that is heated by a continuous flow of hot, dry air allowing the bather to perspire freely. Bathers may then move to an even hotter room (known as the hot room) before splashing themselves with cold water. After performing a full body wash and receiving a massage, bathers finally retire to the cooling-room for a period of relaxation.
- Meal: Breakfast
|
DAY 12: Wed - Full Day Princes Island Tour
- After having breakfast at hotel, you will have a full day city tour.
- Cruise in Marmara Sea to Princes Islands, stop at Buyukada, the popular summer resort with sandy beaches and pinewood scenery, once the pleasure island of Byzantine Princes.
- Tour of the island with horse-drawn carriages before Lunch at a fish restaurant.
- Also visioned during the tour: Topkapi Palace, Leanders Tower, Uskudar from the sea.
- After the tour you will be transferred to your Hotel.
- Overnight in Istanbul.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
|
DAY 13: Thu - Departure, Transfer to Airport
- After breakfast, your personal agent will meet you at your hotel and you will be transferred to A/P according to your flight time.
- Meal: Breakfast
|
