Greece & Cappadocia [14days]

After breakfast, start the guided city tour of Athens. See the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. Pass by the Prime Minister’s residence (Old Royal Palace) guarded by the Evzones in their colorful uniforms, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, and the Parliament with the memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Continue to the Academy, University, and National Library, as well as Constitution Square (Syntagma). Visit the Acropolis and explore the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens, including the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, and the iconic Parthenon. Don’t miss the Acropolis Museum to admire the sculptures and wonders of the classical era. The evening is free for you to explore more of Athens. You can visit other museums, enjoy shopping on Ermou Street, or indulge in Greek cuisine at local restaurants and taverns. Experience the vibrant nightlife of Athens. Overnight in Athens.

After breakfast, depart from the hotel and drive along the scenic coastal road to the Corinth Canal for a short stop. Continue to Epidaurus to visit the famous ancient theater known for its remarkable acoustics. Proceed to Mycenae and explore the Archaeological Site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Depart for Olympia, passing through the picturesque towns of Tripoli and Megalopoli in central Peloponnese

After breakfast, begin the guided tour of the Archaeological Site of Ancient Olympia. Visit the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium, and the Archaeological Museum. Afterward, drive through the plains of Eliad and Achaia to cross the magnificent bridge over the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea before arriving in Delphi. Overnight in Delphi.

Embark on a memorable journey through the fertile plain of Boeotia, arriving at the legendary Delphi, known as the centre of the ancient world. Explore the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios and discover the ruins of the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo, and the renowned Delphi Museum. Feast on delicious traditional Greek cuisine at a local tavern in Delphi. Continue your adventure towards Kalambaka, a picturesque town nestled at the foot of the awe-inspiring Meteora Rocks. These towering cliffs are home to the largest and most significant group of monasteries in Greece. Prepare for a mesmerizing experience. Overnight in Kalambaka in anticipation of the next day’s visit to the remarkable Meteora.

After breakfast, visit the monasteries of Meteora, perched atop massive rocks, offering an impressive view and exquisite examples of Byzantine art. Depart from Kalambaka and drive back to Athens. Overnight in Athens.

After breakfast, depending on your flight time, transfer to Athens Airport for your departure to Istanbul. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, our representative will transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, depart for a half-day Golden Horn tour. Visit the famous Pierre Loti café in the Eyup neighborhood, offering a wonderful view of the Golden Horn. Then, visit the Cathedral of St. George, housing the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On the way, see a part of the ancient walls of Constantinople. Next, visit the Mosque of Suleymaniye (Suleiman the Magnificent), a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. The afternoon is free to explore the city independently or join the optional Classical tour to visit Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and the Archaeological Museum. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, depart for a half-day Bosphorus cruise. Board a regular boat and enjoy the scenic cruise on the Bosphorus strait, which separates Europe and Asia. Admire the Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy neighborhood, Rumeli and Anatolian Fortresses, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the traditional wooden houses known as “yali.” After the cruise, visit the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), one of Istanbul’s oldest markets, famous for its spices, sweets, and nuts. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city on your own or join the optional tour to Topkapi Palace, where you can see the pavilions, kitchens, audience chambers, and kiosks built around beautiful courtyards. Overnight in Istanbul.

Enjoy a free day in Istanbul to explore at your own pace. You can visit more landmarks, shop at the Grand Bazaar, or indulge in delicious Turkish cuisine. Overnight in Istanbul

After breakfast, depart by bus to Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Turkey. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, and the Museum of Independence. Continue to Cappadocia. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Cappadocia.

Breakfast at hotel. Today we will visit the birthplace of St. George, the Cappadocia region, uniquely combining the vagaries of nature with places of great cultural interest. We will begin our tour with a walk through the fascinating Valley of Dervent, known as the valley of the “fairy chimneys”, where the stone structures eroded by the wind and water on volcanic terrain have given rise to a spectacular landscape defined by spikes, cones and obelisks. Then we will visit the underground city of Ozkonak (or another similar one), built by Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab attacks. We will make a stop at a carpet and kilim workshop to watch artisans at their looms. We continue to visit the Goreme open-air museum that preserves an impressive set of churches, chapels and monasteries cut into the rock with frescoes from the 11th century that were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the afternoon, a panoramic visit of the town of Uchisar and the spectacular volcanic couples of Avcilar (of the hunters) and Güvercinlik (of the pigeon houses) and will admire a wonderful panoramic view of the castle of Uçhisar, located on top of a promontory of volcanic rock. perforated by tunnels and windows. We will make a stop at an artisanal decoration and jewelry workshop. Back to the hotel. Dinner at hotel and overnight. At night you can optionally join a Turkish folk dance show.

Option to take a spectacular hot air balloon ride at sunrise. Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to see the famous “Three Beauties of Urgup”, where you can see the mushroom-shaped rock formations and a panorama of the city of Urgup. Next, we will visit the small and beautiful town of Ortahisar which stands out with its castle of a high geological formation at 86 meters and converted into a dwell by the Hittites. In the afternoon, we continue with the visit to the Zelve valley, formed by two canyons, a place where Muslims and Christians lived together harmonically until 1924. The slopes on the right side are pink, and those on the left are white. After this, we will visit the Cavusin valley, where the houses are dug into the side of a hill and have lavishly decorated facades, all timelessly beautiful. Dinner at the hotel and overnight. In the evening you can optionally join a whirling dervish ceremony (Sema).

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.