Turkey Greece Historical Tours ( 15 Nights / 16 Days )

DAY 1- Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul Airport, met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After check into the hotel, meet at the lobby for welcome and info cocktail. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 2- Istanbul City Tour
Our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - its three names span more than 2600 years, nearly 1600 of them as the capital of two of the greatest empires the world has known, Byzantine and Ottoman. We visit the Topkapi Palace including treasury section, The Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place and free time in Grand bazaar with its 3.500 shops. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 03 - Bosphorous Cruise and Flight to Cappadocia:
Following breakfast we will leave for a mornings cruise on the Bosphorous which seperates the East from West . During the cruise visit the Spice Bazaar and the Rumeli Fortress. At the end of the cruise, transfer back to hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure for you to further explore on your own until early evening transfer to airport. Depart on the domestic flight to Kayseri (Cappadocia) and on arrival meet for transfer to the hotel for check-in with the evening at leisure. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day -4: Tour in Cappadocia, Goreme Town
Depart on the full days tour to visit Devrent Valley and Monk's Valley (Pasabagi) where you find the world famous fairy chimneys. Break for lunch in Avanos then on to the Goreme Open-Air Museum to explore the numerous churches and monasteries with their frescoes. These churches and monasteries where carved from the soft volcanic stone and decorated by Medieval Orthodox Christian Monks around 1000-1200AD. A visit to Ortahisar Natural Rock Castle for panoramic views is also included. After tour the evening is at leisure. Overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY -5: Underground Cities and Valleys
Breakfast at hotel, check out then depart on another full day sightseeing tour of Cappadocia this time starting with a visit to the famous Derinkuyu Underground City which was built as a defence and hiding site during the period of spreading Christianity. Then to Cavusin Old Christian Village where you find a triple Apse church and monastery of St John the Baptist. In Sinasos Old Greek Village you find old Greek and Ottoman houses. The days touring also includes an easy grade 3km hike through Red Valley offering some great scenery that would otherwise not be accessible by car and a visit to the Uchisar Natural Rock Castle. At end of tour, collect luggage from hotel reception and transfer on to the bus station for travel by intercity overnight bus to Pamukkale .

DAY -6: Pamukkale Hierapolis ruins
Arrival early morning to Pamukkale where you will be met at the bus station and transferred to a small hotel with use of a room to take a shower, short rest and have breakfast. Then it is time to join on the group tour which visits the natural formation of the travertens "Cotton Cliffs" and the ruins of Hierapolis. Then transfer to hotel in Kusadasi & evening at leisure. Overnight Kusadasi .

Day-7: Ephesus Tour
Breakfast then meet with guide to depart on the full day Ephesus Tour. Begin with the Ancient City of Ephesus, the best preserved Greco-Roman City in the world. Here you see the Agora, Odeon, Curetes Street, Celsius Library, famous Roman Baths, the Grand Theatre and Marble Street. After lunch, depart for the House of Virgin Mary where she is said to have spent the remainder of her days. It is a pilgrimage site for many people of various religious denominations. The tour also includes a visit to the remains of Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Tour ends with transfer back to hotel & evening at leisure. Overnight in Kusadasi .

Day-8: Ferry from Marmaris to Rhodes
Breakfast, check out and transfer to the bus station to depart by intercity bus to Marmaris. On arrival to Marmaris, check-in at the port, pass through customs and take the afternoon ferry for the crossing to Rhodes. Arrival and transfer to hotel with evening at leisure. Overnight in Rhodes .

Day-9: -Rhodes
Breakfast at hotel and a full day free at leisure for you to explore the old town of Rhodes, spend time relaxing on the beach or visit other villages such as Lyndos. Overnight in Rhodes .

Day-10: Ferry from Rhodes to Crete,Heraklion
Breakfast, check out and as per flight time (morning or evening) transfer on to Rhodes Airport for departure. On flight arrival, around one hour later, to Heraklion, meet for transfer to hotel and rest of the day or evening at leisure. Overnight in Heraklion .

Day-11: - Heraklion Sightseeing
A Today you have a full free day at leisure to explore this city which is the capital of Crete. Highly recommended is to visit the Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum which houses artefacts from the Minoan era and many others. Overnight in Heraklion .

Day-12: Ferry From Heraklion to Santorini
Breakfast check out and transfer to the port to take the morning two hour highspeed ferry on to Santorini. On arrival, meet for transfer to hotel with rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Santorini .

Day-13: Santorini
A free day at leisure to relax and sunbathe on one of the many different beaches of Santorini or explore the capital town of Fira. There are also excursions available, by bus & boat, which will take you to visit the ruins and tour the volcano. Overnight in Santorini

Day-14: Ferry or flight from Santorini to Athens
Breakfast at hotel, check out and as per your preferred departure time (morning or late afternoon) transfer on to the port for the ferry to Athens. Direct flights throughout the day are also available. On arrival, meet for transfer to hotel for check-in and overnight stay in Athens.

Day-15:Tours to Athens
This morning, meet in the hotel lobby to depart on the 1/2 day morning Athens Sightseeing Tour which includes a visit to the Acropolis, its museum and the Parthenon. Also view the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, National Library, Evzones in their picturesque uniform, the Presidential Palace, the Panatheanic Stadium (where first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896), the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch. After the tour you have the afternoon at leisure to further explore Athens on your own. Overnight stay .

Day-16: Tour Ends
Breakfast, check out and as per your international flight time transfer on to Athens Airport .