Highlights:
-Visit Istanbul; where Asia meets Europe and was capital for several different empires.
-Explore Cappadocia, home of fairy chimneys, Underground Cities of early chirstians
-Walk on the ancient roads of greco-roman city of Ephesus and see the Holy Mary house.
-Visit Pamukkale and swim in Pools of Heaven on Earth.
-3 night cruise to Patmos, Heraklion, Santorini, Athens, Mykonos
-Join 2 days Half Day tour to heart of Heraklion and Acropolis
Overview:
Explore western Turkey and most charming Islands of Greece with 11 Days combined package. Enjoy guided tour to heart of Istanbul and see Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, and cruising on the Bosphorus.
Explore Cappadocia; famous its balloon flights on fairy chimneys and home of early christians. Walk on the ancient roads of best-preserved greko-city with House of Holy Mary nearby. Swim in Pamukkale's healing thermal springs.
Set sail with Celeystal Olympia to the most charming island of the Greece include Patmos, Heraklion, Santorini, Athens, Mykonos, enjoy a guided tours Halfday tours (2 tours) to heart of Heraklion and Acropolis. Immerse yourself in the flow of history with the narration of your guides .
Day 1 Arrival Istanbul (Sunday)
Upon arrival at Istanbul / SAW Airport, you will be greeted and driven to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
(No Meal)
Day 2 Treasures of Istanbul / Flight to Kayseri (Monday)
(09:00-16:00)
Upon breakfast check out, According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Hagia Sophia; was the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. Next; Topkapı Palace; As well as being the imperial residence of the Sultan, the palace was also the seat of government for the ottoman empire. It housed the ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Continue to with Hippodrome; during the Roman period hippodrome was the civil center for the people of the city where once 100,000 spectators could be held. Next, Blue Mosque; Built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616, Blue mosque today is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city with its famous six minarets and magnificent dome. Next, Grand Bazaar; With 18 entrances and more than 4000 shops it is one of the greatest bazaars in the World. At the end of the tour drives to Airport for your flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival at Kayseri Airport you will be greeted by your driver who will drive you safely to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 3 Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia (Tuesday)
(09:30-16:00)
According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Goreme Museum; consists of many rock-cut churches from the second half of 9C with beautiful colorful frescoes decorating the walls. Next; Devrent Valley; famous for its quirky animal shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature. Next; Pasabagi which means: the Pacha's vineyard. This site is also called Monks Valley. The hermitage of Simeon monks was here. Next Avanos; where you will enjoy typical Turkish Lunch and experience make Potter with local experts. Next we continues to Goreme Panaroma, which has one of the best panoramic view of the Fairy chimneys. Next Uchisar the Naturel highest Rock Castle provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area. At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 4 Underground Cities of Cappadocia / Flight to Izmir (Wednesday)
(09:30-16:00)
Upon breakfast at the hotel check out, According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour.Visit Rose Valley; is an incredibly unique area of Cappadocia with sharp ridges, tinted in pink especially during sunset!the minerals in the sandstone have a pink tinge. Next Cavusin; is surrounded by a valley, which becomes gradually wider, called as Red Valley. The houses of the village were cut into massive rock formations. The village is famous with its rock-chuches. Next; Pigeon Valley; earned its name from the countless man made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Next; Underground Cities; once a place of refuge for 15000 christians. These settlements were of enormous value to the development of christianity as they provided shelter and worship and were in use until the end of 7C AD. Witness the ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall and food storage rooms in this eight-storey city connected by 30km of corridors and passageways. Tour continue with Ortahisar; famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets and lovely churches as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named. At the end of the tour drive you to Kayseri Airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival you will be greeted by your driver who will drive you safely to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Kusadasi.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 5 Ancient Ephesus Tour (Thursday)
(09:00 - 16:00)
According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit The House of Virgin Mary; a church was built from the 6C AD to the top of the foundations of a house from 1C AD and it is declared by the church to be the final house where Mary spent her last days. Your tour continues with the Ancient Ephesus; The best preserved classical city in Eastern Mediterranean. During the 1C AD, Ephesus was the second largest city on the planet after Rome with more than 250,000 citizens. Ephesus is also so well preserved that, walking on the ancient streets among the beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world or the largest roman theatre on the Asia continent, gives you the feeling of a time traveller.
Next; Temple of Artemis or Artemision was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its ancient cult dedicated to Artemis was very famous in antiquity and made Ephesus a much-visited pilgrimage place. Overnight in Kusadasi.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 6 Pamukkale Tour (Friday)
According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit Pamukkale; Pools of Heaven on Earth… Pamukkale has always been a very popular settlement where hot springs were believed to have healing powers so it is considered to be the earliest spa on earth where in history people travelled long distances in order to find a cure. The unique terraces were formed by running warm spring water at a temperature of 35 C, containing calcium bicarbonate. Today Pamukkale is declared as a worlds heritage site by UNESCO. Visit; ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. Also, The Sacred Pool is one of the highlights of the site. Theır shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath. At the end of the tour drive you back to the your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 7 Kusadasi - Patmos (Saturday)
(11:00-21:30)
According to your pick up tıme meet your drıver and drıve to Kusadasi Port. After passport controls, Boarding your cruise (Celestyal Olympia).According to the cruise departure time(13:00), we are moving towards the island of Patmos.Arrive at Patmos port around 16:30. You will stay here until 21:30 in the evening. Overnight on Board.
(Breakfast-Dinner)
Day 8 Girit (Heraklion) - Santorini (Sunday)
(07:00-12:00)
Start the day with a magnificent view of the island of Crete. Today, you will join guided Halfday tour to Knossos; was the place that 'gave birth' to the very first civilisation of Europe, the Minoans. You will be able to explore the large central court, the wonderful Throne Room, the imposing Grand Staircase and see the fresco of the 'Prince of the Lilies'. At the end of the tour, drive you back to the cruise. At 12 o'clock we are heading towards the island of santorini, which is one of the most charming Greek İsland. We are here until 21:30. Overnight on Board.
(Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 9 Atina (Lavrion)-Mikonos (Monday)
(06:00-13:00)
Today, join a guided mornıng tour to heart of Athens brings us to one of the most recognisable, historic and mos photographed sites in the world, the famous Acropolis with the Parthenon at its summit. Its a remınder of Ancient Greece's powerful civilisation and greatest architectural complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity.
At the foot of the Acropolis and its ancient temples lies the oldest neighbourhood of AThens, Plaka. Vistors are mesmerized and charmed by its beautifull houses, cobblestone streets and tiny shops. As we head away from the Acropolis and Plaka, we pass the Tomb of the Unknowen soldier in front of Parliement with the familiar sentries or Evzones, synonymous with the city. Next; visit Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. After tour, back to the cruise and move to Mikonos. The cruise will stay here until 23:00. Explore city your own. Overnight on board.
(Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 10 Kusadasi / Flight to Istanbul (Tuesday)
(07:00)
Today is the last of your cruise. Upon arrival at Kusadasi Port greeted by your driver and drive you Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival greeted and drive to your hotel. Check IN. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast)
Day 11 Departure Day (Wednesday)
Upon breakfast at the hotel check out and according to your flight deperture time drives to Istanbul Airport. End of our service.
(Breakfast)