Around the World Series

Tour North Africa - Europe and Japan : All in 33-Days

From Spain to Morocco, Greece Island hopping
Turkey and on to Japan

Exotic Morocco , Andalusia , Costa Del Sol , The Romance of the Greek Isles, The Ottoman Empire & Serene Japan . Including a stay in a villa in Santorini . 33 days . Tour starts weekly , Apr through Oct. Air fare is included between Madrid , Athens, Istanbul & Tokyo . Add Egypt ?

Extend your stay -Onsen /spa in the shadow of Mt. Fuji

Day 1. MADRID - Weekly on Sunday _ Apr-Ot
Arrival at Madrid Barajas Airport. Our local rep will escort you to your hotel. Category "A" Melia Princessa Madrid. Category " T" Convencion Hotel or similar.

Day 2- Tour Madrid & The Royal Palace (B)
Monday
Our local rep will escort you from the hotel to the start of the : Group tour: Half day tour of the Royal Palace & a visit to the royal residence of El Pardo
The beautiful ROYAL PALACE, one of the best-preserved in all of Europe, is a fine example of 18th-century domestic regal architecture. It has enormous cultural and political symbolism as well. As the embodiment of Madrid as the capital of the Spanish realms, it is the site of glittering official receptions, royal audiences, gala dinners, and treaty signing ceremonies, as well as the presentation of credentials by diplomats to His Majesty the King.

Our visit will include the Principal staircase, the chambers of the Alabarderos, columns, throne, Gasparini, and Carlos III; the porcelain room; the Gala Dining Room; the Museum of Silver; the Museum of Musical Instruments; the Principal Courtyard; the Royal Chapel; and the New Rooms

The Prado Museum is housed in a neoclassic building designed by the noted architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785. Originally planned as a natural history museum, it has been the home of the finest collection of Spanish masters since 1818.

The tour will conclude at Oriente Square, Madrid. Our local rep will escort you to your hotel

Day 3 . MADRID - CORDOBA - SEVILLE - (BLD) - Tuesday
Our local rep will assist with your transfer to the tour terminal, Oriente Sq., at 9.00 a.m., to the Canyon of Despeñaperros, Bailen and Cordoba. Lunch and visit its famous Mosque, continuing to Seville. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4 . SEVILLE - Wednesday (,L)
We’ll linger today in Seville, where the Moors have left their mark in whitewashed houses, tile roofs, graceful archways, and a warren of intimate lanes with surprises at every turn. Our visit will take us to the monumental and stunning tower of La Giralda, the Cathedral that once echoed with daily calls to prayer, and the Palace of the Alcazar, with its delicately carved stonework and pleasure gardens that still delight. Your afternoon is free to wander the alleyways of Seville on your own, and perhaps to stop in and sample the tapas at an inviting establishment.
Breakfast, lunch , monumental and panoramic visits. Afternoon at leisure

Day 5. SEVILLE - JEREZ - CADIZ - VEJER - COSTA DEL SOL - Thursday (BD)
Breakfast and departure to Jerez where an important wine cellar will be visited. Departure to Cadiz. Panoramic
sightseeing. Departure to Vejer . Lunch. Optional visit to Gibraltar. Departure to Costa del So l. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6 . COSTA DEL SOL - Friday (BD)
Breakfast, dinner and overnight. Day at leisure.

Day 7 . COSTA DEL SOL - ALGECIRAS - TANGIER - RABAT - Saturday (B,D)
Breakfast and departure to Algeciras. Ferryboat to Tangier. Disembarkation and panoramic sightseeing, continuing to Rabat. Visit. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 . RABAT - CASABLANCA - MARRAKECH - Sunday (B,D)
Breakfast and departure to Casablanca. Panoramic sightseeing. (Lunch not included.) Departure to Marrakech. Dinner and overnight.

Day 9 . MARRAKECH - Monday (B,L)
Breakfast, lunch and overnight. Morning city sightseeing. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 10 . MARRAKECH - MEKNES - FEZ - Tuesday (B, D)
Breakfast and departure to Meknes. (Lunch not included.) Visit, continuing to Fez. Dinner and overnight.

Day 11. FEZ - Wednesday (B,L)
Breakfast, lunch and overnight. Morning city sightseeing. Afternoon free.

Day 12 . FEZ - TANGIER - ALGECIRAS - COSTA DEL SOL - Thursday (B,D)
Breakfast. Departure to Tangier. Ferry boat to Algeciras. Disembarkation and departure to the Costa del Sol . Dinner and overnight.

Day 13 . COSTA DEL SOL - GRANADA - Friday (B,D)
Breakfast. Free time. Morning, departure to Granada. Dinner and overnight.

Day 14 . GRANADA - MADRID - Saturday (B,L)
Breakfast. Visit Alhambra Palace and its Gardens of Generalife. Departure to Madrid. Lunch is included enroute. Our local rep will meet you at the terminal in Madrid and assist with your transfer back to your hotel. Category "A" Melia Princessa Madrid. Category " T" Convencion Hotel or similar.

Day 15 . MADRID-Athens - Sunday (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, our local rep will escort you back to the airport. Bon Voyage & Hasta Pronto. Air fare is included Madrid Athens in economy class, tax included. ARRIVAL IN ATHENS
Our Athens representative 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. Stroll, browse for curios and treasures, and perhaps dine at a cafe in the old Plaka district and take in a folklore show.

DAY 16 -Mon- ATHENS FLIGHT TO MYKONOS (B)
This morning you'll tour Athens and get to know the high points of the city, especially 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. We'll see you to the airport for your flight to the island of Mykonos. We'll have a representative on hand to meet you, and check you in to your hotel. Relax! . Stroll at your own pace along lanes lined with whitewashed houses, up to the Church of Paraportiani, or along the shore to the island's signature windmills. Enjoy an ouzo or a glass of retsina at a waterside cafe.

DAY 17 - Tue - MYKONOS (B)
Maybe this will be your day to stay put. Or maybe you'll mix relaxation with walks to photograph the famed windmills of Mykonos, or to watch fishermen at work along the sea.

DAY 18 - Wed - MYKONOS, SANTORINI (B)
Reserve some time to stroll the cobbled lanes of Mykonos, to sip an ouzo or a retsina at a waterside cafe, to discover a beach or two, to pick up a loaf of fresh bread and cheese and olives, and picnic on a hillside as you look out to sailboats at sea. We'll rendezvous in time to take you to your flight for Santorini. On arrival, we'll see that you're checked in to your hotel. Sample Villas in Santorini:

DAY 19 - Fri -SANTORINI (B)
You'll take a leisurely breakfast on your private terrace. An optional tour to the archaeological site of Akrotiri is offered. Or, you can spend the day relaxing, and take in breathtaking views of the volcano and caldera.

DAY 20 - Sat - SANTORINI (B)
The day is yours for relaxing or exploring on your own--or both! You might take a boat across to the dormant volcano, and ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Or savor a soak in hot sulphur springs.

DAY 21 - Sun - SANTORINI (B)
Enjoy the views from your villa, discover a black-sand beach, savor the sea breezes from the terrace of a cafe, or try your hand at fishing. Or arrange a winery visit or another excursion. The choice is yours.

DAY 22 - Mon - SANTORINI, ATHENS, Istanbul (B)
Our personnel will assure a seamless transfer to Santorini's Airport. You'll catch a flight to Athens, where you'll board your connecting flight to Istanbul .

Turkish Hamam (spa) is a Turkish tradition that goes back for centuries

DAY 23 - Tue- ISTANBUL
You're met at the airport by our representative, who sees you to your hotel, and answers any questions you may have about getting to know the city. As you ride into the great metropolis from the airport, two thousand years of history are revealed: towering Roman walls, ancient Byzantine churches, slender minarets framing the bulbous domes of graceful mosques. These ancient monuments float on the skyline of a bustling modern metropolis of ten million people. Welcome fruit basket in your room awaits you with our compliments.

DAY 24 - Wed- ISTANBUL (BL) The center of ancient Constantinople and Istanbul was on Seraglio Point, framed by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. We visit the Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet III to challenge the architectural primacy of neighboring Sancta Sophia. We then walk next door to compare achievements in Justinian's great Sancta Sophia. Right behind Sancta Sophia is our next stop, sumptuous Topkapi Palace, the sultans seraglio for centuries, filled with breathtaking exhibits of priceless jewels, golden thrones, delicate colored tiles, and lavish court costumes. We finish up in the bustling Grand Bazaar, where you can find jewelry, carpets, goat-hair rugs, hand-painted ceramics, copper and brass in labyrinthine streets holding nearly 4000 shops.

DAY 25 - Thu- BOSPHORUS (B)
Istanbul's history was formed by the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Now, as in ancient times, it is a maritime vital link between the countries bordering the Black Sea and those in the rest of the world. Today we take a leisurely cruise northward along this historic waterway. Along its shores are ranged palaces great and small-Topkapi, Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi, Küçüksu, Hünkar Iskelesi. Four great fortresses rise on the hills, reminding us that to control the Bosphorus was to control the destinies of nations. Our afternoon cruise of two continents, crossing from Europe to Asia and back, includes visits to the Military Museum, the Bosphorus Bridge, Çamlica Hill lookout, and stupendous Dolmabahçe Palace. Complimentary plate of Turkish Lokoom pastries (Hotel room)

Day 26 - Fri - "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque"
(late 19th century), the exotic romance of the "Paris of the East:" Saturday (BL)

Morning walking tour : We start with our guide in Karaköy where the foreign bankers and shipping companies had their headquarters, then take the Tünel up to istiklal Caddesi; stop in the whirling dervish tekke, and walk past the various old embassy buildings (now consulates), and point out the architecture. Stop for tea (included) at the famous Pera Palace Hotel.
Walk at least as far as Galatasaray Square, and have lunch in the Çicek Pasaji (Flower Passage); then walk up to Taksim Square and be picked up for the afternoon tour.
In the afternoon the tour visit Yildiz Palace Park and the Ihlamur Kasri, a mini-palace south of Yildiz, and finish up with a visit to the Military History Museum in Harbiye in time to hear the "Mehter," or Ottoman military band (mid-afternoon).

DAY 27 - Sat - ISTANBUL Tokyo(B)
There are many more things to see and do in this fascinating city, but they will have to wait for your next visit. After breakfast, our representative escorts you to the airport for your Tokyo bound , overnight across Asia & the Sea of Japan. Dinner is served on board.

DAY 28 - Sun - Tokyo (B)
After breakfast on board, we arrive at Narita airport and clear customs and immigration. We've arranged for transportation to your hotel on the airport limousine bus, just as arriving Japanese do. You'll appreciate immediately the small marvels of Japanese urban life: spotless streets, a pace that's fast but always in control, bicycles left unlocked, vending machines dispensing superb hot coffee in cans (or whiskey, if you wish). Everything's the same, but a little bit different. You'll be comfortable in, and fascinated by, Tokyo.
When you arrive at New Tokyo International Airport (Narita). You are requested to proceed to the shuttle van counter in the arrival lobby on the first floor. Transfer to your hotel by seat-sharing van.

DAY 29 - Mon - TOKYO (B)
Continental breakfast is included at the hotel.
This one-day tour of Tokyo puts everything in this busy but orderly city in perspective. You'll visit the Diet (say "dee-yet")! Japan's parliament, and the Meiji Shrine. You'll ascend Tokyo Tower for a view of the metropolis, and walk through the Imperial Palace East Garden, a tranquil anomaly in the very center of the city. Then, for a total change, you'll see the throbbing Ginza, where space is in such high demand that restaurants and stores are on the second and third and fourth floors of every building. After seeing Kushiage, we'll have our lunch at Ginza Isomura. The day continues with a drive by the Imperial Palace, a stop at the Tasaki Pearl Gallery, and a forty-minute boat ride to Asakusa on the Sumida River. We'll stop at the Asakusa Kannon Temple, the famous Nakamise shopping street, and Akihabara, the neighborhood where next year's miniature cell phones, video cameras and avant-garde electronics are on sale right now. This tour operates daily, so you may choose to take it on another day while you are in Tokyo (advance notice is required) : departing at 9 a.m. and returning at 6:30 p.m. Lunch and entry fee to Tokyo Tower are included.

DAY 30 -Tokyo - Mount Fuji (BL)
Continental breakfast is included at the hotel.
Departure between 07:30 AM & 08:30 AM , time will be reconfirmed locally
MT. FUJI - HAKONE: Enjoy a scenic drive aboard your deluxe motor-coach to the foot of Mt. Fuji , we drive halfway up Japan's highest mountain to enjoy a spectacular view from a height of 2,300 meters.

Lunch at Hotel Highland Resort.
After lunch , we proceed to Hakone for a cruise on Lake Ashi and a ride aboard Mt. Komagatake Aerial Cableway. Overnight at Hakone Hotel Kowakien , Hakone Prince Hotel , or Yumoto Fujiya Ryokan , based on your preference .

DAY 32 - DAY 20 TOKYO 
You'll plan your explorations with the help of the options we offer. Venture to Kyoto . Pick up a few Japanese words. You've already learned the essential "arigato" (thank you) on the way over. But you'll also find that many Japanese are eager to try out their English and help you toward wherever you're going. And with maps, ticket machines, and signs that you can read, the subway makes it easy and inexpensive to get around.

DAY 33 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME 
Board the limousine bus , that will take you back to the airport - until next time!

Rates per person in US$, Double Occupancy,

Tour starts in Weekly , April through October.

Rate includes:.

• Domestic air fare in Greece , economy class , tax included .
• One-way Madrid Athens/Istanbul airfare, economy class, tax included .
• One-way Istanbul /Tokyo airfare , economy class , tax included .
• Lonely Planet travel guide books
• Villa accommodation in Santorini, sample villas that are used:
  For First Class superior , 4 stars accommodation:
  Villa style "Astra Apartments" in Imerovigli, or in a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment villas.
  For 3-star, first class accommodation in the: "Grotto Villas" in Firostefani in a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment.
  
• Hotel accommodation as per itinerary , please note that in Japan we are using only deluxe hotels.
• Pre set meals as listed including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner
  
  
• Transfers in all listed countries as per itinerary
• Round-trip transfers in Santorini.
• Hotel service charges and taxes
• Our local hospitality services

Not included:

• International airfare from/to your home country
• Gratuities Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed .
• Trip cancellation insurance, travel insurance, we'll be glad to mail you the flyer.

Sample hotels in Athens :
Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis.
First Class : Stanley , Electra Palace.

Sample Villas in Santorini:
Dana Villas, in Firostefani with view of the volcano.
Chromata Apartments, in Imerovigli with a view of the volcano.

For those looking for a different experience
Stay at a Ryokan, the traditional Japanese Inn

Stay with the locals, get to see the real true charming Japan Staying at a Ryokan, the traditional Japanese Inn, is a truly unique experience, affording you a special glimpse of the age -- old customs manners and lifestyle of the Japanese community. Besides the luxuriously refreshing hot springs bathing, dinners at your Ryokan are the singular most compelling attraction, they are a sumptuously prepared and lavishly presented festive combination of the finest Japanese cuisine, intermixed with savory local delights. The typical menu, brought to you dish after dish, offers an incredible variety from Sukiyaki and Tempura to grilled fish & sea food, and in some inns, if you prefer, you may request a Western style substitutes. You will thoroughly enjoy the room's size, its simplicity and its aura of tatami straw matting, sliding screens and Spartan furnishing, all unmistakably Japanese.

Sample Hotel in Morocco & Spain
Hotels are subject to change

North Africa Grand Tours Series
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This dream vacation Includes an in-depth tour of Istanbul and Anatolia.
A one week Nile Cruise on a deluxe Dahabiya, Alexandria , Cairo , Giza in Egypt .
Petra and even camping with the Bedouins in Wadi Rum in Jordan
Arrive weekly in Cairo . April though end of Oct