Highlights Of Greece & Turkey
Starting at: $1,599.00
11 days from Athens to Istanbul
HIGHLIGHTS
Individual headsets on land tour
Inside visits and special features:
Shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description including admission charges where
applicable.
Sightseeing:
Visits to Kalambaka, Meteora, Thessalonika, Kavala, Alexandroupolis, Gallipoli, Canakkale,
Bursa
Scenic Highlights:
Thessaly plains, Macedonian plains, Trikaei plains, Sea of Marmara
Guides:
Local Guides for city sightseeing in Athens, Delphi, Philippi, Troy, Istanbul; professional
Tour Director while touring
NOTE:
Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining
visas rests with the traveler.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive in Athens, Greece.
Check into your hotel. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Day 2 Athens.
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features a visit to the PARTHENON's crowning beauty atop
the ACROPOLIS, the Erechtheum with its Porch of Maidens, the beautifully preserved
Theseum, Roman Temple of Zeus, Theater of Dionysus, and the Agora where Socrates
taught. Vistas of the government buildings and elegant homes in the modern city provide a
striking contrast to the remains of the glorious past. The rest of the day is at leisure, so
maybe join one of our optional excursions. (B)
Day 3 Athens–Delphi.
On the way to Delphi, your Tour Director will tell you about Marathon, where 10,000
Athenians defeated more than twice that number of Persian invaders in 490 BC, and
Thebes, setting of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. Enjoy a guided tour of Delphi’s ancient
SANCTUARY of the god Apollo in its dramatic setting on the slopes of Mount Parnassus,
hear about the Oracle, and tour the excavations. Also visit the ARCHAEOLOGICAL
MUSEUM to admire the Charioteer, an extraordinary 5th-century BC bronze statue. (B)
Day 4 Delphi–Meteora–Kalambaka.
Today, drive north by way of Lamia and Trikala to the fantastic landscape of Meteora with
its 24 rock-top monasteries. Visit one of the MONASTERIES and take in the incredible
panoramic view. (B,D)
Day 5 Kalambaka–Vergina–Thessalonika.
Head north today via Veria for a visit to the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM of Vergina. In
the museum, see some of the most impressive exhibits from the Macedonian period—
colorful wall paintings and mosaics; the war shield and armor of King Phillip II, father of
Alexander the Great; and the famous golden larnax and golden grave crown found in his
sarcophagus. Later, drive to Thessalonika and enjoy an orientation drive with a stop at
SAINT DEMETRIOS CHURCH, also see the Arch of Galerius and the upper city (Ano Poli).
(B)
Day 6 Thessalonika–Kavala–Philippi–Alexandroupolis.
This morning, travel through the Macedonian plains and stop in Kavala, which was under
Turkish rule between 1380 and 1913 and has retained its Oriental atmosphere. Next, stop
in PHILIPPI, where included sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to this ancient
Macedonian city. Later, reach Alexandroupolis, situated in northeastern Greece and home
to beautiful landscapes and antiquities dating from the Paleolithic era to the time of the
Roman conquests. (B,D)
Day 7 Alexandroupoulis–Gallipoli, Turkey–Canakkale.
Cross the border into Turkey and drive to Gallipoli on the European side of the Dardanelles.
Visit the ANZAC CEMETERY and the site of the BATTLE OF GALLIPOLI, one of the most
famous battles in World War I. Later, enjoy a short FERRY crossing to Asia Minor and
overnight in Canakkale. (B,D)
Day 8 Canakkale. Excursion to Troy.
Take advantage of the included excursion to the ruins of legendary TROY with its 4,000
years of history. Join your Local Guide and take a walk back in time through one of the
most famous archaeological sites in the world—a city immortalized throughout Greek
mythology and in Homer’s epic Iliad as setting of the Trojan War. This afternoon, travel
back to Canakkale, with time to explore on your own. (B,D)
Day 9 Canakkale–Bursa–Ferry Crossing–Istanbul.
This morning, drive along the shores of the Sea of Marmara, for a short stop in Bursa
before boarding the FERRY to cross the Bay of Izmit to vibrant Istanbul, the cultural,
economic, and historical heart of the country, where an optional dinner outing is available
tonight. (B)
Day 10 Istanbul.
Markets, peddlers, and stalls selling almonds, pistachios, iced drinks, black coffee, and
more—you’ll find this vigorous city irresistible! Included sightseeing with your Local Guide
takes you to the ROMAN HIPPODROME and the BLUE MOSQUE. The view of the city at
dusk, with its 600 mosques and the Bosporus, is unforgettable. Why not join an optional
Historical Tour of Istanbul? (B)
Day 11 Istanbul.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
FOR MORE INFO
Contact Vent Nouveau Travel & Tourism at:
+961 4 712037
+961 70 257682
[email protected]