|
| |
Blue
Water * Bright Islands
Istanbul
, Athens , Naxos , Santorini
in 14 Days
Fantasty Honeymoon Tour of Turkey and Greece |
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 ? 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 .
Compare with 11 day Ephesus
, or the 14 day edition
.
DAY
1 - ISTANBUL -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 afield 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.
DAY
4 - Istanbul (B)
Breakfast at the hotel , remainder of the day at leisure to explore
the city on your own.
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 (BD)
Enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Greek capital, today we have
included a half day tour of Syntagma Square, and the towering Acropolis.
An evening dinner at a charming local Greek restaurant .
Add
private tours to Delphi and Argolis: please click here.
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 .
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.
For
guests who are interested , a complimentary full day Greek cooking class
( available only on Thursdays -except during Easter week):
Advance reservation required, space is limited, must book this at the
time you book your tour package with us
ONE
DAY COOKING COURSE AT "SELENE" RESTAURANT.
Weekly
on Thursday : at 10 30 a.m. we will welcome you at Selene Restaurant with
fresh juice, coffee and traditional Greek cookies. A lecture by Evelyn
Volikas and George Hatziyianakis will give you an introduction to the
cuisine of the Cycladic Islands and particularly of Santorini .Following
the lecture, we will introduce to you the unique local products of our
island. The volcanic eruption that broke the island of Santorini apart
almost 3500 years ago left the dramatic caldera that you see today. With
more than 300 days of sunshine and its rich volcanic soil, the island
yields a bounty of unusual indigenous herbs and vegetables. White eggplant,
capers and caper leaves, fava (small yellow peas), exquisite baby tomatoes
- all grown virtually without water.We will introduce you to the Santorini
wine, to the grape varieties and to the Santorini vineyard, and you will
have the chance to sample four different wines in the wine tasting we
have arranged for you.
Cheeses and sausages from several other Cycladic islands, including Naxos,
Siros, Ios, Tinos, brought especially for this occasion, will accompany
the wines.At about 12.0 the presentation and the demonstration of four
different recipes will take place. You will learn how to prepare an entire
Greek menu: an appetizer,
a salad, a main course, and a dessert.
-Fava
beans with tomato caper sauce or Tomato fritters (tomatokeftedes)
-Eggplant
salad with octopus or Taramosalata
-Rabbit
with egg- cheese sauce or Lamb in grapevine leaves
-Cheese
and honey sweet pastry or Melitinia (traditional Santorini cookie)After
we have prepared the dishes, at about 2.0 p.m. you will be able to enjoy
the fruits of your labors accompanied by a bottle of delicious wine from
Santorini.
The cooking class takes place every Thursday. Web site for the world famous
" Selene" Greek restaurant : www.selene.gr
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 - Naxos (B)
Spend another relaxing morning. We'll rendezvous in time to take you
to your fast ferry/hydrofoil for NAXOS
( subject to days of the week and availability), where you'll find a
room waiting in a charming four-star beach hotel:Porto Naxos Hotel
.
DAY 11 - Naxos
(B)
Enjoy breakfast at your lovely hotel and linger for as long as you wish
or explore the island on your own.
Day
12 - Naxos (B)
Another day of Mediterranean fantasy.
While in Naxos, you should definitely take a stroll around the tangled
paved streets, where you can admire the white houses with the colorful
doors and windows, with the flowerpots and the people with their smiling
faces. The calmness that surrounds everything will surely relax you
and offer you special moments of tranquility and peace, unforgettable
images of a wonderful, rich land.
.
Day
13 - Naxos/Athens (B)
We'll rendezvous in time to take you to your fast ferry/hydrofoil
for Santorini then fly to Athens
DAY
14 - 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.
RATE
in US $, per person in double occupancy
Minimum 2 guests
 |
Tourist
Class : $ 4990.00
First
Class: $ 5215.00 .
Deluxe : $ 6140.00
|
RATE
in US $, per person in double occupancy
Minimum 4 guests
 |
Tourist
Class : $ 4580.00
First Class: $ 4615.00
.
Deluxe : $ 5500.00
|
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 King
George Hotel , Gran Bretagne . St. George Lycabettus Hotel ( Acropolis
view room) , or similar: please add $ 400 per person in double to the
deluxe rates
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,
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)
- Naxos
hotel:
Porto Naxos (4 stars - there
is no 5 stars on the island) is located at 1 kilometer distance
from Naxos Town, 2 kilometers from the Ports and the Airport
and 200 meters from the beach of Aghios Georgios. Each
room features a large balcony. (Honeymooner's room please
add : $25 per person per night.)
Not
Included:
-
International air transportation. Ask us about the special air fare.
- 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
What
other say about our service in Greece :
"
Omar -
We had a perfect vacation in Greece!
Dinner our first night at the rooftop restaurant of the Titania overlooking
the Acropolis as the sun set and the lights came on!
Santorini was magical - though we enjoyed the sunsets from Fira instead
of Oia. We did rent an ATV and got to Red Beach and Oia on day trips.
The ferry to Crete made half the boat sick - but not us!
The Movenpick in Crete was really beautiful - a luxurious place to rest
after a long week.
We were upgraded to executive suites by both the Titania and the Athens
airport Sofitel, you should know. They took good care of us!
We loved the Ouzo, the shopping, the sunsets, the beaches, the colors
of the sea and sky, the friendly waiters, the people at the Tzekos Villas,
the shop owners - we loved Greece!
We WILL return someday, especially to Santorini!
And contacting you via the Internet to arrange it was the perfect way
to set it up.
Let us know if we owe you money - the hotels said everything was pre-paid
though we charged a few things, like bottled water, to our rooms.
Thank you again, Omar, for everything! I've already referred a couple
of other people to you. You do a fine job!
Gratefully,
Jodi and Stan ""
NAXOS
ISLAND
An ideal island for relaxed vacations, Naxos combines the characteristic
colors of Cyclades islands with the perfect climate and the beautiful
natural elements.
On
this island you can meet the tallest mountain of the Cyclades islands
but you will also come across many welcoming fertile valleys.
One
thing that will impress you and that will surely remain in your memories,
is the open and welcoming spirits of the locals, their hospitality and
their peaceful temperament.
You
will feel welcomed anywhere you go and for a few days you will be a
part of a particular community of warm traditional people, that constitute
the greatest beauties in Naxos.
Naxos is a perfect choice for a vacation, especially for those who love
touring and exploring. Plenty are the sights that will dazzle you, as
they have done for centuries to residents and visitors alike. The most
important being a marble gate, next to the remains of the unfinished
ancient temple of Apollo.
Portara
proudly stands on the edge of a narrow promontory, also known as the
Baths of Ariadne, which is the first to welcome you when you reach Naxos.
In Naxos, the port and the capital of the island, you will also find
one of the most beautiful and imposing Venetian castles, the town's
most romantic location, where you can enjoy the majestic sunset, with
the view of Paros in the background.
You
can also visit the dozens of small white churches, the monasteries,
the monuments, and the other medieval castles that have remained from
the various civilizations that flourished on the island.
Each year more and more tourists visit Naxos to spend a few days in
a rich and versatile natural environment, in the middle of the Aegean.
Naxos is famous for its vast, sandy beaches with the clean waters.
You
can find these wonderful, golden summer areas mainly on the west coasts
of the island, in villages such as Ayiassos, Pyrgaki, Aliko, Agia Anna
and in Naxos (Hora), the capital. Other beautiful seaside resorts can
be found in Panormos, Psili Amos, Pachia Amos, Moutsouna, Lionas and
Apollon.
In
these villages, tourism is developed so you will easily find many hotels
and apartments for your accommodation and also restaurants and clubs
that will pack your nights with excitement and fun.
You
can also explore the surrounding bays with a yacht, and if you love
sports you should definitely take advantage of all the wonderful clear
waters and water ski, wind surf or sailing. Nearly every beach is offered
also for fishing.
Food
is a big part of the daily procedures in Naxos, so you will get the chance
to find out about the traditional Greek cuisine, anywhere you go. There
are taverns and restaurants, right on the beach or hidden in paved alleys,
that will provide you with the local favors or dishes from the international
cuisine. And if you desire to experience the intense side of this calm
island, visit one of the clubs and crowded discos and feel the special
nightly rhythms of Naxos.
|
