|
From
Istanbul to Santorini
Tour Istanbul , Athens , Santorini
in 10 Days
What's
your preferred destination around the Aegean Sea? The Classic sites
beckon with the glories of empires past. Thriving bazaars exude the
mystery of the Orient. Hidden coves, sun, beaches and sails seduce you
to a legendary island removed from the everyday world.
Which will you choose?
Dana Villas in Santorini
Fortunately,
you can do it all! On this 10-day adventure, Travel in Style weaves
the great travel adventures of Greece and Turkey into a seamless classic
of its own. You'll gaze in awe at the treasures of Istanbul. You'll
ascend to the Acropolis in Athens, and plumb the pleasures of the Plaka.
Then it's away from the madding crowds, to treasure three full days
in a hideaway on the Greek isle of your dreams: Santorini. Pack your
bags, and take off on any day of your choosing, from April through October.
Add Crete .
Click here for the 11 day Ephesus
edition . or Naxos
DAY
1 - Start in ISTANBUL
or in Athens -Arrive
on any day of your choosing, from April through October
Our local personnel will be on hand when you arrive at the international
airport, to escort you to your lodgings, where a fruit basket awaits.
You'll have time to rest up from your flight, and stretch your legs
as you make your initial discoveries of this capital of Byzantine emperors
and Ottoman sultans, where East and West have long clashed, met, and
blended.
DAY
2 - ISTANBUL (BLD)
We'll visit historic and modern Istanbul today. High points will include
the Hippodrome, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, and the stunning
Blue Mosque. Then it's on to Aya Sophia, whose heritage as both a basilica
and emblem of Islamic architecture neatly sums up the strains that have
created modern Turkey. We'll fit in the fabled Topkapi palace, with
its formal gardens, salons of state and stately boudoirs of the sultan's
harem; as well as the Treasury, whose collection includes priceless
Chinese porcelain. At the Grand Bazaar, there will be occasion to assemble
your own treasure from over 5000 stands, kiosks, and shops, filled with
carpets, leatherwork, and treasures and trinkets from all points eastward.
After a short rest, we'll gather for dinner, accompanied by live music,
and the extraordinary Oriental art form that we know as the belly dance.
DAY
3 - ISTANBUL (BL)
This morning, we'll stretch our legs as we take in the sights, sounds,
and aromas of Istanbul up-close. We'll start off with our guide to re-discover
the Belle Epoque, when Constantinople was the Paris of the East. From
the traditional Karaköy district, where overseas bankers and shipping
companies had their headquarters, we'll ascend via the Tünel-an
antique subway line-up to Istiklal Caddesi, a sedate nineteenth-century
thoroughfare lined with former embassies. We'll stop in at the tekke
of the renowned whirling dervishes. And in keeping with the traditional
surroundings, we'll be hosted to tea at the landmark Pera Palace Hotel.
We'll continue on foot, at least as far as Galatasaray Square, and lunch
in the Çicek Pasaji (Flower Passage); then it's on to busy Taksim
Square to rendezvous with our coach. We'll venture farther a field in
the afternoon, to Yildiz Palace Park and the Ihlamur Kasri, a refined
little palace south of Yildiz, and the Military History Museum in Harbiye,
arriving in time for the strains of Mehter, the traditional Ottoman
military band.
After
a late-afternoon lunch at a charming local restaurant , we'll venture
into the legendary bazaar and a walking tour of this ancient district
with scenes from " Raiders of the lost Arch".
DAY
4 - Istanbul (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel ,then we
visit Yildiz Palace Park and the Ihlamur Kasri, a mini-palace south
of Yildiz, and finish up with a walking tour of the Egyptian Spice Bazaar
.
Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar (or Spice Market, Misir Çarsisi, built
1664) is filled with the fragrance of the exotic East, remainder of
the day at leisure to explore the city on your own.
Complimentary
Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals: This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors
ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Istanbul
l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome
home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook,
aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as
you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about
your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening,
and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course
. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family
(T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town).
DAY
5 - ISTANBUL, ATHENS (B)
After
breakfast, we'll call for you and escort you to the airport, where you'll
board your flight (Domestic air fare in Greece and Istanbul/Athens are
included in our rates ), fly to to Athens, where our representative
assist you through customs and immigration, and escort you to your hotel
in the bustling city center. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as
you wish. Stroll, browse for curios and treasures, and perhaps dine
at a cafe in the old Plaka district and take in a folklore show
DAY 6 - ATHENS- Private Tour (BLD)
Enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Greek capital, today we
have included a half day private tour of Syntagma Square, and the towering
Acropolis. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant.
An evening Greek Taverna dinner with a folk show .
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private guide.
DAY
7 - ATHENS , SANTORINI (B)
We'll call for you and see you to the airport for your flight over the
blue Aegean to Santorini (Air fare included, Isle of Ancient "
Atlantis ?!", where you'll find a room waiting in a four-star beach
hotel. Or a cliff -side Villa . Add
private tours to Delphi and Argolis: please click here.
DAY
8 - Santorini (B)
Enjoy breakfast at your lovely hotel (or Villa),or venture out,to explore
ON YOUR OWN. Akrotiri,reputedly the site of fabled Atlantis.
Then on to Athinios port to take a boat across to eh dormant volcano,
and ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Visit Thirassia
Island and watch sunset in Oia. Return to your hotel/villa early evening,
the decision is totally yours.
Sample optional tours available based on Private arrangement or Local
Group tour
.
DAY
9- Santorini- Own activities(B)
To stay in your lovely hotel and enjoy the beach, the service, and the
amenities, or to venture out to explore some of the dramatic cliffs,
coves, and villages . . . that is the question! No doubt, you'll mix
a bit of both; Relax, and revisit a favorite café or shop ,sip an ouzo
or retsina at a waterside café, discover a beach or two, pick up a loaf
of fresh bread and cheese and olives, and picnic on a hillside as you
look out to sailboats at sea.
DAY
10 - DEPARTURE (B)
Do your last-minute shopping this morning, or just linger deliciously
in bed. Then we'll call for you and see you to the airport to begin
your journey home. If you wish to extend your stay , please let's know
in advance. Bon
Voyage. Back
to Turkey Tour List
| Greece Tour List
RATE
in US $, per person in double occupancy - Minimum 2 guests
- Tourist
Class : 3980
- First
Class: $ 4260
-
Deluxe : $ 5040
RATE
in US $, per person in double occupancy - Minimum 4 guests
- Tourist
Class : 3760
- First
Class: $ 4050
-
Deluxe : $ 4620.00
Price
includes:
- Air
transportation from Istanbul / Izmir/ Athens / Santorini, as
per the itinerary & dates you choose (subject to your availability)
.
- Transportation
between airport and hotels in Greece , always on a private basis ,
- Guided
sightseeing as indicated in ATHENS, including entrance fees .
- preset
menu meals as indicated , please check each day for the code : "B"
for breakfast, " L" for lunch and dinner as indicated "D",
etc .
- Accommodations
with breakfast (B) as indicated
below, or at comparable properties, according to availability:
- Athens:
Divani Palace Acropolis : 5 Stars Moderate .
For upgrade to Category A : Athens
King George Hotel , Gran Bretagne Hotel . St. George Lycabettus Hotel
( Acropolis view room) , or similar please add $ 400 per person in
double to the deluxe rates
Titania or Electra Palace (four stars).
- Istanbul
:
Hyatt, Hilton or Ceylan Intercontinental
or similar for the deluxe, Madison , Arena , Aygun Plaza or similar
for 4 stars
Kusadasi :
Korumar or similar for the deluxe,
or Kismet for boutique Hotels , Adakule or similar for 4 stars
- Sample
Villas/ Apartments in Santorini:
- For
Deluxe rates : Dana Villas with a view of the Caldera
& the sea ( Firostefani)
, "Astra Apartments", " On The Rocks" or Chromata
Apartments with a view of the caldera and the sea (Imerovigli.).
For Katikies please add $ 450 USD per person in double to the deluxe
rate.
- For
first class accommodation in the: "Cliff Side Suites, Volcano
View Villas, Tzekos Villas
Or Rose
Bay on Kamari Beach Hotel (four stars)
Not
Included:
-
International air transportation.
-
Trip Cancellation insurance
-
Optional excursions, such as tours on Santorini, sailing, cruising
- Any
meal not specifically mentioned
- Beverages,
and personal expenses
- Gratuities
for local personnel
-
Airport taxes.
|
