Treasures of Greece and Anatolia

Come see the wonders of Athens ,Istanbul and Central Turkey in only 10 days

Ankara, Cappadocia,Ephesus, Konya, Pamukkale, and Ephesus.

Add a Gulet Cruise to your experience in Turkey : Start in Dalaman and on to Antalya
Add Cappadocia

DAY 1 - Athens - The First Tuesday of each month : March - Nov
Arrival in Athens, we will meet you at the airport , 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.

DAY 2 - Athens, Wednesday- Our group Private Tour (BL)
Our group Private guide - Private air-conditioned vehicle - Private chauffeur .
This morning you'll tour the high points of Athens, most notably the towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum. You'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament, and guards in colorful traditional outfits. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant.

DAY 3 - Private Tour of DELPHI   Athens, Thursday   (BLD)
Private Air Conditioned Vehicle - Private Chauffeur - Private Guide
Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch is included at a local restaurant . Bottled water / tea or coffee : included with your lunch in Delphi or Zemeno (near Delphi)

Tour Delphi, site of the famed oracle, at the foot of Mount Parnassus. During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary and oracle though, began in the 8th century B.C. with the establishment of the cult of Apollo. Under the protection and administration of the Amphictyony, the sanctuary continued to be autonomous after the First Sacred War and, as a result, increased its panhellenic religious and political influence. The Pythian Games were re-organized, the sanctuary was enlarged and it was enriched with nice buildings, statues, and other offerings. In the 3rd century B.C. it came under the domination of the Aetolians and later, in 191 B.C., was conquered by the Romans. During the Roman occupation the site was sometimes plundered but was also favoured by some of the emperors. With the spread of Christianity, the sanctuary lost its religious meaning and was permanently closed down with a decree of emperor Theodosius the Great.

We tour the ruins of Delphi and its oracle, sacred to Apollo and Dionysus, then we stop at the picturesque Greek village of Archova, famous for its hand-woven rugs and quilts as well as for its cheese (formaella).
Lunch is included at in Zemeno at a typical Greek restaurant.

Return to Athens in the early evening. The drive from Athens to Delphi is 2:30hrs each way . The distance is 170 kilometers each way . Dinner is included at the hotel

DAY 4 - Istanbul Friday (BD)
Fly to Istanbul .Our staff meets your plane and escorts you to your hotel. Arena Boutique Ottoman Mansion style hotel , the Blue House or similar . Dinner is included at the hotel. Air fare is included Athens Istanbul , in economy class, tax included .

DAY 5 - Istanbul - Izmir Saturday (BLD)
Tour the great Ottoman capital, visiting the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, the palace of the sultans, with its fabulous Treasury and collections of priceless Chinese porcelains. Late afternoon flight to Izmir.

DAY 6 - PAMUKKALE Sunday (BLD)
The miraculously revealed House of the Virgin Mary is our first stop, after which we tour Ephesus, the capital of Roman Asia Minor, and the Basilica of St. John, said to mark his tomb. Lunch at the small town of Selcuk, attend a local fashion show, before we head for Pamukkale to tour the extensive ruins of Roman Hierapolis.

DAY 7 - KONYA - CAPPADOCIA Monday (BLD)
An early morning drive to the mystical city of Konya, birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes, for a visit to the Mevlana Museum. We continue to Sultanhani the Seljuk Turkish caravanserai before making the drive to biblical Cappadocia and our hotel. (BLD) Hotel: Mustafa or similar for first class . For Deluxe Gamirasu Cave Hotel, Cave Suites Hotel , Kapadokya Lodge or similar.

DAY 8 -CAPPADOCIA Tuesday (BLD)
We explore the "moonscape" of Cappadocia, visiting the painted churches in the Göreme and Zelve Valleys, the rockhewn dwellings in Ortahisar, the pottery-making center of Avanos, and the incredible underground city of Kaymakl (or Derinkuyu). Afternoon at leisure to allow for shopping.

DAY 9 - ISTANBUL Wednesday (BLD)
Drive to Ankara, visit the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilization & Ataturk mausoleum, then its off to the Airport ,we fly back to Istanbul and our hotel. Senator or similar. Dinner & folk show is included in Istanbul or Cappadocia

DAY 10 - DEPARTURE Thursday (B)
We escort you to the airport for your flight home.

RATES per person in US $

Rates include :

• All transfers in Turkey.
• One way air fare Athens Istanbul in economy class , tax included
• Preset menu meals as indicated (BLD : Breakfast ,lunch, dinner (Preset menu).
• Guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.
• 4 stars first class or 3 star tourist hotel accommodation with tax.
• Lonely Planet Travel Guidebook.
• Domestic air fare in Turkey, in economy class . Tax included

Rate doesn't include :

• Visa Fee : $20 in cash upon arrival, for US citizens, or $45 for Canadians, or from any of the Turkish Consulates
• Tips
• International air fare from JFK (please call for air add on from your home city) .
• Trip/travel insurance

En Espanol - Back to Turkey Tour List

Click here for info on sailing the Mediterranean ( Blue Cruise)

Sample hotels (or similar 4 star - first class hotels)
Istanbul : Senator , Aygun Plaza .
Ankara : Ickale.
Cappadocia : Perissia.
Izmir : Kaya Prestige